Life

Some of the things self-isolation really makes you appreciate

It's hard to imagine getting through this without kettles and smartphones
It's hard to imagine getting through this without kettles and smartphones It's hard to imagine getting through this without kettles and smartphones
By Ella Walker (PA)

:: Extra time in bed: The commute – for those of us well enough and in a position to work from home – has been obliterated. It's a small luxury but a few minutes more in bed, the time to sit down, eat breakfast and make coffee, or even do 15 minutes of yoga, makes everything feel slightly more manageable.

:: A really good lunch: No more rushed, slightly mangled packed lunches eaten at your desk. My best so far has been quesadillas: wraps filled with my sister's chilli jam, grated cheddar and sliced gherkins, folded over and heated in a frying pan until they go all oozy.

:: Smartphones: Can you imagine if coronavirus had hit in the 90s? Granted, the Whatsapp groups can make you feel hounded and having 24 hour access to the news can grind you down, but I keep looking at my phone thinking a landline just wouldn't cut it right now in terms of staying in contact with loved ones.

:: Birds: They get to fly, sing all day, and flutter about being inquisitive and lively, yammering at each other and fighting with squirrels. All you need is a window. Hours of entertainment and vicarious freedom guaranteed.

:: Television: We live in a golden age of TV and streaming services. How would we have coped with only five channels and the scary BBC Test Card of the little girl and Bubbles the clown?

:: A routine: Ever had a nightmare day at work and thought, 'I'd love a week at home doing nothing'. Nothing so quickly loses its charm. Routine it turns out, is the ticket. I've implemented one that mainly revolves around food.

:: Any kind of outdoor space: It's a privilege. There's not much I wouldn't do for a garden at the moment. Two storeys up, I'm fortunate enough to have a tiny balcony with space for a table and two chairs. Coat on, I eat lunch out there every day now.

:: Delivery services: Any delivery feels like Christmas – exponentially and emotionally amplified by the knowledge that the person who delivered it is genuinely risking their health and that, as they knock, run, and shout, 'OK?' from a 2m distance, they're the only other human you've had contact with in some time.

:: Kettles: Imagine not having a kettle. Just imagine.