I've heard several people say they believe that writers have an easier time with quarantine, since we're used to self-isolating. I think it's true for me, maybe doubly so—as a freelancer, I am also used to uncertainty. It’s taken me years to get accustomed to this lifestyle, and along the way I found some ways to cope that make the days easier, and even nice. You’ve already heard others talk about exercising and eating well, so I’ll skip those tips (but it is good advice.)
My Copes
Go outside. It’s a beautiful world out there. Take the time to notice it, even if it’s just to step outside your door for a minute or two. Not so pretty where you live? Look up. Watching the clouds can be a bit like watching the sea, mesmerizing and restful.
Connect with people. I think we all need others. When we first moved to Portland, I had a rainy, somewhat lonely winter, as I worked from home and had met few people. I made a concentrated effort to see people, even if it was just going to the grocery store (the produce guy was always up for a chat). It helped. During this quarantine, try calling friends, writing letters, and waving to neighbors.
Limit your news and social media time. Experts agree that overconsumption of news takes a toll on emotional, mental, and even physical health. Social media can add to the barrage. Set boundaries. Decide ahead of time when you’ll check news and social media. I read a daily news update once a day, and then follow it by watching something serene, like these short Nature 365 videos.
Try music.A quiet house can be, well, too quiet. For me, music helps without adding to any chatter in my mind. If I find music distracting, I turn on Coffitivity, a free app that offers the sound of people in a coffeeshop, without any actual conversation.
Think about a schedule. Some of us need structure on which to build our days or weeks. I do. Though my workload and schedule is varied, I try to attend to my spiritual and fiction-writing life first thing in the morning, and to schedule certain hours and days where I turn off my computer (gasp). I also look forward each night to our neighborhood's 7:00 solidarity call as a nice end to my working day.
Get in the Zone. Ahhhh…isn’t being totally transfixed a wonderful feeling? I get it from writing and gardening, and even cooking sometimes. Find your zone, and then (this is important) set aside time for it every day, even just fifteen minutes.
Be present. It’s really easy to worry about the future when you freelance. After all, you literally never know what your next check will be, when it will come, or even if you’ll be paid for your work (it happens). To combat this very human tendency, I’ve tried several mindfulness strategies over the years, and found that the short, somewhat guided meditations at calm.com work well for me.
Look at your world anew. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust. My husband thinks I was born with “travel jones”— I crave novel sights and experiences. In the past few years, my ability to travel has been curtailed by budget and disability, so I have embraced Proust's idea of seeing my familiar landscape with fresh eyes. Now I look for the tender new plants along the path, listen for varied birdsong, and watch the way light plays on the trees.
Get outside yourself.For me, this is the most vital tip, and also the toughest to explain and accomplish. I think it’s easy to begin living inside ourselves when we’re alone, to consider the external world in only the ways that it affects us. Try to get past that, to connect with something outside of yourself. Embrace a spiritual path. Volunteer. Be of service. Nurture a plant, a pet, or a neighbor.
Of course there are days when these tips don’t work, or when I can’t find the willpower to use them. But when I do, I find myself calmer, happier, and of more use to the rest of the world. I hope these copes might help you, too. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well as any additional tips you may have – just write to me at plentynice@outlook.com.
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