Blog article
10 tips to get through social distancing when it’s just you

For some advice on how to deal with isolation – and a whole lot more ‘alone time’ – we’ve called on qualified counsellor Megan Sanderson. Here’s what she recommends:
There are ways in which we can stay connected, healthy and well. If you are at home on your own and looking for ways to help maintain your wellbeing, here are some of my top isolation buster tips.
Sleep
Sleeping is the body's time for repair and renewal - a time for the mind to process and get rid of any emotional and mental waste. According to the sleep foundation the average adult should be getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night1, so make sure you prioritise and create a healthy relationship with sleep.
If you have allowed anything less than this to become your 'norm', look at things you're doing that have allowed this to happen (Netflix, scrolling through social media, working late), change the behaviour and let 7-9 hours become your 'new norm'.
Stay connected
Humans thrive on connection, so make sure you maintain your relationship with friends, family and colleagues. Face-to-face contact and communication may not be viable right now, but we live in a modern world where technology has provided us with many alternatives, so utilise them. Send an email, chat over the phone or organise a video conference.
Positive attitude
Look at things you can do to build a positive attitude. Science shows small things like keeping a daily gratitude journal boosts the release of dopamine (our happy hormone) from the brain, helping to maintain emotional agility2.
Nutrition
Food can be a 'go-to' for comfort at this time, so try to be aware of this and manage as best you can. Remember recommendations for a healthy diet have not changed - but there may be new challenges you face to achieve this; whether that's motivation, budget or finding ingredients. When deciding on a meal (or snack) aim for eating a variety of foods including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, meat (or meat alternatives) and dairy.
It doesn't have to be fancy or complex to be healthy. On the flip side, you might find yourself with lots of time to be creative - so why not have some fun with cooking? Make a cooking video to share with friends, enjoy a virtual meal with others, try new recipes or a cuisine you haven't experienced before.
Meditate
Headspace, a global mindfulness and meditation organisation, found in recent studies that 10 days of meditation reduced stress by 12%, irritability by 27% and 3 weeks of it reduced aggression by 57% and increased compassion by 23%3.
Regular meditation can lead to physical, mental and emotional benefits. Create a zen space and find some quiet time each day.
We have a simple, guided mediation video you can use here.