The spread of the coronavirus isn’t slowing down, that much is for certain. This disease is just as prevalent now as it was earlier in the year, which is why governments across the globe are once again tightening their lockdown laws.

Unfortunately, if there has been a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in your local area, you could very well find yourself stuck in lockdown for the foreseeable future. If the prospect of spending yet more time in isolation makes you feel anxious and afraid, it’s crucial that you distract yourself from these distressing feelings. If you don’t, you could find yourself battling serious mental health problems such as depression and/or general anxiety disorder (GAD) sooner rather than later.

Are you determined to remain upbeat and positive throughout the next stage of lockdown? If so, be sure to put the following advice into practice. Here are three things you can do to pass the time while you’re stuck at home in self-isolation:

Make use of video chat technology

You might not be able to spend time with your loved ones in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see them. If you make use of today’s top video chat tools, you will still be able to interact with your friends and family even if you’re not actually allowed to be together in the flesh.

As is the case with anything that takes place via the Internet, the safety of video chatting is sometimes called into question. If you don’t want your system to be hacked or your personal information to be stolen while you spend time video chatting with your loved ones, it is crucial that you go above and beyond to remain safe. To perform this all-important task, you must:

• Never distribute the links to your meetings on social media
• Take some time to edit the specifications of your chat to ensure that only signed-in users can join
• Lock your communal video chat platform as soon as all planned participants have entered it
• Remain mindful of background noise and remember to position your camera properly (this isn’t essential for your safety — just basic video chat etiquette!)

Reconnect with things that you love

Don’t waste all of this spare time that you have on your hands lounging around in your PJs all day. Take advantage of your free schedule by taking some time to reconnect with the things that you love. You don’t have many (if any) commitments at the moment, so why not indulge in a bit of a well-deserved ‘me time’?

If your great passion in life is hockey, you’re in luck because NHL games are now taking place once again. You might not currently be allowed to cheer on your favorite team in person, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t follow the sport that you love from the comfort of your own home. To keep up to date with all the latest happenings in the world of professional hockey, be sure to check out Odds Shark NHL Scores and Standings Online.

Learn a new skill

If you do, in fact, end up having to stay in lockdown throughout the duration of the winter months, why not consider mastering a new skill? You’ll have plenty of time on your hands and it’ll be too cold for you to potter around in your garden, so what’s the harm in trying something a bit different? Whether you learn to play an instrument or brush up on your knowledge of a foreign language, this is definitely a worthwhile route that you can take in your attempt to pass the time in self-isolation.