Rare disease: corona; going live tonight on Instagram 👋

Hej there,

As you may know, a couple of weeks ago I went on live Instagram to have a collective colouring in just for fun and to take my mind off of things and where you could join me. Since most of us are in lockdown, in isolation even quarantine I wanted to create a place where you would relax for a while even if it is just a bit or where you could talk to someone if you feel like, someone with a bit of experience being in isolation like myself. I always find crafting and baking help me relaxed and I just love doing things like that. Being quarantined can make you feel lonely and even depressed, so that is why I wanted to do something fun. And also if you do feel alone or depressed and you want someone to talk to, let me know! You can send me a DM on Insta or Twitter.

You can follow me on Instagram on https://www.instagram.com/poppy_makes/
and on Twitter, you can follow me on https://twitter.com/Poppy_Makes

I'll be going live again tonight (Sunday, April 12) around 9pm GMT, which is 10pm in the Netherlands. I don't know yet which colouring page I will be colouring in yet but if you need some inspiration yourself I have made quite a few colouring pages myself over the last couple of years which you can download for free in PDF format, so don't forget to check out the colouring pages page. Plus you could also just use a colouring page you already have of course it is more of a get together without being together.

You are not alone!

x Poppy

p.s. I have put a list of a few timezones down below

Los Angeles 14:00Chicago 15:00
New York 17:00
GMT 21:00
Berlin 22:00
Rome 22:00
Moscow 00:00
Mumbai 02:00
Singapore 05:00
Shanghai 05:00
Tokyo 06:00
Sydney 08:00

Rare disease: corona; going live on Instagram💞

Hej there,

I hope everyone is doing well, staying safe and following the guidelines your government and health department has given. In my previous blog, I explained to you why it is so important to follow those guidelines and what you can do for someone in need. Since I am chronically ill with a rare disease I am quite used to being isolated and at home for longer periods. That is why I thought to use my experience of being ill and use it for some good by sharing some tips online.

My idea now was to go on Instagram live from time to time while half the world is in lockdown and you could join me in some crafts or some mandala colouring-in, things like that. I always find crafting and baking help me relaxed and I just love doing things like that. Being quarantined can make you feel lonely and even depressed, so that is why I wanted to do something fun. And also if you do feel alone or depressed and you want someone to talk to, let me know! You can send me a DM on Insta or Twitter.

You can follow me on Instagram on https://www.instagram.com/poppy_makes/
and on Twitter, you can follow me on https://twitter.com/Poppy_Makes

First time I'll be going live is upcoming Sunday, March 29 around 3pm GMT, which is 4pm in the Netherlands. Plus don't forget the clock will be going an hour forward, to summertime in the night from Saturday to Sunday. I'll be colouring in a mandala colouring page I have made. You can download it here or go to the colouring pages page, where you could find loads of different colouring pages as well. Plus you could also just use a colouring page you already have of course it is more of a get together without being together.

You are not alone!

x Poppy

p.s. I have put a list of a few timezones down below just add or subtract the number of hours of your timezone to the 3PM GMT

Berlin 16:00 

Chicago 09:00

GMT 15:00

Los Angeles 08:00

Moscow 18:00

Mumbai 20:00

New York 11:00

Paris 15:00

Shanghai 23:00

Tokyo 24:00

Rome 16:00

Singapore 23:00

Sydney 02:00

Rare disease: corona, quarantine and being chronically ill 💊

Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well! I wasn’t planning on actually writing something about the coronavirus that is roaming around the world but I felt I wanted to share a little on how important it really is that you do follow the guidelines your government and health department has given and to just use your common sense. And I felt it would be a little weird not saying anything about it here on my blog while I just shared a little about my rare chronically illness with you recently and these can be quite scary times especially for those at higher risk, which includes myself. And from that point of view, of someone who is chronically ill, I wanted to share a little on the importance of taking this all serious. Plus also I know how very very very frustrating it can be when you are not able to leave your home. And I am planning on trying to post like I have been lately so it would have just felt weird if I had gone on posting without addressing this issue. 

