Several people have asked me how I have coped with lockdown?
I reframed the question to how have I found lockdown?
As a life coach and a person whose glass is always nearly full to the brim, I try to always look on the bright side of life! This does not always mean, that there were not days that I wished there were only 6 hours in a day instead of 24 hours.
Like most people the novelty of buying several packs of toilet roll, watching Tik Tok challenges, and feeding for the 5000, soon wore off.
So, how did I choose to tackle this pandemic?
We were fortunate enough to have Easter Holidays within days of lockdown, which gave me a chance to take stock and manage the panic around me.
I repeatedly asked myself, ‘What am I in control of’?
I decided that structuring my days was the best way for me to keep going. Now I know, I like to be in control of myself, so after several discussions with my husband Matt, we found a way for me to keep my focus.
So, what did I do?
I decided to put on my creative hat and hatch a plan!
Having great connections and being open to change was a great way of me creating the ‘new norm’ in the Robinson household.
Fortunately, being so routine driven, I had scheduled times to train with my friends and as a family we found our slots around home schooling to train together. The benefits of COVID 19 were, I have never spent so much quality time with my family. One month I tallied up that we ate 50 meals together, I could not tell you the last time that we all ate so much together. During this time, it has allowed me to spend even more quality time with my children, playing anything from frustration, to quick scrabble, and also forced me to cut back on non-essential spending. Did I mention that I am shopaholic?
Re-focus, Re-frame and Re-set
As we all know, the benefits of exercising can help your mood enormously and this has been one of the biggest factors to harmony in our household. We all love training and being active, and although we have a house of two teenagers whose school life had been turned upside down, plus an energetic 6-year-old; the opportunity to train consistently helped to manage that.
Having been furloughed, and therefore having more time on my hands, I was able to exploit the many given opportunities that came my way.
Clients were coming to me for several personal reasons. I think these unprecedented times have allowed people to really Re-focus, Re-frame and Re-set, for me, being able to help others, allowed me to fulfil my purpose too.
Having spent the best part of fifteen weeks working online and home schooling for eight weeks, I can now see that there is definitely, going to be a shift in more work being conducted from home in the future. Am I right to believe this has been the same for everyone?
Managing Guilt
Sometimes, I felt guilty when I listened to others who were generally struggling with life, but I have never been more appreciative to have a supportive husband who is rational and level- headed.
Yes, I had a few days when I felt complete sadness of not being able to see my mum, my new great niece or going to pay my respects at my uncles funeral, but I am thankful that these days didn’t linger for long. I know some people have really struggled emotionally, and I pray that they find their happy place.
Reflection
My reflection on lockdown is, I have more patience than I thought, I miss hugging people and everyone that knows me, knows I am tactile!
I now know, that I don’t need to continually spend money on buying clothes and would rather save that money and go away with friends or family and create memories.
I feel that my relationship with my husband is even stronger than before, and its ok to feel vulnerable, and scared at times.
Who knows what is around the corner for all of us, but one thing remains, if you have love in abundance, enough money to eat well and great people in your life, you are truly blessed!
I am grateful
