Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives
How are you all doing?
Adjustus V continues, and I’m thankful to say we are in good physical health. I hope you too are keeping well?
I wanted to use this opportunity to reach out to let you know I’m thinking of you at this incredibly unsettling time. I’m sure we’ll get through this and hopefully we’ll all come out the other side stronger, more resilient and with a renewed sense of what is truly important in our lives.
Focusing the mind
Personally, I’ve found the volume of information about Covid-19 on news reports and social media quite overwhelming. It was preventing me from focusing on productive tasks and having a negative effect on my mood.
So now, I’m trying to limit the time I spend consuming media, checking-in less frequently and for shorter time periods. I check the news and my social media channels once in the morning and once in the evening, which has had a positive impact on my mental health.
Routine and exercise
I am trying to stick to a routine to help keep me sane while we are in lock-down. I continue to wake up at the same time I always have, I get dressed and put make-up on so I feel “ready for the day”.
My daily routine generally includes:
• Productive and helpful tasks
• Exercise
• Time to connect with people
• Cooking nutritious meals
I have been doing food shopping for my elderly neighbours and those in self-isolation. I also love to sew, so have used my machine to make some protective face masks for friends and family using a tutorial I found online.
You know I love my exercise, so being in lock-down has forced me to adapt in order to continue to get those daily endorphins.
My fitness classes are now online – many of them using Zoom video conferencing. I know my friends’ children are using similar technology to continue with both their academic and extra-curricular classes too. Perhaps your regular place of exercise has virtual classes?
My family are in the Czech Republic, so I video call them regularly to find out how they are coping. I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s very strange not to see friends and family as and when we want. I imagine we’ll cherish the time we spend together even more when this is all over.
Perspective
Some days I feel penned in and frustrated not being able to go out and do all the things I normally would. But I just need to think of all the incredible front-line workers; their hard work, and the personal sacrifices they are making to help keep us well. They are truly inspiring.
To all the amazing front-line workers (including my best friend – a doctor at a hospital down here in Sussex) who are putting their lives at risk to help fight this virus; I am so grateful and so proud of you.
Gratitude
There’s no denying things are different right now, but different doesn’t have to be taken in a negative sense. I have found the pace of life has slowed, and I’m trying to use this time to pause; to reflect and be grateful for things that might have previously passed me by.
With less traffic on the roads I can hear the birds singing clearly, I’m grateful for my garden and having more time to tend to it, and I’m reading more. I suppose you could say I’m enjoying the simpler things in life, and that’s not a bad place to be.
During this time of uncertainty, stay safe and keep well.
