OPINION: A little bit of madness is key in getting through self-isolation

In the pre-corona world people isolating themselves at home were thought of as the outcasts, the weirdos and social misfits.
Columnist Andrew WakefieldColumnist Andrew Wakefield
Columnist Andrew Wakefield

Left to your own devices it’s easy to start forming odd habits and views of the world and to retreat into your own little suspicious bubble.

Indeed in its most severe form social isolation can be a chronic condition that leads to feelings of loneliness, fear of others, or negative self-esteem.

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However, the stigma hasn’t stopped many indulging in the practice by choice – and many kept much further than two metres away.

Welbeck AbbeyWelbeck Abbey
Welbeck Abbey

One famous example not too far away was John Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland (1800-1879) who had an extensive underground maze created under his estate at Welbeck Abbey near Clumber Park to avoid those working on his estate and retreat into his own introverted world.

The subterranean chambers were all painted pink and included a 160ft long great hall. He usually only went outside at night with a lady servant carrying a lantern 40 yards ahead of him and insisted on a chicken roasting at all hours of the day.

Perhaps if the duke were alive today he would be happily ordering servants to re-apply the emulsion and be denigrated across social media for having cleared the poultry section in Aldi.

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One thing for sure is that he would be industriously involving himself in some mad but productive activity. Much like the way in which I found myself dancing around the room to 90s club hits in my lunch break in a vain attempt to stay fit.

The flying karate kick leap from the sofa during the build-up of Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) timed just as the next door neighbour strolled past the window.

As long as we aren’t hurting anybody there really is nowhere better than home to be a little bonkers and do something different.

So while we are all trapped in and going a little more stir crazy than usual there’s nothing better than breaking up the routine – draw a picture,create an indoor obstacle course or sing along to an opera.

While it’s important to be informed it’s much more fun than being glued to BBC News 24 for 12 hours waiting for the next Boris briefing.

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