Hotel Quarantine Survival Tips

Feeling incredibly grateful for the taste of freedom to end 2020, I jet-setted off to Queensland to reconnect with old friends and feel the sand in my toes and sunshine on my skin. I spend my New Year's eve with an intimate close group of friends sipping margarita's and a nourishing meal by the fire, off the grid to the reality of what was going down. Realising you can't take your finger off the pulse to the ever-changing rules between our nations states. Awaking on the first day of 2021 and connect to wifi in the afternoon to realise Victoria was shutting off from NSW. It was quite hard to believe at the time, so I looked for flights back from Byron Bay and Gold coast only to find they were all sold out. Choosing to not buy into the stress further I switched off again hoping my rural location meant I could still get home from GC on Monday.

As I boarded my flight back to Melbourne, I had a game plan in the back of my mind. If I was to be thrown into Hotel Quarantine, I'd turn around and jump on the next flight back to Queensland where I could sit it out for 14 days. At 12:20, our flight landed. The uncertainty of entering the unknown at the gate was becoming more real. We had to queue to get off the plane and my anxiety was rising. Outside there we around 20 people on full PPE gear like a scene out of ET. As I was directed to a young assistant their early 20s he asked me "Have you been in NSW the past 14 days?". I could have easily slipped out a "no" and been on my merry way to freedom. But I can't lie, and if you have ever worked with me on a photoshoot my face doesn't lie either. The next minute I was cornered off and surrounded my three men. Questioning my every movement from the moment I left Melbourne - and made the decision I was to go to Hotel Quarantine. They couldn't say where, and I would have to wait boxed off from humans by chairs, where I waited for 3 hours.

4:30pm I arrived at my home for the next 14 days - Four Points by Sheraton in Docklands. By this stage, I was terrified, crying I was thinking of my 10-year-old daughter I hadn't seen since Christmas eve and my dog Ollie. I also knew I had no clean underwear nor a laptop to even be productive. 

I was given one phone number, when I called they said they could only help International travellers. The person on the end of the line couldn't tell me who I could apply for an exemption from or organise to have my things dropped to me.

48 hours later, I was reviewed and allowed to have a delivery, so I would like to share the top 10 things I needed to help me get through. 

What to pack and prepare for quarantine:

1. Laptop - for obvious reasons getting work done, streaming tv shows and movies, zoom sessions with friends and clients and also therapy if needed like I did today.

2. Books - I'm obsessed with personal development but trying to explore more fiction or stories. The three books I have with me are - Can't hurt me, by David Goggins, This one wild and precious life, by Sarah Wilson, and Soulmate, by Deepak Chopra (random one as it literally fell off the shelf on my bag when I was staying at a friends house on holidays.)

3. Relaxed Clothing in natural fibres and elastic waistbands. Workout gear, and Pj's

4. Herbal tea to mix it up, I love the Pukka mixed box range

5. Water filter jug - This is personal preference as I don't enjoy drinking the tap water and aware of what is put into it in some cities.

6. Chocolate - as a little treat after dinner, I love Loco Loves raw vegan chocolate mixed with tonic herbs.

7. Skincare - I was lucky enough to have a clay facemask packed and face oils to take care of my skin and feel fresh.

8. Journal for document the daily feelings and gratitude

9. Vitamin D - As I have no windows to allow fresh air in or sunshine and is also good for mental health

10. Sweat exercise app and Insight Timer for meditations

11. Yoga mat!

To keep me sane I put together a routine on the first day (only day 3 now). I fear being lazy, which could also be why I am in here, to learn to slow down and know it is ok to do nothing. 

Daily routine in quarantine:

6:00 am: Wake and either stretch or do a yoga class on your tube.

6:30 am: 20 minutes of meditation (could also add on breathing exercises but no pressure on myself here)

7:00 - 9:00 am: Get dressed and do my hair and face for the day, ponder for a bit, read with a cuppa tea and light breakfast.

9:00 am -11:00 am: Work / Study session - it was great on the first day to join the team from Cool Wow Collective for a digital co-working session.

11-1 pm: Catch up with friends, read a book and eat lunch.

1 pm: Rest with a 20-minute nap (Einstein style)

2pm - 4pm Work / study

5 pm: Do a SWEAT workout

6pm: Dinner is delivered and catch up with friends over zoom.

I also put together a page in my journal to form new habits during this time such as the daily yoga, meditation, and a workout session. I hope to continue this routine when I am back to my new reality. Tomorrow I have a juice cleanse being delivered as well from Greene Street Juice so I feel glowing when I step out of here.

I'd love to hear how you survived your lockdown or quarantine in the comments below.