Maintaining our wellbeing and adjusting to the new ‘normal’

March was a long month. Everything has gradually been cancelled or closed and we now find ourselves, along with a lot of the rest of the world, in lockdown. It’s hard to believe, and these last few weeks have been such an intense process of adjustments, information overload and looking for loo roll that it’s almost a relief to reach this ‘stay-at-home’ plateau.

We love our active life and the girls are especially sorry to be missing their swimming, school friends and our long-awaited holiday. They’ve got many questions and are sad to be packing away their school uniform, not knowing when it’ll next be worn. Our calendar may now be empty but social media is fit to burst with live-streaming suggestions, fitness to-dos and home schooling opportunities. We’re excited to explore these but for now, thanks but no thanks. In our house we are all drawing breath, doing what fuels us and trying to relax into what will be our new normal for the weeks to come.

The sunshine has certainly brightened the mood and the girls have spent much time playing in the garden, pampering their guinea pigs, making iMovies, snacking incessantly, baking, video-calling friends and reading. Schoolwork will come but this time to digest and unwind is too good to miss.

Despite the uncertainty we face, there is much to celebrate (not least our amazing NHS and other key workers). Usually I despair at how distancing our screens are but this month I am in awe of their power to connect and lift us. We can chat with friends and family near and far, work from home and enjoy all that Netflix has to offer. And there are new connections too, our local community is rallying and we’re getting to know all our neighbours; who’s who and who needs what (from a safe 2m distance of course). Another silver lining when no one sees you up close is that it really doesn’t matter what you look like, how cool you are, how your hair’s done or even if you’ve got your hearing aids on. What a treat!

If we, our friends and loved ones emerge from this Corona crisis healthy and not too financially scathed then we’ll have much to be thankful for. The outbreak demands strength from us all and let’s hope differences can be put aside as we come together as families, as communities, as a nation and as a world, working together to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing.