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6 Weeks of Lockdown Life

Its been 6 weeks.  Wow.  Like everybody, my family have faced adjusting to a new norm; social distancing, living to a set of government guidelines to help limit the spread of Covid-19, shield the most vulnerable and protect the NHS so it …….  The way we went about our daily lives changed almost overnight.  Welcome to Lockdown Life!

Like many, I had been watching other countries go into lockdown and knew it was only a matter of time we would face the same restrictions experienced by our neighbours in Europe.  But I will be honest, I kind of thought it would be different for us, done differently.  It was when the  government announced that schools were closing this was a reality check for me.  I work in education and we were starting to talk about the possibility of schools closing a few weeks before it actually happened but I was not ready when it was finally announced.  For me that was the game changer, the ‘this is really serious now’ then came pubs, cafes, restaurants and Gyms closing.  but were not ready for when it actually happened.

So the last few weeks, like for most people, has been a learning curve for me and the rest of the family.  Adapting to a new way of doing things without much time for it all to settle in.

Faced with many challenges how the Taylor family adapted?

– Working from Home

Rather ironically, I’ve always whinged on about employers failing to grasp the benefits of working from home and it was a matter of trust and empowerment.  So now most organisations have had no choice.  Both my husband and I are working from home.  He is running his business from the front room and I’ve got the kitchen.  He is able to get in the zone a bit better than me.  There have been the usual arguments sparked by inadequate broadband but so far so good I think.  I miss the team culture but I am catching up with the team via video call.  Mentoring and motivating a young team via video calls and emails has its challenges but as long as we share, get our tasks lists done and have a giggle then I think we are doing OK.  My husband is vlogging, having video client appointments and keeping in touch with his furloughed staff.

I’d say its working 80% of the time which I don’t think is bad, like many I just miss the face to face contact with others so I feel lucky that we have the option to work from home.  We’ve learnt to be disciplined about a start and finish time, making sure we pack everything away at the end of the day so our home becomes a home again!

– Doing our own thing, it’s OK just to do nothing!

When we initially went into Lockdown, whilst my husband was worrying about the future of his relatively young business, I saw it as an opportunity to do the things that we never normally have time to do or really don’t want to do.  Yes I have accomplished things I’ve generally put to one side but social media posts, stuff on the news about people doing amazing things, accomplishing amazing feats or mastering new skills have at times left me feeling rather inadequate.  So I’ve decided not to take social media too seriously and just enjoying the opportunity to slow down a little.  I’ve enjoyed reading the paper on a Sunday morning, exploring nearby parks at a slower pace, baking a bit more  and finishing off the odd DIY task.

 

 

– Home-schooling Teenagers

I did think at first I had it easy as my kids are in secondary school.  To an extent I think I still do but it has the been a challenge as when they are stuck with the work set, getting them up in the morning and getting them to self-manage a timetable.  I have been worried about the how inactive my kids have been.  I’ve learnt that they still need a routine but agreeing a bedtime (even for my 18 year old), letting them lie-in a little but insisting they are at their desks at a certain time have worked.  I’ve also bribed them to do fitness challenges, jobs round the house and that’s something that helps for a happier household!

– Home Haircuts and Root Touch Ups

The happiest my teenage boys have been during all of this was when the hair clippers arrived on Monday.  Oh the elation was off the scale.  Despite reminding them that we are in the middle of a pandemic, we were subjected to constant the whinges and moans .  So when they arrived, if it wasn’t for social distancing, I would have run-off with the delivery driver for the safe delivery of this precious cargo.  I on the other hand have partaken in a spot of panic buying concerning root-touch-up, it even featured in last weeks online shopping list.  With an inch of grey, I wasn’t going to take any chances.  So last Sunday I spent the best part of the afternoon attempting to shave, blend, layer, fade, trim my boys hair into a semi respectable haircut.  See for yourself!

OK so son number two’s cut was more mushroom than Vidal but eldest boys cut, not bad.  I on the other hand am building up the courage to do my roots, hopefully looking like a badger could be the next big thing.

 

– Staying Connected

Thanks heavens for Zoom, House Part and Teams!  We’ve zoomed with families, house-partied with friends and kept our productivity going through Teams.  My!  What a learning curve this has been.  I like to consider myself pretty handy when it’s come to technology but I did struggle to start with.  For work and family it’s been OK but I’ve struggled when it comes to catching up with friends.  Things can get lost in translation and I do feel I shrink into the background if there’s a large group so that’s one for the road once we are allowed to mix again but for now I will just grin and bear it.  The kids are finding the whole affair rather toe-curling and prefer to slink away and catch up via Snap Chat or Xbox. I have particularly enjoyed observing the headsets colleagues have been using, who knew those Turtle Beach Gaming headphones would come in so handy eh?

– Keeping Fit

I love the gym, it’s my therapy.  This hit me more that pubs and restaurants closing, ok that might seem weird for some to contemplate.  I’d worked so hard to get fit and lose weight.  So it was a godsend when my PT offered Zoom Boot Camps.  4 times a week, 30 minute sessions.  This has been a great way to keep motivated but also has kept me connected with some of the the other girls I know from the gym.  Added to this I’ve started to run again, nothing major just 5 km 2 or 3 times a week.  There’s also been loads of stuff on social media and my team at work have also been doing fitness challenges.  It’s been a case of trying anything and seeing what sticks!

 

– Family Time

We’ve cooked together, worked out together, had a lot of fun.  My kids are at the stage where they will hide in their bedrooms for 90% of the time given the choice when when they have emerged we’ve for the most part had a hoot.  We have all suffered from Cabin Fever but focusing on the good times we’ve had has eclipsed all of that.

In September, fingers crossed, my eldest will be moving to Leeds for University, OK he will be back for when term ends but after that who knows?  He may decide not to move back to Newcastle or may want his own place.  He may decide to stay in Leeds, he may move back to Newcastle, he may want his own space.  So despite the arguments that have tended to erupt over the usual; messy rooms, Xbox, the WiFi, whose walking the dog I’m making the most of us all being together before my boy goes off to University.

– A New Routine

At the start, life was very chaotic to say the least.  6 weeks on, the scatter-gun approach to keeping busy and productive has settled down and we’ve found our own groove amidst it all.  I think that has been one of the important aspects of Lockdown; establishing a routine that suits all five members our families.

Being realistic about bedtimes for the kids, making sure they are doing their school work and helping with chores but also letting them kick back.   Ground rules have been set for working from home, the laptop goes away at 5 pm Friday not to be seen again until Monday morning, no answering work emails at the weekend.  The kids have learnt to knock before bursting in to the living room in case there’s a call or teams meeting going on; that took some doing!  Importantly, we celebrate the weekend but at the moment don’t have the Sunday night fear or pile of ironing that normally accompanies it.

 

 

So we’ve coped, we’ve adapted.  Looking back it’s made me realise how pampered and sheltered our lives have become.  It’s also made me realise as a family how resourceful and resilient we are.  I’m also grateful that despite at times getting on each others nerves, we are a happy house.  Yes these times have been anxious and stressful but this time will pass

This week the PM is due to address the nation; laying out a road map as to how restrictions will gradually be lifted but I think we will still remain pretty much the same.

Will things ever be the same again?  Once lockdown is finally over, will we go back to our old lives.  I sincerely hope not, well not all of it anyway.

Helen x

My New Spring Running Music Playlist

Hello!  Happy Sunday everyone, is it Sunday?

Hope you are all OK and looking after yourselves.  Gosh my second blog post in a week after an 18 month dry spell.  Actually it’s been nice getting to know my blog again and it’s a perfect excuse to take myself off and away from the other 4 (plus dog) inhabitants of this overcrowded house. As running seems to be my primary ‘go to’ exercise of choice, today I decided it was about time I put a new running music playlist together.

