While it may be difficult to get into Australia and New Zealand currently, if you do manage to book a flight or obtain a travel waiver and you’re not a citizen or permanent resident, you can look forward to 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
With some states still struggling to control the coronavirus in Australia and a recent outbreak in Auckland, New Zealand it looks like a quarantine period will be standard for anyone entering Australia or New Zealand for the foreseeable future.
With the new-norm for international travellers in place we thought we’d give you a few tips for surviving quarantine from people who we’ve helped acquire visas during this time and who have unfortunately had to go through the mandatory quarantine.
Tips for getting through quarantine
- If you can bring in as many creature comforts as you can. Obviously this depends on where you’re travelling from and what you have access to, but things like throw rugs, pillows, coffee mug, and slippers will make you feel comfortable and more relaxed.
- Do some sort of exercise every day. This could be as simple as morning stretches, or more intense like an online Pilate’s class. And if you can bring in a yoga matt with you add that to your list from Tip 1!
- Get jobs done. We all have a list of life admin tasks that we continuously put off – this is the perfect opportunity to get some of them done. But be realistic and not too hard on yourself if you don’t get them all done
- Stay in touch with people. Call your family and friends, set up zoom calls and ask them to prepare a game to play or a quiz for you. And if you’re like most of us who are checking the news far too often you can always request that you avoid talking about anything COVID related when people call you.
- Settle in, unpack and move the furniture around to make yourself feel at home – as much as you can.
- Get into a routine, if you get up and go to bed at the same time every day you’ll have a better chance of sleeping better.
- Learn a new skill. Learn how to knit, download an app to learn a new language, or try to do a handstand – anything that will give you a goal to strive towards and a challenge to pass the time.
- Eat healthy. While you might feel like a few sweet treats and a wine at the end of the day, if you try to stick to a healthy diet you won’t get the lethargy and slump that sugar can often bring on.
- Don’t sleep too much. Try to get up every day and be as active as your surroundings will allow.
- Be kind to hotel staff, nurses and other quarantine-ees. Remember everyone’s in the same situation and could use a friendly conversation or smile.
- If you need to talk to someone, are feeling lonely or sad – ask for help. This is a tough time for everyone, be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
- Ask your family and friends to drop off food, skin care, books, puzzles or anything else that might make your quarantine stay a bit nicer.
Quarantine is unfortunately a necessary step in entering Australia and New Zealand right now but if you stay positive and be kind to yourself you’ll be out the othersider before you know it!
Stay safe and well.
