What Does "Self-Isolation" Mean?

2020 and the onset of COVID-19 caused a major upsurge in the idea of "isolation." But, did you know that self-isolation is a much older and fleshed-out concept than that? Self-Isolation is the process of removing oneself from traditional social society and beginning to rely only on the resources of oneself or a controlled and small community. It is one of the many types of survivalist living that has been facing a revival over the past few decades. Some self-isolation concepts have been used in communes across the world since the early 20th century with some evidence showing concepts of self-isolation going back much further and being degrees more intense, depending on the cultural situation. 

But, what does "self-isolation" mean today? How can you participate in self-isolation, not just for the health benefits that it may provide in mass-scale pandemics such as the COVID-19 catastrophe; but in an every-day, sustainable capacity? 

"Self-isolation" (or "personal isolation," "social isolation," or simply "isolation") means avoiding close contact with others as much as possible, other than the family members/companions with whom you are living regularly. You must avoid any communal area where you cannot keep a distance of at least six feet from any other individual and may need to be in the area for more than 15 minutes. But there is more to it than that! Here are some other tips and tenets for living in a self-isolationist environment. 

What to do when self isolating... 

• Consider living off the grid. This enables you to rely on as few external sources for resources needed for independent survival. Self-isolation, whether it is in the wilderness or just on controlled real estate, requires a good deal of prepping just like living off the grid. In fact, many rules and guidelines of living off the grid and self isolation overlap! 
• Think about a self-contained living situation. This includes any motorhome or permanent residence that is capable of being moved from one place to the other with relative ease. Most isolationists choose RVs and motorhomes, simply because everything is already constructed and optimized. 
• Stay or go! Depending on what kind of self-isolation you choose, you might find yourself wanting to hit the open road to see as much of the world as you can, all from the comfort of your off-the-grid living situation or you might simply want to find a nice spot to lay down stakes. There is no wrong way to self-isolate - as long as you are staying self-sufficient in as many ways as you can. 
• Pack what you need and want. Remember that self-isolation does not mean that you don't need luxury. Make sure that you have everything that you need on a regular basis but are not neglecting the small things in life that bring you joy. Self isolation is all about self-sufficiency, but it doesn't eliminate the desire to enjoy life either! Find hobbies or interests that involve your isolationist lifestyle! 
• Make sure you have the right gear! Nothing can make self-isolation more taxing than finding yourself without something that you really need. This can often mean that you have to break your self isolation, simply because there is something that you can't do without. Sometimes, all that means is having a really well-stocked TEOTWAWKI bug-out bag.