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Here’s how these cottagers are embracing self-isolation

Published: March 18, 2020 Updated: October 7, 2022
yoga mat on rug, looking through sliding door out onto a frozen lake, self isolation
Photo by @brookelajackson
Lake Clear, Ont.

"Social distancing at your cottage could turn out to be a treasured time to reconnect with your family and yourself. A yoga session with a view of the lake is a good start to the day. End the day with a glass of Niagara Pinot Noir by the fire."

German Shepard puppy standing on rock on a frozen lake with sunset in the background
Photo by @fortheloveofsmiley
Kennisis Lake, Ont.

"You have no idea how bad I needed this stay at the cottage. Whether any of us ever gets sick, this virus has affected us all. It has consumed our minds, our life, and our thoughts. Be good to yourself, and take care of each other. On another note, how stunning is this pic of Buck?"

1 adult and two kids on snowmobiles in front of a cottage
Photo by @jrsears
Northern Ontario

"Escaped to our happy place this weekend. Not sure we want to leave!"

maple syrup buckets on trees in the snow
Photo by @bancroftbaptistelake
Baptiste Lake, Ont.

"March Break, for us, was supposed to be spent abroad. We had planned and paid for a trip to Belgium, Netherlands, and Iceland back in September. This, with the threat of COVID-19, was all postponed. We decided to visit the cottage instead, and it has been so beautiful, but so, so cold. Our cottage, deep in the wilderness and accessible only by an ATV, snowmobile, or snowshoes in winter, is a great place to hide from society and it’s just about the opposite from a European tour!"

woman walking dog alone in the woods, self isolation
Photo by @bancroftbaptistelake
Baptiste Lake, Ont.

"We have often joked that our place on Baptiste would be the perfect place to survive a pandemic, war, or attack. With solar, water, natural food sources, etc. at our fingertips here, our friends and family have spontaneously observed this, too, and have jokingly asked if they can join us here under those circumstances. I heard from a nearby Baptiste neighbour that that is their plan, too! If there IS a zombie apocalypse, I think Baptiste will be busier than usual! But, right now, in the dead of winter at least, it’s a great place to ensure social distancing. Now, I must remember to buy and store a pile of seeds this spring..."

cabin in the woods covered in snow, self isolation
Photo by @emilymezzapelli
Dorset, Ont.

"During this worldwide crisis, I decided to head to the cottage and practice social distancing. For those of us lucky enough to be in cottage country right now, the sights and sounds of nature are so comforting during these troubled times."

man chopping firewood for a woodstove in a cabin
Photo by @emilymezzapelli
Dorset, Ont.

"I have been listening to the water trickling while taking walks along the riverside, listening the birds singing outside my window while doing crafts and taking time for myself. Social distancing has given me the opportunity to reconnect with the landscape and appreciate the peace and serenity that it can offer us."

Ah, social distancing and self-isolation, terms that weren’t even in our lexicon until recently. Now, it’s all we can talk about.

To be clear: the Government of Canada refers to self-isolation as something for individuals who have “no symptoms AND a history of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus due to travel outside of Canada or close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.” Those in self-isolation are asked to stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms while avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Social distancing, on the other hand, is something we can and should all do to help prevent further spread, particularly to help those that may be easily susceptible to the virus. This includes avoiding crowding or gatherings of more than 10 people, and staying home as much as possible.

With all of that in mind, it’s natural that people look to the cottage as their reprieve from everything—what better place to truly get away from it all? (There’s less people, and you can be surrounded by nature!) Here’s how cottagers on Instagram are practising social distancing.

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