Things to do in isolation: Tip #1

While being in isolation has many of us climbing the walls, spare a thought for others in in the past who were forced into isolation without the benefits of technology.

One young girl kept herself occupied with what was to become the most famous diary in history.

Anne Frank spent two of her most formative teenage years in hiding from Nazi soldiers during World War II.

Prior to going into hiding she received an autograph book as a gift for her 13th birthday which she decided to use as a diary. 

She wouldn’t have known it at the time but this diary was to become one of the most valuable historical documents of the German occupation in the Netherlands during World War II and the persecution of the Jewish population.

Keeping a diary has a myriad of benefits including keeping your thoughts organised, building your writing skills, setting and achieving goals, stress relief, boosting your memory, inspiring creativity and the list goes on.

Whether it’s a blog, or writing in an actual journal, you too could be contributing to the history of this unprecedented time in history simply by documenting your daily life and thoughts.

If you’d like to learn more about Anne Frank’s experience in isolation, have a look at Google Arts and Culture and embark on a virtual tour of Anne Frank’s hiding place.