The stay-at-home orders handed down by the state government on Saturday has necessitated many regional NSW residents to return to a largely four-walled environment akin to last year's lockdown.
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But with lockdown can come loneliness for many residents, especially those who live by themselves without loopholes such as carer responsibilities or compassionate reasons to fall back on.
Sydney-turned-Bathurst resident Cecilia Hannon experienced this situation in Sydney for three months last year, and said it's important to keep the mind, body and spirit as focused as possible.
"It's very important to keep to a routine, eat well, exercise, have activities to do and, most importantly, ensure you enforce a clear distinction between work and home life," Ms Hannon said.
"One thing I've found that has really worked from a mental perspective is switching off the computer and closing the home office at 5.30pm for a walk, before returning to a home environment with the office closed."
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Ms Hannon said it's also important to stay connected with friends and family on a regular basis, and to preference phone calls over text messages.
"You can't just avoid human contact entirely, phone calls aren't breaking the rules," she said.
"Some days are harder than others, for sure, but if anything, this pandemic has essentially encouraged us to think outside the box, and it has also helped us further appreciate the simple things we take for granted."
Regional NSW residents who live alone are eligible to have a nominated visitor in line with current restrictions.
For more information, visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-regions#visitors-to-a-residence.