Writing your life story – or part of it – could provide a wonderful project while the country is in lockdown.

Those in self-isolation should “take Shakespeare’s example” and use the time to put pen to paper, suggests Dame Esther Rantzen. When Shakespeare was quarantined during the plague it is said he wrote King Lear.

As well as being a brilliant way to while away the hours, psychologists say that writing a memoir can relieve stress and improve wellbeing. Finding ways to look after our mental health is more important than ever. According to research by King’s College London last week, nearly half of us are feeling more anxious and depressed as a result of the pandemic.

Your life story could also be a wonderful gift for your children or grandchildren. So many of us regret not finding out more about our parents and grandparents, and often realise too late that our opportunity has gone. As well as giving future generations a better understanding of their family history,  children who know how they connect to their world are more resilient. Researchers think that telling our children family stories may even lower their chances of developing depression in later life.

If you’ve been thinking about recording the adventures of your life, but don’t know where to start, why not get in touch.