Back to Running

Like many people during this challenging time, I’ve taken up running (again) and joined the hordes of new or ‘lapsed’ runners that seem to be pounding the streets everywhere you look.  Yes there are days where I will stay indoors but I do need, at times, to get out for some fresh air, some exercise and to escape from the family.  I hasten to add that I am really valuing the time I’m having with the family but sometimes I do need my space, they need me out of their and I need to attempt to fight off possibility of all the extra weight gained as a consequence of constantly comfort eating!  3 teenagers, a husband working from home, a dog, temperamental WiFi connection are regular trigger points that get me reaching for junk.

Setting a Fitness Challenge

So back to running.  For me, like the Gym, running for me is a way to relieve stress, re-frame worries or stuff I’m anxious about or a time to switch off; concentrating solely on getting one foot in from of the other and getting a step closer to finishing.  Whilst Gyms remain closed I can still go out for a run.  So when we went into lockdown and were told we could go outdoors to exercise daily for one hour max I decided to challenge myself to run 3 times a week and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 3 weeks.  Truth is I never look forward to going out for a run but once I’m out I think its only a small amount of time in the great scheme of things so best just get on with it.  Plus it’s free and time starts the minute I venture outside my front door. I tend to go out late so that there are less people around and it’s still light enough to run in my local park (which is something I am hugely grateful for at them moment).  I had one mad thought recently to train the dog to run with me but let’s just say that’s firmly been moth-balled for the time-being.

Prior to my break from this blog, I did rather love putting a music playlist together whether for running or the Gym and these were always really popular.  So I’ve decided to put together a new one.  It killed an afternoon, took my mine off eating the kids Easter Eggs and gave me a good excuse to spring clean my own music playlists (well I’ve spring-cleaned everything else out). Plus I signed up for the Apple Music 3 months free trial (and why not) so had more tunes to choose from.

Time for a New Running Playlist

Running Playlists are a great way to motivate you to push harder, run a little faster or a means of taking your mind off that steep hill you need to get past.

I would normally have a running list of about 15 songs but for me 10 is enough to get me through a 5 km run.

So here’s my new Spring Running Music Playlist:

 

All available to download.

  • Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
  • On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
  • Instant History – Biffy Clyro
  • Bury It – CHVRCHES (ft. Hayley Williams)
  • Stupid Love – Lady Gaga
  • Irresistible – Fall Out Boy
  • All Goes Wrong – Chase & Status (ft. Tom Grennan)
  • Sucker Punch – Sigrid
  • Higher Love – Kygo & Whitney Houston
  • The Monster – Eminem (ft. Rhianna)

Hope you enjoy it!

For more running music playlists take a look at My Playlists page

Helen x

15 Song Running Playlist for Autumn

Running Music Playlist

15 Song Running Playlist for Autumn

Autumn is upon us!  So I’ve put together a new running playlist for Autumn, hopefully this will motivate me to get my running mojo back!

Whilst, as always, I am lamenting the demise of summer and (by the way) what a fab summer it’s been in the UK I do always look forward to September.  Back to School for my children and me, a mass of family birthdays and one final push for me to get running again before the nights start to draw in and all I want to do is snuggle in front of the fire.

 

15 Song Autumn Running Playlist

 

For more running playlist inspiration visit my playlist page or check out my Pinterest.

All songs from my Running Playlist are available to download from iTunes or Amazon

 

10 Healthy Habits for Autumn

Healthy Habits

10 Healthy Habits for Autumn

I’ll admit it Autumn isn’t up there as one of my favourite times of the year.  Summer can seem more of a relaxed affair and with more daylight and sunshine my mood is generally in a happy place.  Then its BAAM! Back in to the routine of school and once past Halloween it’s that build up to Christmas.  Saying that I do like those first initial chilly mornings, the beauty of Autumn and having the kids back at school has it’s advantages, so ok maybe it’s not so bad?  For me when the nights start to draw in, the central heating goes on and my wardrobe switches to boots and sweaters it can be an excuse to start hibernating a little, switch to a stodgy diet and perhaps ease off on the running front.

