"You're still worth making the effort for"- Diss therapist's advice to those self-isolating at Christmas
She says it's an unexpected chance for people to put themselves first and do whatever makes them happiest
Be honest about how you're feeling and take the chance to do whatever makes you happiest this Christmas.
That's the advice being offered to all those in Norfolk who are having to self-isolate on the 25th by Ruth Noble a therapist from Diss.
"It's your opportunity to spend the day really looking after yourself and thinking about what you want to do with it. I know everyone has a different set of circumstances, but if I had to be alone on Christmas Day I would spend that time relishing the peace and quiet, because that's something that I don't get too often".
She went on to say that the circumstances doesn't mean you should cancel some of the best things about the day:
"You're still worth making all the effort for. Lay the table, get the Christmas crackers out, roast the Turkey if you have one and enjoy it. You're an important person who's worth spending that time and effort on and making it a special day for you".
She also told us that technology means we can all still spend the time together on the day:
"Speak to your friends and family on the phone if you like, or video call them when you're both eating your lunch so you're involved in their day. If you're somebody who's got a big day planned and now somebody can't join in see if you can think of ways to get them involved. After all, just because somebody isn't in the room doesn't mean you can't get them involved".
Ms Noble concluded by saying that planned celebrations can always be shifted:
"Be completely honest about how you're feeling, you may well be sad because you're missing out on all these celebrations that have been planned for so long. But it's also probably good to realise that we build Christmas up to be this amazing special occasion and it is really great to be with our families. But it's also nice to be with our families not on Christmas Day to. You can always shift Christmas".