Self isolation - positive tips & activities

[Firstbaby2019x]

Thought I'd start a new thread for anyone self isolating through pregnancy to share tips and activity ideas to pass the time and/or keep busy.

Let's keep this a positive thread (ye we know self isolation can be boring and we're all a little anxious) but let's try and keep this light and a good resource. So what have you been doing to positively self-isolate and what have you found works for you?

Lovely idea! So far I'm playing a game called 'eating chocolate when my toddler isn't looking'. It's high stakes and it's keeping the adrenaline flowing...

Other than that I'm having a wee Kondo and getting rid of a load of rubbish that has been annoying me. Bliss.

Good callOP . My mum suggested a jigsaw - not sure I'm quite at that stage yet! 🤪. The garden is looking a mess and the weather is finally better so I might get out there. I feel like my nails may be well manicured in 12 wks too! I am going to force my self to sort out some of the stuff I shove in a drawer! ...OK this has made me realise how tough it's going to be! Tv catch up will hopefully save me! How about you? Much planned?

Great ideal OP! I've got a drawer of paperwork that I've been putting off for a while now - whilst not riveting or exciting, I guess it needs to be done and so I should probably focus on getting that done now whilst I'm home!!

I've stocked up some new books and am hoping to do a bit more reading, and am going to try and get useful stuff done around the house (lots of DIY to do and tidying/Kondoing).

Also been enjoying wearing comfy non-work clothes all day :-)

Need some tips though on breaking up the day so I don't go stir crazy!

Can we go for a walk around the block as long as it's quiet?

I am having to self isolate on my own in the house for 12 weeks with nobody else and am very depressed about it. I have just read that the national trust website is allowing people to go to their forests and large open spaces for free now to help their mental health. Although this is still outside I was thinking about going by myself go have a walk around since you can easily avoid people in such large areas....might be something for people to think about too!

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/news/our-latest-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19

@Catlover10 why are you on your own :(
Hope your ok?

@pollypocketrocket

I live by myself, and whereas normally I would go and visit my family or have my boyfriend round for the weekend etc, this is no longer really advisable as my sister is in school, my mum works in a school and my boyfriend works with children in a nursery...so seems like they could be higher risk right now to give it to me.. im ok just very stressed about it all....I’m hoping the schools close as then I may be able to have a bit more social contact eventually.

My husband and myself are self isolating, I currently have 4 more shifts at work due to my contract ending so waiting to see what to do about that - although it’s likely I’ll be doing admin stuff in the office which is much better than doing home visits as I normally do. DH is working from home so that’s fine.

I’ve made a plan to work on one ‘job’ every morning and one ‘hobby’ every afternoon to stop myself going crazy. A job is something I’ve been putting off for ages like cleaning, online training for work, decluttering, laundry, cleaning windows etc. And a hobby is something I’ve been wanting to have time to do like reading, baking, crafts, board games, painting, learning to crochet, learning yoga etc. Only after dinner is TV allowed to be on (otherwise I’ll just be binging Netflix all day!)

We have enough food in the house but no meat and a small amount of frozen fish. Instead of risking it to get some, I’ve decided it’s non essential and we will be vegetarian for 3 months so it will be nice finding new recipes too

-adult colouring books
-organize spice cupboard
-unclog bath drain

These are things I have done today...

I'm working from home at the moment so got plenty to be getting on with in the day although finding it harder to concentrate today and I'm only on day two! Missing the usual contact in the office.

In terms of fun stuff... thinking about going for a walk this weekend somewhere quiet, maybe bringing a picnic (assuming that's allowed!) Just to get out of house. Otherwise it'll have to be a garden picnic haha! Weather looks nice at least. Also want to start doing some yoga as my pregnancy yoga classes are obviously cancelled. I also love a good jigsaw (old before my time!) so may invest in a new one for the evenings and weekends

Quick question re our circumstances... Are you all stopping all social contact with friends and family? I've decided not to see my mum this weekend but not sure if being extreme. My husband is still working and catching the train so I suggested we should stay in seperate bedrooms 😩, but are still spending time together in evenings (with 2m distance) based on the gov guidance for households. Is anyone else following this or again am I taking it too literally? All so confusing!

Lovely idea OP 😊

I'm trying to get out for a long walk after logging off at the end of each day (avoiding close proximity to others of course! Got some very concerned looks when I popped into Sainsburys to get some daffs after yesterday's jaunt )

I've got lots of good books to read and lots of things on my to-watch list.

Lots of tidying and prepping for bab to arrive in 5 or so weeks.

Mostly I'm looking for things that stop me from refreshing the news!!!

@newtorhis I'm not totally sure either. My DP is working from home so we're spending time together as usual, but have cancelled most social plans. We haven't decided yet if we will see DPs parents this weekend but our concern is more for them in case we unknowingly have CV, as they are older and we don't want to pass anything on. I'm going to stop going to supermarkets as well, even when popping in quickly yesterday I came into contact with lots of people. I think it depends on how you feel in yourself and how safe you feel around others!

Great thread idea OP!

I'm now also working from home and during the day I am managing just fine. Forcing to keep my usual alarm, have a shower, breakfast and then work.

At lunch time I go for an hour walk just outside my house, keeping a very safe distance, but the fresh air is great.

Want to start listening to some podcasts.

In the evenings/weekend I think I want to take on a new challenge - wanted to always try pasta making, but DH and I will also escape to the country for walks to get out or else mental health will suffer without a doubt.

Can also always grab a yoga mat, get some calming space, and do some pregnancy yoga via YouTube or an app?

Otherwise I'm cooking, reading, watching a few good series on TV too.

I've stopped going to any shops and also not seeing anyone for the time being aside from OH!

