Housebound: Tips to make it better from health experts, astronaut and submarine officer

If parents have to work at home, it helps to schedule in time to fully engage with the child. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

SINGAPORE - It has been more than a week since Singapore entered a month-long circuit breaker period, where people hunker down at home to play their part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Elsewhere, much of the world is under lockdown as the disease spreads like wildfire.

Many people have had to adjust to spending long periods of time at home with family members. While some enjoy being at home more, others may find it challenging to work and live in the same place for weeks on end. But there are ways to make it better, say experts and those who have had experience with extended periods of isolation for work.

A ROUTINE FOR YOURSELF

Retired National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent nearly a year on the International Space Station, said he kept to a tight schedule there.

"You will find maintaining a plan will help you and your family adjust to a different work and home life environment," he said in a New York Times article.

Pace yourself and schedule in a consistent bedtime, he advised.

"Nasa scientists closely study astronauts' sleep when we are in space, and they have found that quality of sleep relates to cognition, mood and interpersonal relations - all essential to getting through a mission in space or a quarantine at home."

While many people may think that working from home is a breeze, the reality can be different. Without a routine for the day, some might be bored while others find themselves working day and night.

"Working from home is foreign to most of us and could take a little more effort than you think," said Dr Goh Kah Hong, the head and senior consultant of psychological medicine at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

The fact that not everyone has a place to work from at home means you first have to plan for it.

Step 2 is having the right frame of mind for work.

"You can do so by having a little 'check-in ritual' to mentally switch from home to work," said Dr Goh.

"Some might want to get dressed in work clothes to feel more at work, especially if you have to tele-conference. It is important to remain connected with your colleagues, and perhaps set achievable and meaningful goals together."

Apart from work, schedule in time for self-care, activities that you enjoy such as reading, exercise and bonding sessions with your family.

For Mr Jon Bailey, a former submarine weapons officer in the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, who spent several weeks at a time in a steel tube underwater, maintaining a routine meant time passed by quickly and meaningfully.

He offered the following tips to the British Medical Journal:

- Set times for work, hobbies, meals and so on. Write them down and stick to them.

- Don't lie about in your pyjamas, or at least have daytime pyjamas.

- Do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day; it breaks up the day and can help lift your mood.

"Life at sea is a clockwork pattern of shifts. Routine gives you direction and keeps the time flowing - so establish one early on, before low mood sets in," he said.

A ROUTINE FOR YOUR CHILD

Dr Kang Ying Qi, a consultant at the National University Hospital's child development unit, said parents should maintain a child's daily routine as much as possible to help them cope with any anxiety they may have.

She said: "Some children will benefit from a clearly drawn-up timetable for home, as this visual reminder increases the child's ability to accept and transit into new schedules.

"Giving your child control over small decisions can also help them feel more empowered amid the changes. For example, children can choose if they want noodles or rice for a meal or the book they would like to read."

If parents have to work at home, it helps to schedule in time to fully engage with the child so that the child is able to tolerate periods of being alone and look forward to these moments for engagement.

Nevertheless, the best timetable can get disrupted by urgent work commitments. Talk to your child beforehand and find a visual signal that represents a do-not-disturn sign, advised Dr Kang.

"For example, when a parent ties a red ribbon on his or her door, it means that the child should not enter the room unless it is an emergency," she said.

TUNE OUT SOMETIMES

We are overloaded with pandemic-related news and it can be very stressful to be immersed in the news for a prolonged period of time.

"Limiting your exposure helps us keep a healthy mindset," said Dr Goh.

When the level of stress gets to a hysterical level, people can behave irrationally, such as joining long queues in a supermarket when physical distancing is most needed, he said.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

"Set realistic expectations, especially regarding productivity," said Ms Andrea Chong, a senior clinical psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health.

"Remind yourself that the measures are temporary, and focus on the altruistic reasons for doing so, for the protection of loved ones and the larger community."

Then, take a step back and look for the silver lining, or find things to be grateful for, she said.

STAY CONNECTED

"Loneliness is an emotional response to perceived isolation, which is a very real threat with social distancing," said Dr Goh.

So, call up an old friend to express your care and concern.

"You would be surprised how caring for others can often make you feel better," said Dr Goh.

As a society, a lot of people are coming together and showing solidarity in fighting the pandemic and that definitely make us feel less lonely. It is also important to differentiate between loneliness and being alone, he said.

"Solitude has its reward - time and space to think and reflect and move closer to a better future."

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19

In the midst of ever stricter measures being introduced to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, both the young and the old have had to adjust to changes in lifestyle.

Still, some parents or caregivers prefer not to talk to their children about the pandemic, fearing that they are not ready to hear the truth of the matter.

Dr Kang said parents should first acknowledge and address their own fears before they can have a calm discussion with their child.

"Start with asking your child what he or she already knows, enquire about the questions he or she has, and then supplement or correct the understanding accordingly," she said.

Even young children know something is going on.

"Children below four years old may not be aware of the virus, but are still keenly cognisant of the changes to their immediate environment and daily life," said Dr Kang.

"Beyond information about the pandemic, the underlying message a parent should try to convey is that they are there to support the child through the changes and uncertainties."

Dr Kang said parents should take note of the following:

- Avoid inundating children with excessive information. Children can be especially sensitive to graphic images and details about tragic circumstances.

- Refrain from discussing your concerns about the pandemic when you are around the children.

- Avoid using scare tactics involving Covid-19 to get a child to comply with your instructions. This will inadvertently increase a child's anxiety and fear about this pandemic.

LISTEN TO HEALTH CHECK PODCAST

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.