We are still suffering this blasted virus and despite (at the time of writing) no further restrictions it seems that everyone we speak to is isolating or knows someone who is!  Christmas and New Year were a washout for many people with plans changed, postponed and cancelled until better times could be had.  Scotland and Wales have reintroduced the rule of six and it seems in England we are "self-managing"?

Wherever and whatever, the result is that we are restricted and are unable to freely visit friends and loved ones.

Any form of isolation can cause loneliness and sadness and in the short-term this isn't necessarily a problem but when experienced over longer periods then these feelings of loneliness can become deep-rooted. By sharing and showing little acts of kindness we can all help our friends, loved ones and neighbours to avoid the ever decreasing circles that can lead to more profound mental health issues.

Here are 5 simple ways to cheer them up and keep in touch.

Face-time, zoom and other smart apps are a god-send, at least you can see each other even though there are no cuddles.  That's where we come in!  Our best-seller, The Hug hits just the right note.  At an affordable £45 this Hug in a Box contains a microwaveable herbal body wrap, yummy biscuits, a scented candle and some delicious herbal tea.  It is beautifully gift wrapped and delivered with a personalised gift note all included in the price.  Whether you want to say "Get Well Soon" or "I Miss You" this and a whole range of Oohbox gifts will be sure to put a smile on their face.  

Arrange to watch a film at the same time as someone, tuck into a Chick Flick or Blockbuster for an intimate non contact date night and share your thoughts on the show after.  Just sharing an experience and talking about it can really help alleviate the feelings of isolation.

Send a kind message, an inspirational quote or poem to someone. Whether via text, email or over the phone a few kind words go a long way to spreading happiness and joy.  Our gift box "The Happy" is a cheerful box of loveliness.  With Fern Cotton's acclaimed paperback, delicious biscuits and a cute mug this delightful gift box is a simply perfect way to spread joy.

Arrange to have a video lunch with someone, and then follow up with an in-person catch up.  Chat about everything except what is keeping you apart and try to find the humour and fun in everyday things.  What books have you been reading, what films have made you laugh and of course a bit of gossip keeps everyone going!

Encourage journaling!  Writing down our thoughts an feelings and more importantly our aspirations and plans for the future can help shake off the feelings of lethargy and loneliness. Journaling is such a personal thing.  By being creative a journal can become more like a scrapbook with doodles and clippings of the things you love or it can be more structured with timelines set for certain goals.  All you need is a beautiful quality notebook and your imagination. Take a look at The Writer or The Deskmate as examples.

There are many ways in which we can help those close to us through times where physical contact is difficult, it's just hard sometimes to know what to do so we hope that we've triggered a few ideas!

When it comes to gifting, we have done the hard work for you.  All you need to do is select the gift and we'll do the rest.

This pandemic will pass as have many before and when it does I'm sure we'll all be better for it having realised just how much we appreciate and need each other!

Look after each other x

 

 

January 11, 2022 — Julie Selby