Loneliness in self-isolation

We've done what we need to so we shall be restricting visits to places with lots of people. We plan on lots of drives to the forest during the week with our dog, getting some exercise then instead of that coffee and cake treat in the nearest garden centre, we'll be taking it with us and eating in the car.

Then weekends we'll stay home as everywhere is busier then.

Grampy will be knocking the garden into shape and I plan on getting ahead with all my crafting .

I spend a lot of time alone,quite happily. I informed my WhatsApp group on Monday that I'm self isolating. Since then my phone's never stopped ringing and pinging with family and friends wishing me well and hoping I'm not lonely. Lovely,so kind and thoughtful but how am I ever going to get all that spring cleaning done before I get out again. ?

GN
Sudoku
Crossword
TV
Streaming
Reading
My daily Spanish language lesson
Learn a few lines of poetry
Clearing drawers
FaceTime
Bloomin’ cooking
Doing my daily 20 minute circuit avoiding people, it’s quiet around where we live so no problem.
Watch the birds on the feeder
Generally go stir crazy

I'd regret the fact that I have just spent 3 weeks decorating and so been stuck in a lot! It would be a case of s*d's law

Hi, Lara. Just been listening to you on Radio Scotland. Good to be able to put a voice to the name - well done! It was a short discussion on this subject but Gransnetters came across well especially seacliff's trip to the cliff edge!

We're self isolating because of DH's health issues. Yesterday was our last trip into town which was very, very quiet despite being market day.

We have plenty to get on with but going all 'Masterchef' with our meals. Having stocked the freezer (which we do every winter) I'm looking forward to a bit of indulgence.

I've just been doing my Tesco online order for next week. They appear to have run out of lemons!!

Are self-isolators drowning their sorrows in gin??

Yes, could do early Christmas shopping.

I may have a go at making some papier mache Christmas tree decs. Looking on the bright side, that I will be here to use them.

Ha ha Jane, might come to that at some point, but not yet. Mind you, this is Suffolk "cliffs", so it would not kill me.

seacliff - I thought you were going to say - We will both drive to the cliff top and jump off! lol

A full freezer of nice meals, some resting, a stack of books I want to read, planning my summer pots, a spring clean wash of duvets, throws, cushion covers, blankets and pillows. Making a cake later, we call it Bara Brith in Wales.

Get a subscription to Ancestry and start delving into your family tree. This could take two years or more and the time will fly! Then you can write up people's stories and make it interesting. If not, then at least write up your own story and your parents' stories so you have something interesting to leave for the grandchildren when they're older. Buy a file and plastic pockets and you can put photos in the story too. They will love reading it 50 years from now.

I am meeting a friend who is self isolating. We will both drive to the cliff top, with a lovely view and lots of fresh air. We'll have a chat together, each in our own cars with window open. We will take flasks of coffee and some nibbles. I am hoping this will be OK, and that the seagulls aren't too noisy.

For myself, I still work 2 days a week. They are looking into us possibly working from home, but for now I have to risk it and go in. This is obviously going to continue for many months.

I think as we get older we’re more able to cope with our own company - if the boot was on the other foot it would be much harder for young people to spend two weeks with themselves!

An addd bonus - it gets you out of anything you didn’t want to do but were too weak to wriggle out of ?

What a truly brilliant collection of answers, I'm having a couple of days away hostelling somewhere peaceful and obscure to recharge my batteries on my own, travelling today, then all plans are postponed until we see where we are in the situation. Got so much Radio 4 to catch up with, crafts, decluttering, gardening, etc. I never allowed any word of Boring bringing my gang up, "only boring people get bored" and a little job to do seems to have paid off. We're being given time, and it sounds like our generation know just what to do with it..... be sad if I can't get to WI, but caring about our friends comes first. Thank goodness for an unlimited calls and texts contract!

I have stacks to do....

In fact MawB ...that sounds pretty good to me.?

I am going to make the most of my self isolation like Maw.

A full fridge, a bottle or three of something nice and some good books plus DVDS or Netflix
More seriously, a positive frame of mind. If any of us are self isolating (or indeed isolated because others have concerns) we should not sink into self pity or feel “we’re all doomed”.
This too will pass.
And if you have a garden or even pots on a balcony plus a bird feeder you can enjoy the fact that Spring is here. Self-isolated need not necessarily mean housebound (unless there are other health issues) you won’t catch CV going for a little walk if it is sunny, or from phoning a friend who may be on her own too.
All those DVDs you felt you might enjoy watching again - and don’t get me started on Bergerac, Lovejoy, or all those great golden oldies on daytime TV.
A box set of As Time Goes By or (if it is really going to go on and on) The West Wing!
Looked at that way - it need not be too bad at all. ??

Isolation is also normal for me apart from seeing a friend once or twice a fortnight and one son one month, the other son the next month.

It took a while to get used to. Now I enjoy it, I am busy with gardening, reading, online forums, puzzles, home decorating, art, music, cinema, baking, new recipes, repurposing/renovating bits of furniture, good TV, catch up TV, watch quizzes, lots of walking etc.

Time for people isolating to try something new? Knitting, crochet, papier mache, colouring, growing veg, creating greetings cards.....so many things to do.

I often learn subjects I haven't had time for before; the states of America, the countries of Africa, kings and queens of England, rivers of Europe, the ages of man etc, etc.

Like Charleygirl, I am sorting out the house. I tackle one drawer or cupboard a day and have taken a couple of big bags to the charity shop and freecycled some things.
There are two of us and we drive to the sea and take a brisk walk along the prom but no longer stop at a cafe.
On the news this morning they said that the peak of the virus will be in three months time.
I am 73 and have lung damage but I'm not totally self-isolating yet. I'm having lunch with friends today but I no longer use public transport and am staying home much more.
I went to Asda intending to stock up but the shelves were almost empty!

After an early spring clean throughout I would sort some really good boxsets that I have been meaning to watch for a while on Netflix.

Perhaps an I am isolation thread?