The Port News is asking locals to share how they are adapting to changes and life amid the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis.

Mrs Ballands was originally born in Africa but now works as a professional painter and printmaker in the Hastings.

She graduated with a fine arts bachelor degree from Curtin University in Western Australia and holds an advanced diploma in visual art from Kempsey TAFE

She has previously held two exhibitions of work at Mackay Valley Community Gallery in 2014 and Sunset Gallery Port Macquarie in 2017.

How are you coping with working and managing other commitments without leaving your house on a regular basis?

Mrs Ballands said she's adjusting her time to stay positive in the coronavirus pandemic.

"I use my time carefully by not watching TV in the morning, rather the news at night. I find this keeps me more positive and grounded on my own patch," she said.

"With time left over I have the energy to go out into the garden, enjoy the warm sun and spend time shaping a small hedge, sweeping, making plant cuttings for later.

"When it becomes evening it's time to go indoors."

Who is the person you are spending majority of your time with now? How are the relationship/s holding up?

Mrs Ballands said she now has more time to spend with pets, her husband Ian and activities such as painting.

"Most of what I do is related to time. I now have time to do things I didn't before. I have been able to reorganise the time I have," Mrs Ballands said.

"This has allowed me to reduce (without choice) certain time absorbing activities, to pay attention to things I have always wanted to do. These are activities without people in mind.

"I am further developing my art practise from dachshund portraits to people and their hounds. There is time to further experiment with the effects of layers in painting.

"The subject matter of people with their hounds shows time. Now, I am painting a dachshund that has passed away, dearly loved by its owner. Here I am encapsulating a tiny, precious minute of time for the owner through a physical painting about memory.

"As an artist, even the time of day, capturing the light on the subjects is significant."

What do you miss most about not being able to be out and about anymore?

Mrs Ballands said the coronavirus pandemic has shutdown many potential events for the Port Macquarie Dachshund Group including therapy sessions with with the elderly.

"I have had time to walk the dogs and spend time with them. They used to engage in pet therapy with the elderly and are clearly missing the interaction," she said.

"So time for extra training and an awareness of how my own more relaxed approach quietens them to learn more."

What are your top three tips for keeping sane during this time?

Mrs Ballands recommends residents in isolation refocus on their own priorities such as gardening, healthy eating and exercise.

"I've have had the time to start a new compost project. All the collection of garden cuttings and vegetable food scraps need time to decompose," she said.

"Thinking in terms of keeping and making something from nothing and the reward of my own compost feeding the garden is great. The healthy plants and flowers an extra bonus, hopefully by the time the virus has ended.

"I have time to concentrate on my own diet. I have come across the best way of becoming more aware of the amount of sugar and better meal preparation that has helped me lose weight.

"There is time for home exercise without gym equipment. Riding my standalone bike and finding the best 80's cardio remix starting with 'Born to be Alive' gets me moving."

Is there anything you believe our community could be doing better during this time?

"When you see someone struggling, always give a hand. For example, help an old lady put her compost in her car boot. Takes 20 seconds," she said.

"Have your neighbors text numbers in your phone. When going out to shop, text to see if they need anything."

What are the greatest changes you would like to see when we all come out the other side?

"In the future our children will learn about this as a certain time in history. Life had a gear change, the world environment became cleaner, people spent time with their families, everyone was affected from the rich to the poor," Mrs Ballands said.

"There became a more levelling of priorities. More than anything humans learnt the lesson of acting for the good of others and themselves, by staying home."

What else is making news, sport?

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