Isolation

[marilyn47]

Thanks for the welcome to Health Unlocked. I am new here. I am a female senior who is having problems adjusting to retirement. I am presently trying to find seniors activities like yoga and cards. Being isolated in these unusual times is making it even more difficult.to connect. Any tips for working on depression during isolation?

[hypercat54]

Hi nice to meet you. I retired a few years ago so I know what you mean. Retirement is everyone's dream but it arrives and you suddenly have all this free time and nothing to do which is scary after the discipline of work.

The secret is to put some structure back in your life again so you are doing the right thing in looking for clubs to join. In the UK there are also Meet Up groups and U3A. Every area has groups of some type.

I love retirement and made a vow after a lifetime of work to only do things I enjoy. So I play darts, cards and quizzes. I lunch with friends often and I also volunteer in a charity shop twice a week. But hey whatever floats your boat. Obviously at the moment all this is stopped so am bored out of my skin. Take care.

[marilyn47 in reply to hypercat54]

Hi and thank you for your valuable advice,

I looked forward to retirement as well and I got involved in taking recreational classes and some volunteering. The transition was difficult , I feel I should have got invested in hobbies before I retired. I agree that structure in life is the important key.

I am looking for clubs that meet once a week for card games , coffee and monthly lunches. Finding these clubs has not been easy with isolation.

I have been researching the seniors sites for more information on their activities and hopefully I will get involved in some of them. Some of the problem is that I do not have a wide range of interests. I tend to like walking, reading and gardening. I need to join groups to get to know more people.

Thanks for sharing your retirement experience. Have nice week.

[Junella]

I had a hard time transitioning after retirement but had the distraction of my husband being disabled from Lyme disease for ten years. We started going to Florida in winters. Now we are isolated in a small apartment. I have been anxious over an illness that has improved. I spend time reading, writing to friends on PC, getting a phone call now and then or making one to a friend. I practice relaxation breathing exercises. Walk a bit--only 2000 steps a day now. I suggest you avoid violent TV films and news if its upsetting to you.

Try a hobby like sewing, writing, studying and researching a subject. Keep busy and take time for a spiritual life. I've read the Bible a lot and used commentaries for the difficult books like Revelation with all its imagery that really boils down to good vs evil and all the awful things represent evil that is finally destroyed. There is a lot of hope if we look for it. I suggest the book of John for reading.

[marilyn47 in reply to Junella]

Hi Junella nice to hear from you!

Thanks for sharing your adjustment to retirement and challenges in the first 10 years of your retirement.

Staying connected with friends and family is very important during these unusual times. I do enjoy keeping in touch with friends by texting and phoning. Sometimes we even use ZOOM for video chats.

I do not have many hobbies but I do like to sketch and paint and I am an avid reader. I also take pleasure in volunteering and gardening. I find cooking and baking fun.

I need to find groups or clubs so that I can meet more people in my community.

I am presently dealing with some depression and do not have my usual motivation. With time this should improve. Thanks again for your recommendations. Stay well and stay safe.

[Hidden]

Hi there, Marilyn47, I hear that you are having a harder time adjusting to retirement due to the isolation caused by the COVID 19 complications. Here are some things that have helped me in the last three weeks: maintaining close relationships with people through texts and phone calls (I suppose I'll submit to videocalls this week.. though it goes against my nature); forging new relationships through the same means; exercise; reading; and planning for post COVID 19. So my day looks like this, get up before it seems everyone (at least on my US East Coast big city block), espresso, run, 10 minute core workout, yoga/tai chi/stretching/foam rolling, good protein breakfast, read, offer support here on this site, apply for new projects, audit statistics class, relax. Throughout the day I'll text and/or call friends/colleagues. Not every day is 100% good, however, I try to maintain the schedule (which is good for easing my anxiety and depression). I think forums like this one are good to maintain contact with others who are honest about how they're feeling and get some support. I hope you are doing well today.

[marilyn47 in reply to Hidden]

Hi great to hear from you,

I was inspired by your suggestions on how to deal with isolation during these unusual times. You are certainly an active lady.

These days I am trying to keep in touch with friends and family by texting and phoning. Some members of my yoga class along with our teacher do video calls once a week. I love to read, watch movies and listen to music. I walk at least three times a week

I definitely understand the need for structure in our lives. I need to research seniors clubs and plan to join some of them post COVID19.

Thanks for sharing your approach to dealing with isolation and kindly offering your support on this site.

[Hidden]

Hi Marilyn47, Thanks for this, for your wonderful words and reply. I'm glad you're keeping in contact with your friends, family, and community. That is great. Walking is a great thing as well... keep moving. Have a wonderful day.