Stay strong! X

Hi all-love this thread -was thinking about starting a similar one. I’m doing a little work and then plan on:
Yoga
Puzzles
Reading
Tv
Washing baby clothes and sorting
Sorting and clearing house
Cooking more (if I get the food)
Hypno birthing course
Meditation

I’m still going out -but only to the supermarket and for walks-I think that’s safe and we need to move and get fresh air. My hubby still going to office on tube and not doing the the 2 metre rule -I kind of think if he gets it I will anyway so I am being more relaxed about that and also don’t want to it touch him.

Am going to stay With my parents for a bit after my hospital appointment tomorrow (which is now the highlight of my week getting out the house!!) . Hope that isn’t me risking infecting them. Their house is much bigger and has a garden and we would all be together.

I am also planning a nice walk after I log off each day, avoiding other people.

I'm planning lots of sorting out in the house and garden. I am also hoping to enjoy reading more books.
I am also looking forward to disney plus launch next week!

I'd love to know any recommendations for pregnancy Pilates/yoga/exercise on YouTube etc if anyone enjoys a certain one please share!

I am doing my nails regularly
Plan to start planting some veggies in some pots with the kids
Take care of the garden once weather is a bit nicer
Wash kitchen cupboards inside and outside( energy permitting as I'm in my last weeks of pregnancy)
If I really run out of things to do, I'll do some ironing
Watch some tv
Read if I feel like
I do sudoku ( keeps my mind occupied and concentrated)
Finish baby bag
Finish random stuff around house
Paint if I manage with a toddler
Knit another hat for my baby
Maybe knit a sweatshirt for baby
Cross stitch some bookmarks( if I have patience)
Reorganise my office( not really in the mood now)
Clean windows
Cook something new

Good to hear everyone's fun ideas and how they're practising 'social distancing'

Re yoga recommendations I like 'yoga with Adrienne' and she has a pregnancy video or two on her channel

Ohhh great!

What's everyone reading at the moment? Anything exciting I could order?

Also here's a link to more indoor exercise options - https://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy/how-to-exercise-in-pregnancy/the-best-pregnancy-workouts-on-youtube?gl=11hgs0hdhdgaYW1wLWJhanN0TTNubjgyWXB2bWM0Y3VKNFNGa0tGaDlXNGF6YTlnZW85M092amJ1XzlvQTQtRFBlVXIwemR0dlR0cHY.

Ordering food online has been impossible for us, so OH will have to go out and get stuff!

I second Mediation too - I've got the Calm app and that's great for guided mediation and I usually do it at home after yoga on a mat. Nice to relax with!

Might start up a new indoor hobby, will have a look online what options there are!

Love this thread! My list is:

• Hypnobirthing online course
• Cross stitch birth sampler
• Sort through nursery
• Research baby equipment for when we can finally shop/order online
• Clean out kitchen cupboards
• Filing
• Complete ironing pile for the first time in 2 years
• plant some seeds

I’m not in the UK but mainland Europe which is pretty close to lockdown. No advice for pregnant women to self isolate but I’ve been for a walk each day and get a lot of strange looks. DH and I have also decided to experiment with new recipes. I’ve never eaten so well!

I am going for a walk with my dog every day, it's in the fields and it's really easy to stay away from people. Working from home, calling friends, video calling family. Watch Netflix, planning to do a bit more yoga at home and read. There is a free well being class announced:

You can get access to these courses here, and email me [email protected]m_ if you would like to join Nurture for free.

https://behappyfit.co.uk/online-courses//_

I have been asked how to go about making a donation to the course and if you would like to do that you can make a payment through my PayPal account which is [email protected]m_

Hopefully this may make you all feel better - just think of yourself as lucky that you get the chance to self isolate. Im a pregnant GP and just like thousands of my NHS colleagues who are pregnant, many haven't been able to have ANY work place adaptions and therefore are still working either directly with covid cases or in high risk areas....

I'd take a bit of boredom any day

@bobbypinseverywhere I have nothing but admiration for Frontline health workers in this horrible mess, and also feel for anyone else stuck in the public domain e.g shop workers. I am lucky enough to have the flexibility to work from home and am very grateful for that but still think it's a great idea to share positive ideas for adjusting to the new indoor life because it's a massive shift in life as we know it and we are indeed the lucky ones,so want to keep positivity front of mind. Thank you and everyone in the nhs for everything you do in your role

Can I ask without making things negative, is anyone still seeing people other than partners? I’m avoiding supermarkets and haven’t been out other than in the garden the last few days however not sure how far it should go for isolating for me and my partner? Thanks

@NEAKT5 I've been totally confused by the gov guidance regarding living in households with a vulnerable person... The advice for vulnerable people pointed me to a page about households with coronavirus symptoms and strict rules on how to isolate from them, but that isn't relevant to us as neither of us have symptoms, we just wanted to know about any precautions we should be taking as a vulnerable person living with someone who is still going to work on the train. However the RCM did a great q and a session Twitter yesterday and answered this question in a nutshell...

You only need to self isolate if you have symptoms or a member of your family has symptoms. If you are pregnant with no symptoms, the advise is to practice ‘social distancing’
If you pregnant, without symptoms, your family does not need to self isolate. It is important that when the family get home they wash their hands carefully twitter.com/MidwivesRCM/status/1240685654784143366

based on this I think it's ok to live together as normal, just important to practice good hygiene. me and my husband are keeping our distance still and not sleeping in same bed , but to be honest that's purely because he's on public transport every day and we're prob being extra cautious. If he has to start wfh we'll relax a bit.

There is also some reassuring advice on lots of other topics if you scroll through and good that it's info from a trusted body, I keep getting sent stuff from Facebook which unless it's from a decent source I won't really pay any attention to! X

Here's the link to the rcm profile with full q and a
mobile.twitter.com/midwivesrcm