Scottish solo adventurer offers top tips for tackling coronavirus isolation

Jenny Tough has taken part in several unsupported expeditions across the world.

Endurance challenger Jenny Tough shares her tips for staying positive when you’ve got little or no social contact

For many, being stuck at home on your own for what is likely to be at least two months is a difficult, lonely time.

For Scotland-based adventurer Jenny Tough, the experience of being alone for an extended period of time is not a new one.

Specialising in solo adventuring, the cyclist and runner once spent 25 days running across the Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, completely on her own.

Endurance challenger Jenny Tough shares her tips for staying positive when you’ve got little or no social contact

She was also the first person to run unsupported across the Bolivian Andes and the first woman to complete the Silk Road Mountain Race, which is an unsupported race across Kyrgyzstan for cyclists.

To help those less used to being alone for an extended period of time, Ms Tough opened up on some of the tips that helped her cope with loneliness during the difficult times.

Among the tips are making sure to sleep properly and to be creative with the food you are eating.

She said: “On an endurance challenge, avoiding boredom and keeping concentration is crucial and I’ve always found it helps to have a plan.

“Decide which podcasts or audio books you’re going to get through, or what project you’re going to do that you’ve been holding off for ages. Hold yourself to account.

“When there’s not much left on the grocery store shelves, accept it and see it as a challenge to try new things.

“Buy what you can then when you get home use Google to find new recipe ideas.”

Ms Tough added that even the most fleeting of social contact can help you battle isolation.

She said: “It’s so important to smile. On endurance challenges in remote mountain areas, I go days without seeing anyone, and those I do see don’t speak my language.

“When I did see other people, it really uplifted me to simply exchange smiles or a wave. So when you do go outside, make the effort to make eye contact and smile at the other people you pass. Just remember not to get too close.”

She also added that maintaining a proper sleep pattern and making the most of your hour of exercise was crucial.

Ms Tough said: “During lockdown, it’s easy to get off a normal routine and that can make you moody. Stick to your usual sleeping hours, even when you don’t need to, in order to stay rested and healthy.

“Use the time to push yourself a little – the rush from a hard workout lasts a long time, and helps with stress and anxiety.”