And how was the weekend for you?

So we have survived the first weekend in the coronavirus lockdown here in the UK. How did you survive? How are you finding things?

I ventured out to the shops for the first time in a week. What an experience... Really positive at our local Aldi, and really grim at the local Co-op!

I'm not normally one to 'name and shame' but this really demonstrates the impact of strong leadership and how this filters down to all levels of an organisation. Trust, empowerment and adult 'ways of working' are really shining through in times like these.

A few other firsts over the weekend included holding a virtual space for our coffee morning gals to connect. Most have never done anything like a video conference before but it went well and we all enjoyed the time together to just 'chat'. 

This is a very 'chatty' group on WhatsApp but sharing thoughts, laughter material and baking conquests is very different to just chatting and being present with each other.

My initial reactions on seeing a laughing group of 'youngsters' who then turned out to be a family having a huge mount of fun riding their bikes out together was heart-warming and very special.

And work wise I was super busy too... What an honour and fabulous experience to be the guest speaker for an amazing group who engaged so actively despite English not being their mother tongue.

How are you doing?

How was the weekend for you?

What are you observing - around you, and within you?

What do you need to do more of?

What do you need to do less of, or stop completely?

How are your hands coping with the endless washing?

Have your pets got over the initial excitement of having you at home all day...?

What have you got planned for this week?

Some suggestions to help make things a little easier

• Establish a routine
• Try and set regular hours to go to bed, wake up, eat meals, etc
• Get plenty of sleep
• Drink plenty of water - ideally warm water..
• Eat plenty of fresh colourful vegetables
• Keep moving
  • Stretch and yawn for 15 seconds every 20 minutes if sitting at a desk
  • Get up and move for a minute every hour - make a fresh brew, dance to your favourite track, doing some HIT (see below)
  • If you are 'allowed out' walk actively but notice things around you
  • When indoors, do your preferred exercises - yoga, running (on the spot barefoot is super easy and good for you!), ergo or any gym equipment you have at home, dance, etc
  • Start some simple HIT (high intensity training) at intervals throughout your day - on the spot running as fast as you can for 20 secs, jog for 10 secs, repeat 3 times! You will be surprised at how good you feel
• Get outdoors into your garden or just stand at the window / on the balcony and feel the breeze on your skin and have you face towards the sun (even if it is behind the clouds) for 5-10 minutes daily, soaking in the vitamin D
• Do something you have been thinking about doing for a while
• Start something new - gardening, a puzzle, teaching your dog a new trick
• Offer to help others who are stuck indoors if you are able to
• Make a call and talk to someone you haven't spoken to for a while - do this every day... reconnect with people again
• Reach out if you are struggling, there are people around who are trained to help, and even if they are going through their own challenges they will be able to support you - it is their job!
• Notice the small things - with spring there are changes every day, the birds are so active, the leaves and flowers are starting to appear, the weather is variable...
• Keep a diary, or journal, and capture what you are seeing - in writing, pictures or video
• End your day with an entry into your gratitude journal - capture five things you are very grateful for today - really observe and notice things around you that you can note as beautiful and be grateful for
• Be kind to yourself... you are allowed to have moments of 'emotion', it is ok. 
• Rub your hands vigorously, creating warmth, and then stroke your face - feel the touch and energy from the heat
• Stroke your arms and pat them too - really invigorating and energising - from the top to your fingers and back up to shoulders again

I hope you can adopt a few of these, create a routine that then becomes a habit. Look after yourself and find ways to enjoy this time. 

For those that are working - thank you for keeping the economy going.

For those that are forced into downtime - enjoy the time to be and notice what is important now.

For those in the care sector - thank you for everything that you are doing, experiencing and coping with. There will be days, and memories created now, that will stay with you forever. They will not all be bad, or all be good. They will impact you. Please talk and release the trauma as soon as you can.

Have a good week all. 

With love..

If you are finding things difficult please reach out and talk to someone. It is tough, any change is difficult.

I, and many other people around you, will do what we can to support you. Please reach out. Ask for help. Talk to others. 

I have a range of options available:

• For those trying to find a routine in working at home https://www.lyndafussell.com/get-it-done-days-gone-virtual
• If you need someone to talk to, let's have a chat
• If you are looking for some inspired reading
• If now is the time to focus on you and what you want in life, we have plenty of time to do that..., then take a look at the various coaching options available 
• Join in the "mycornerintime" on instagram and twitter, where I am taking a daily picture of a corner of my world and capturing the beauty of the changes
• There will be more things over the next few days so sign up for the latest news about home based retreats, group coaching, mental resilience, stress management, home based working, and just keeping sane.