Eleanor Freeman
I am no stranger to quarantining in student housing. Being an international student comes with downsides in the middle of a pandemic. With the omicron variant ripping through the younger population in the UK, plenty of students will face isolation in the coming weeks.
Luckily, a recent change in rules means that those who test positive for Covid-19 are allowed to end quarantine after seven days if they get negative antigen test results on days six and seven. Still, a week of isolation is a lot. Here are some recommendations to get you by when quarantining in a student house.
Dealing with Loneliness
If you are feeling sick, doing anything beyond lying in bed may be out of the question. But for those days when you feel okay, it can feel really hard to remain in your room alone, especially if your housemates are living at home. One tool to combat this is FaceTime. Ask your housemates to call you and talk while you are both in the house, even if you can’t be in the same room. It’s also nice to call and catch up with friends or family who you haven’t talked to in a while.
On top of that, writing out a schedule for yourself every day helps keep you busy and accountable. Hours of idle time can intensify feelings of loneliness. Schedule in those phone calls as your social time, and other periods of the day can be reserved for work or entertainment.
Food
Your housemates may be kind enough to pick you up food at the store. If you are low on stock or alone, most larger grocers can deliver orders placed online directly to your doorstep. Make sure to stock up when ordering, because often there is a minimum spend or you will get charged extra. In addition, shipping costs can go down when you place a larger order. Sainsbury’s and Tesco are two I have used successfully.
Entertainment
While Netflix might be enough to get you through, a fun way to watch films and make it social is through the site LetterBoxd. This is a social networking site that allows you to share your favourite films and movie reviews with friends. It is a great place to discover new movies as well.
Having extra free time on your hands can be a blessing in disguise for people who normally run themselves ragged. If you find it hard to not be busy, take advantage of the time you have to yourself. You might not get it like this again. This can be a great time to get back into reading for pleasure, learning a new language, or simply relaxing. It is also important to consider mental health, and meditation can be helpful for anyone. This is especially true if you struggle with anxiety. The app Insight Timer is one resource that has a wide selection of free guided meditations.
Exercise
Depending on the size of your room, certain types of exercise may not be accessible. Yoga and stretching is great not only for improving mood but also if you have limited space to exercise. Yoga with Adriene is one of my favourites, and she has a routine for practically every situation you might find yourself in.
Sanitation
With the reality that you will be quarantining in a house with other people and sharing a bathroom and/or kitchen, sanitation is important. Limiting your kitchen use can be helpful, but as it is expensive to get ready-made meals or UberEats, this may not be possible. Wearing a mask while cooking and then wiping down all surfaces with a disinfectant are good measures to take. You might also consider opening windows to air rooms out and maximise ventilation. If you have more than one bathroom, designate one for Covid-19 patients. Your negative housemates can use another to decrease their chances of exposure.
Make sure you are also stocked up on lateral flow tests so that you can test yourself and possibly get to end quarantine on day seven, as per the new isolation rules. Don’t go out of your house to pick them up, but universities will usually provide tests kits. You can also order them to be delivered to your house from the government.
Final Note
Lastly, know that there is nothing wrong if you don’t feel productive with your time in quarantine. Keeping busy and making schedules can be a good way to pass the time, but there is no one right way to do it. The media does not devote much attention to the negative impact lockdowns and quarantines have on mental health. If you are struggling, seek help and prioritize yourself as much as you can.
Mental health resources:
Clic is an online community for mental health that offers peer support and advice.
Directory of different numbers depending on need.
Call 111 if in need of urgent help.
Featured image courtesy of Engin Akyurt on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
