ISOLATION

For some, quarantine is a nightmare. So how can we live our best lives under lockdown?

In 1998, Japanese comedian Nasubi (‘Eggplant’) was isolated, naked and foodless, in an empty apartment until he won one million yen’s (around US$10,000 at the time) worth of prizes from competitions he found in magazines. Unbeknownst to him, every Sunday for more than a year his exploits were aired on TV with a picture of an eggplant covering his genitals.

The impact will vary from person to person, but worsens when people are afraid of infection, don’t feel that they are receiving adequate information, have insufficient supplies, or are experiencing some other hardship such as financial loss.

What starts out as a break from everyday responsibilities descends into a source of stress.

To combat the downsides of being cooped up, Mill suggests making a concerted effort to stay in touch with others, for your mental health and theirs. “Minimise the effects by communicating in any way possible – Skype, phone, even live chat. Talk often with the people who are confined in the same space as you. Play games together. Have fun.”

Anthony Bianco, a travel blogger, experienced a fortnight under isolation when he contracted hand, foot and mouth disease from his one-year-old daughter a few years back. It’s rare for adults to contract the disease, but when they do, the symptoms are more pronounced than in children.

Bianco had blisters over his hands, feet and mouth and was contagious. His wife did the shopping to keep the household ticking along and he was able to work from home, as he felt okay apart from being so itchy he had to plunge his face, hands and feet into ice water to find relief.

Bianco suggests finding plenty of tasks to do to take your mind off being confined, as well as engaging in some more enjoyable pursuits and staying in regular touch with your support network. “You have to keep yourself busy, one way or another,” he says. “Try going through some of those tasks that you’ve been putting off, such as reviewing all of your bills and see if you can get a better deal, or it’s a good excuse to binge-watch. Plus I did keep in contact with people – friends and colleagues – on a regular basis.”

It’s best to divide your time into manageable chunks rather getting overwhelmed by how to fill a large space of time, and reach out to others when you’re feeling lonely. “Just remember it’s not forever and take each day at a time. Don’t let physical isolation lead to social isolation – keep in contact with your support group.”

Similarly to Bianco, Sarah Ward has been experiencing an extended period of isolation due to the coronavirus. The Australian marine archaeologist is living in Dalian, China, for work. Ward has been cooped up in her apartment since 15 January this year, initially by government request. On 26 January, she was officially placed under in-home quarantine due to a family member flying into Dalian from Wuhan, despite travel bans. Once quarantine ended, the apartment complex went into “closed management”, meaning surrounding streets were fenced off and they were issued permits allowing them out once every two days. This has since been relaxed to once a day, but they have not been informed when things will return to normal.

In the months during this period of lockdown, Ward has seen 12 people, excluding police and security staff. As a usually active and positive person, she has found this confined lifestyle challenging.

“I’m a high-energy person and used to being active. In the beginning, it was novel (no pun intended), however now that it is nearing three months, it has become physically and emotionally draining.”

There have been benefits, though, including time for Ward to get to know herself better and bond with her partner. She’s mindful that in stressful or unusual situations, people can react in ways you’d not necessarily foresee, and we need to be gentle with each other. “On occasion, I’ve felt like a caged tiger, so I have had to be really patient with myself and my partner. Inevitably, as in all extreme situations, people are going to respond to being shut up in ways you never expected.”

Ward has maintained a routine to boost her happiness and mood as best she can under the circumstances, covering various aspects of her wellbeing. “Where possible, I have tried to keep to the same routine as before, so the day has a similar structure. That way, I go to sleep, wake, eat, meditate, exercise, play and work as before. For me, it minimises