Self-isolation advice from Chris Hadfield

Self-isolation Advice from an Astronaut Retired Canadian Astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield shares his expert tips for surviving periods of self-isolation.

OTTAWA — Chris Hadfield knows a thing or two about staying isolated inside while risks lurk outside.

The Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station shared some tips on self-isolation on his personal YouTube channel over the weekend.

"I've spent a little time self-isolating on board a spaceship," he said. "It's an extremely dangerous environment up on board the space station and yet we find a way to thrive and be productive that far away from our normal lives."

Hadfield outlined four things astronauts keep in mind as they try to stay focused during self-isolation in the harsh environment of outer space.

He joined CTV Morning Live on Wednesday to discuss his best tips.

#1) Know the risk

"Don’t just be afraid of things," Hadfield said. "Go to a credible source and found out what is truly the risk you are facing right now; you, your family, your friends, the people that you care about."

He told CTV Morning Live there's a difference between fear and danger.

"It's what might happen that is scary but once you actually dig into it, you can become like an expert and then you can do the correct things and be a lot more logical and calm about dealing with it."

#2) Know your mission

"What are you trying to accomplish? What are your objectives? What's your mission for right now? Make that clear," he said, "for this afternoon, for this week, for next month. What do you want to get done?"

He gave CTV Morning Live's Leslie Roberts a few examples of some things you can do.

"Shave. Learn the chords to "Stairway to Heaven". Call your aunt Ethel and get her to actually show you how to make those muffins. Something that takes a little time, something you've been meaning to do but you never had a chance to do."

#3) Know your constraints

"Who's telling you what you need to do? What financial resources do you have? What are your obligations?"

He told CTV Morning Live we're all facing a unique set of circumstances to deal with.

"You've got to work your plan within the constraints of your own particular life."

#4) Take action!

"Start doing things," he said. "They don't always have to be the things that you always did before. Take care of family, start a new project, learn to play guitar, write, create," he said. "It's a chance to do something different."

On CTV Morning Live, he warned against letting passivity and lethargy take control.

"For a little while it may be sort of consoling. Give yourself something to accomplish every day. Actually go do one of the things on your list of stuff to get done. Don't let this beat you down.

"On the ship, we're active from six in the morning until eleven at night. At the end of the day, you're exhausted, but you look back go, 'Wow! That was a great day! I got a whole bunch of stuff done!' Don't let this thing direct your life. Direct your own life."

He closed his YouTube video out urging viewers to watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, such as sore throat, cough, or fever, and to contact a physician if they start feeling ill.

But he said there's never been a better time to self-isolate.

"So many people have access to the internet. You have the entire written work of everything, all that body of knowledge, right there at your fingertips," he said.

"So, take care of yourself, take care of your family, take care of your friends, and take care of your spaceship."