[Sprinkle1]

Hi, are you in the UK?...I am in the US, I retired 15 years ago, and was glad to, I was burnt out after 46 years of being in the work force. I started planning in my late 40's what I hoped to do once I retired. I was born in Lincolnshire during the war 1942, I had a brother 2 years younger than I. My parents always saw to it that we had hobbies, tried to educate us about birds, country's, towns, flowers.

When we had petrol we would go out in the country and play "I spy" trying to name trees, birds, butterfly's, flowers, we were never bored. They taught us board games and card games. I have continued with these in my life time, doing volunteer work starting at the age of 17 and still doing it, except cannot now because of virus. I took up Hatha Yoga in my early 40's and finally became an instructor. Canoe guide on the local river, involved in Spiritual Group. After I retired I was not always sure what to do with all "my time", I discussed it with my Aunt who was 9 years older than me. It is OK to just sit. I finally outgrew that, as I moved from Calif to S.C. I wanted a garden, so set to work on making a garden area and planting Veg. I knit hats and scarves for the underprivileged, I took a class on pine straw weaving, a lot of fun. I do volunteer work at our locale library, there is never enough time in my day to do all I want to. I have a garden of sorts planted now,on my deck. I am awaiting 3 new planting boxes to be delivered, I will put more veg. in, so hope to feed myself this summer, and maybe have enough to give to others. I have Yoga tapes, so do an hour of those on any given day, ride my exercise bike, or go for a walk. I am all by myself, I call my brother in UK, and a friend in Hants. I have two lovely cats that are such good company. Have you been depressed before? Perhaps you would benefit from a course of antidepressants, talk with your Dr. These are difficult times and enough to make anyone depressed. I suffer with Depression and Anxiety, I take 50 mg a day of Cymbalta. It keeps me balanced. I think of the virus as "It is what it is", it will end someday, things always end or come under control. I play nice music, spend a lot of time on my computer, exercise and read. I like to watch a DVD in the evenings, I am not much of a TV person!!! But I am happy when I get up and when I go to bed, I do not worry about Anything, and I am not afraid. I do the best I can to take care of myself, only left the house once to shop in the past 5 weeks. And life goes on!!!! I hope you like my reply, keep writing to us we will do our best to support you and let you feel your in a family now. Sending courage, strength, belief in self, peace, love n hugs......Sprinkle 1.....

[marilyn47 in reply to Sprinkle1]

Hi!

You are a person who really planned her retirement. You have a wide range of

interests. In fact you still have interests that you cultivated early in life.That is wonderful.

I will take your advice on being open to new hobbies and keeping fit by doing yoga and other favorite exercises like walking. I also enjoy gardening especially growing perennials and vegetables. I am avid reader and I have certainly read many this winter and spring. I need to get more involved in seniors clubs and in a recreation centre near by.

I am presently dealing with depression and hope to get over it soon. Now that spring is really here, there will be many things to do in the garden. I am looking forward to that.

Many thanks for sharing your retirement journey and your sensible approach to COVID19 isolation. I truly appreciate your encouragement and support.

Hugs from

a Canadian

[scarr6]

I am finding during this time of isolation that I need to make sure I am reaching out to people, texting friends, making a FaceTime call, finding some way to connect with the world around me. It reminds me that even in isolation, there is still love to go around and still the possibility of connection.

[marilyn47]

Hi!

I found your message positive, emphasizing the importance of connecting with friends and family. I am using email, video chats and phone calls to keep in touch. It is nice to receive a few humorous emails and videos.

I need to explore more hobbies, crafts and books. I enjoy walks, listening to favorite music and relaxing with a good book. This isolation too shall pass.

I appreciate your words of encouragement. Stay safe and healthy.

[marilyn47]

Hi!

I agree that connecting is very important during isolation. I am doing my best to phone, text and video chat with friends and family. Receiving humerus emails and videos is great too.

I am trying to walk and do yoga three times a week . I need to have more hobbies. The snow is still here in Canada but there are many signs of spring, the tulips are up and the waxwings and robins are back. Isolation too shall pass.

I appreciate your encouragement. Stay healthy.

[Witsend8]

Well, think most of population down and or anxious about something,isn't that what majority of humans do? Nothing wrong with that, I think it's natural to most people. Perhaps try some free online yoga and I too love cards, so I download free non gambling card games, keeps me ok when I'm not too down. Lots luck cheesecake green goddess on tv and internet for less able to do high volume exercises,no matter the age xx