How to create a magical kingdom
Staying at home has never been a problem for me but I know some people find it difficult. I think it’s something you get used to- you slow down and can become a lot more present, but it takes time.
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, be sure to do a tour every day. Check on the progress of the Magnolia. At first it will just have sticky buds but slowly small pink fires will spark all over the tree. Have a look to see what the ants are up to, they are going up and down and all around. Sit and watch it all for at least 30 minutes- it will become an event.
A cup of tea is like a story- make it elaborate! If you have a proper tea cup, use it- and be sure to balance it beautifully using your little finger as an elegant ballast. Become a connoisseur for a minute- being uncultivated is also a good look.
Be sure to move rooms occasionally, each one has its own charms. Don’t worry about eating lunch in bed or getting biscuit crumbs in the bath- it’s your house, you can do what you want. Make sure you remember to lie down on the floor occasionally, it’s very important to get a new perspective.
Don’t set yourself large tasks to do such as writing a novel or becoming the next Andy Warhol- just aim to do something small every day. Write a few lines of a poem, or bake a cake. There’s plenty of time for everything. Eradicate guilt in general. Netflix is fun and you can learn a lot from watching it. Social media is fine and keeps your mind sharp. Reading a few chapters of a book is good too. Hum a tune, it might turn into a song.
Getting dressed can be hard at home, pyjamas are so cosy that it’s easy to forget that real clothes exist. Anything before 2pm is perfectly fine but after that probably best to make the effort. The good thing about being at home is that you can wear pretty much anything! Or not- as you see fit.
If you begin to feel unhappy then reach out to someone and ask how they are. Having a positive social interaction can improve your mood instantly. As nice as being alone is, it can often get very quiet and before you know it you are thinking about the future or worse, the past. Keep on rambling and something will come to you. Write it down.
I hope these top tips go some way to making your self isolation a little more exciting. The slow life is really fun if you can get it right and you may find you like it better than rushing around. If you are struggling at home then feel free to contact me at emma@outsidercoaching.co.uk and I can send you some good things to look at or a creative prompt if you’re at a loss. Let’s get through this in style.