Okay, so it’s not really ‘lockdown’ anymore. Gone are the days of watching back-to-back Tiger King on Netflix, baking banana bread, and going for our 1 permittable form of exercise per day.
God, thinking back, how did we get through that?
Things in the UK are opening up again, the latest addition being pubs this weekend, and life is slowly revealing its ‘new normal’.
I’ve started wearing a mask when I go into shops, which feels completely alien and horrible, but necessary. When I look around at everyone standing 2 metres apart, masks on, hand sanitiser out, I feel sad that this is what it’s come to.
I’m not used to it. I doubt anyone is, to be honest. When this ‘Coronavirus’ first came about in the news and media, I was naive and blazé about it. I shrugged it off with ignorance: ‘it’s just a flu bug’ and ‘it won’t affect us’.
I was pretty wrong about how significantly it would impact not just the UK, but my own personal life too.
When I packed up my laptop at work and left the office to start working from home, I didn’t realise that it would be the last time.
After being put on furlough, I started to realise the severity of the effects the virus was having on the economy, and I just couldn’t wait for everything to get back to ‘normal’ and return to work.
But, unfortunately, it hasn’t.
Although I’m so glad some shops are able to open, the measures of daily exercise dropped, and we’re able to see friends and family again, I’m also scared of what this ‘new normal’ will entail, and how long it will go on before we can walk around freely again.
It’s really, really weird.
But I can’t let myself get bogged down with it all. So I’ve come up with 3 mantras to keep reminding myself of.
1. Everything happens for a reason
My Nanna used to say this, and I couldn’t agree more. Some people believe it, some people don’t, and that’s okay. For me, I say this on a more personal level, that although things are hard now, they won’t be soon, and I would’ve learnt something along the way.
2. Keep moving forward
It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut and stay inside your comfort zone. Occupy your brain, get outside, improve yourself in some way, no matter how minor. Get back up and walk on.
3. Know your worth
This pandemic has had such an effect on people’s lives all over the world. When things go wrong, or if something doesn’t turn out quite how you expect it, sometimes it’s hard not to take it personally. But when it’s out of your control, and whatever you do you can’t change the outcome, don’t let it knock you. Stay true to you, your abilities and worth. Think positive.
How are you staying positive? Let’s chat in the comments below. 🙂
Amy Louise Writes 