I am used to being isolated and inside my house for longer periods, this because of my rare disease. And I know that being at home can actually make you worry more, everything is oh so insecure, which could make you feel alone and sad. So that is why I wanted to share a few things with you on how I have handled being at home. So I am, because of my chronic illness, not really in a position where I can help someone in person, like if that is still even allowed where you are but like go and walk someone's dog or pick up groceries or things like that. But if you like to talk to someone let me know you can send me a DM on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/poppy_makes/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/Poppy_Makes). Just click on the links and it will take you to my socials I am always up for a chat, talking to someone about your worries could make you feel better. Someone could help you to see things in another perspective or help you by just listening. I understand you might be worried or feel stressed and if you feel stressed what I like to do to keep my mind off things by things I enjoy doing like crafting if my disease lets me. Plus you really don't want to add more stress to yourself, stress just isn't good for the body. And if you have that same crafting gen as I do, on my blog here and on my YouTube channel are loads of DIY videos but also printable mandala colouring pages. You can also try calming exercises like breathing techniques or maybe you want to try Yoga or Pilates these are things you could do at home, plus there are loads of tutorials on these subjects online. My advice is to try to take your mind off things with something you like which doesn't require you to go outside. Like I said loads of tutorials are to be found online. Or maybe you relax by painting your nails, putting on a sheet mask and having a nice ginger tea or maybe you like to read or watch a series or film. I once read that something you watched over and over when you were little that it helps to relax. This because you already know what’s coming, you already know the plot and even if there is a scary part or twist or whatever you already know what is going to happen. But from my point of view, I don't know what they say on that but I wouldn't watch something that made you feel deeply sad. So be safe, be responsible, be caring, be loving, be understanding, be calm, spread awareness, positivity and love and help out if you can.

Like for loads and loads of people just like me that are chronically ill, who are already battling with a disease, whose immune system is already poor it is so important you do not take this lightly. And I want to add to this, this group who are at risk various between all ages. I have noticed that people don’t realise it also means it concerns children, tweens, teens, young adults, adults and elderly. It affects everyone like your young niece, your elderly grandparents, your already ill best friend and so on. So please keep that in mind before you speak. 

And I do not want to add to your panic but I want to appeal to your responsibilities and your common sense. I see people who still don’t take it seriously and say well oh it is just a little flu and it’s is only the (chronically) ill and the elderly and I won’t be effective by it. Well maybe not for you but it is deadly ill for these groups and you could infect us and what about your own loved ones who might be ill already or your own elderly relatives do you wish it upon them, you would want to hang onto them as long as possible, right?!

Just please follow the guidelines of your government and health department, like:

• wash your hands regularly 
• don't shake hands, avoid close contact with others
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with (unwashed) hands
• cough and sneeze in your elbow
• avoid going to crowded places
• stay at home if you are sick
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• work from home if you can
• don’t visit those who are at high risk like your elderly or (chronically) ill relatives/friends
• check on one another (family, friends, neighbours) call or text them
• help if you can

Regarding that last note even if it is just calling your grandparents, parents, siblings, friends or other relatives who might feel or be alone or feel or be frightened. Maybe hang a note in you apartment complex asking if someone needs help or share some more positivity on social media.

So please don’t be that person who says I’m not scared of shaking someone’s hand or giving someone a hug, well I don’t want you to be scared at all! I want you to be sensible and responsible for yourself, your loved ones and others. I get we all process this in different ways and I don't want to be pointing fingers or telling people what to do and don't do. But I do want to say that don't yell at someone who hoards you don't know their reason, don't diminish someone who panics they could have already sick relatives/friends, please take your responsibilities, please use your common sense, please don’t panic, please don’t downgrade the seriousness, please if you can do help out someone, please don't judge others, please stay safe.

I hope everyone stays as safe and healthy as they can be and try to do everything in their power to prevent it from spreading further. I am now off watching The Little Mermaid on Disney+!

x Poppy