How to Stay Sane During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are currently living through an outbreak that has sent the entire globe into a state of public health emergency. I know, it's scary and most of us don't know what the hell is going on, myself included. It's currently my third week in isolation, and it's fair to say that adjusting to this new way of living has not been particularly easy.

After all, in school, we aren't taught how to practise safe social distancing, how to protect our mental health during weeks of lockdown or how to care for our friends and family when physical contact is no longer allowed. Feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and fear are definitely palpable everywhere you go. Our way of living has changed dramatically and it's hard to know how to respond to this warped version of society.

Just yesterday, we visited a supermarket to get some supplies, and the usually heaving superstore was like a ghost town. There were markers on the floor keeping us 2 metres apart from the person in front, a shifty tense atmosphere as we passed people in the food aisles and an underlying sense of urgency that makes you want to get your shopping done and leave as quickly as possible so that you aren't 'exposed' for too long.

What made this feeling of panic even more intense was the number of people walking around with face masks, gloves and other protective gear on. Of course, I felt wholly unprepared with bare hands, uncovered face and nothing but a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitiser to protect me.

Many people feel as though they're on a movie set or living in a bad dream; that none of this can possibly be happening and that we'll all wake up soon to realise this was all a big conspiracy. Perhaps this is something the Illuminati has been plotting for years, or perhaps a global pandemic has just been a long time coming. Either way, we have to try and keep ourselves sane.

It's safe to say, I got home from that shopping trip feeling a little less sane than I was before I left, but there are things we can do to help us stay happy and healthy during this difficult time. I'm going to share with you a few of the things I've been doing to stay sane over the past few weeks and hopefully you can find some inspiration too.

1. Start a project, set yourself a challenge or learn something new

If, like me, you've just been handed an indefinite amount of free time in your home, then there really is no better time to set yourself a new challenge!

• Read a book - I'm sure you have a good novel gathering dust on a bookshelf somewhere, use this time to finally sit down and read it. I'm currently reading Memoirs of a Geisha with my friend, Ellie. we're reading two chapters a day and chatting about the book each day. This casual book club is doing wonders for my sanity!

• Learn to cook - With the usual treats like Nandos, McDonald's and KFC off the table, now is the perfect time to give home cooking a try. If you're lacking recipe books, or if you want something easy to get you going, why not give my easy fried rice recipe to a try?

• Create something - Whether you pick up your knitting needles for the first time in years, dig the watercolours out or start a blog of your own, being creative is a great way to focus your mind and achieve something with your day.

2. Stay active and get outside

It goes without saying that staying active and getting plenty of fresh air will do wonders for your mental health. Cabin fever is not a joke!

Of course, with social distancing measures in place, we're limited to one walk or run per day, so we have to get a little bit creative if we want to avoid going completely stir crazy. Here are a few things I've been doing to stay active and get outside more often.

• Eating Alfresco - Switch up your lunch or dinner time by venturing into the garden (or in my case, onto the balcony) for a meal. Watching the world go by and feeling a bit of sun on your skin will do wonders for your mood.

• Yoga - One thing that I've really enjoyed doing in my living room is yoga. There are tonnes of easy-to-follow videos on YouTube, and even doing just ten or fifteen minutes per day will help you keep active.

• Go for a walk - Strech your legs every once in a while. Just remember to follow the social distancing rules, and don't take the piss...

3. Catch up with friends and family over video chat

This activity has really been the most beneficial at helping me stay sane over the last few weeks. It's all well and good keeping yourself entertained, but the desire to see people (other than those you're isolated with) becomes all too strong after a while.

• Plan a one-on-one hang out with the little ones

I recently scheduled a special call with my four-year-old brother, which was great fun and an amazing form of escapism (for us both). The little ones are confused about why they can;t go to school, nevermind why they can't come and visit us like usual, so this is a great way to keep a level of normality for them too. My brother carried me around, we built a tent, we read books, danced and did some drawings together - just like we would in real life.

• Get together for a family pub quiz

This is the best way to catch up with everyone (and it gives you an excuse for a 'sociable' drink). Make a set of quiz questions, get the gang together on a big video chat and become a quiz master for the night. I did this with my partner's family, and we all had such good fun that we've decided to do it weekly!

I hope you're all keeping safe and sane during this pandemic! Let me know in the comment section if you have any other fun ideas for me to try out. Lord knows, we all need inspiration during this difficult time.

L x