Developing healthy habits will help to see you through the chillier weather, help to maintain a positive attitude and, fingers crossed, stave off potential weight gain.

Here are my 10 Healthy Habits for Autumn

  • If you must comfort eat make it healthy
  • Commit to a weekly Workout Schedule and log your progress
  • Revamp your running or training gear if you exercise outdoors
  • Stay hydrated; the colder weather is no excuse not to drink plenty of water
  • No Hibernating!  Stay Sociable!
  • Make one day a week a Family Day
  • Declutter
  • Unplug/Go Offline; even if it’s an hour before bedtime
  • Eat seasonal produce
  • Get outdoors more and take time to enjoy the beauty of Autumn
Days are shorter, there's a chill in the air, adopt #healthy habits for Autumn to help boost your mood and fitness. Click To Tweet
Let’s see how many I can stick so!  What are your health habits for Autumn?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardio and Full Body Workout

Cardio and Full Body Workout

I’ve recently changed the way I train.  In the week it’s mainly free weights and the odd 5km run and at the weekend I now lay off the weights, do some cardio and some form of HIIT.  I put this workout together a little while ago and tend to do this on a Saturday morning.  This takes about 30 mins.  So work hard, work up a sweat then the rest of the day is yours to do with what you want!

Try this Cardio and Full Body Workout, interval cardio followed by HIIT style bodyweight exercises. #HIIT Click To Tweet

 

Full Body Workout

 

If you do use the above workout, let me know what you think.  For more workouts visit My Training page.

 

Disclaimer

I am not a qualified Personal Trainer or medical professional.

All the views expressed are my own.  I am an experienced runner and train regularly at the Gym.  All my fitness programmes and training have been designed to suit my own fitness capabilities and goals but happy to share if you are looking for inspiration and motivation.

Before embarking on any form of exercise or fitness programme or if you have any medical issues or injuries please ensure you seek professional medical advice.

Spring Running Music Playlist

Spring Running Music

Spring Running Music Playlist

 

It’s Spring! Time to get outdoors, no more treadmill for me (yes I am a fairweather runner)!  So I’ve put a new running music playlist together.  Some tunes are upbeat, some are on this list just because I like them!

I’m trying to increase my speed so I’m busy looking for inspiration and ideas on Pinterest at the moment; hopefully I’ll be posting something soon!

#blogshare try my spring #running music playlist, new tunes can motivate you to get out for a run! Click To Tweet

All my workout music is available to purchase on iTunes and other online music stores such as Amazon and Spotify.

Running Music

Spring Running Music Playlist

Cloud 9 – Jamiroquai

Castle On The Hill – Ed Sheeran

Heavydirtysoul – 21 Pilots

By Your Side (ft. RAYE) – Jonas Blue

Place (ft. Ina Wroldsen) – Martin Solveig

Cloudbusting – Just Us

Don’t You Worry Child (ft. John Martin) – Swedish House Mafia

Rich Boy – Galantis

24K Magic – Bruno Mars

No Lie (ft. Dua Lipa) – Sean Paul

Just Hold On – Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson

Call On Me (Ryan Riback Remix) – Starley

Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

Symphony (ft. Zara Larsson) – Clean Bandit

Green Light – Lorde

 

Have you changed your running music lately?  Subscribe for more running music ideas!

 

 

I Love the 80’s Workout Music Playlist

Workout Music Playlist

Why not try this I Love the 80s Workout Music Playlist

 

My workout music playlist needs a bit of an update but this time I’ve had a bit of a throw back to my youth; the 1980s!  So it’s all school disco’s, questionable fashion sense, all things neon, Athena posters, Sony Walkman, Miami Vice, MTV, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and new romantics (well for me anyway).

#blogshare Try my new I love the 80s Workout Music Playlist if you want to mix up your workout tunes! #fitness Click To Tweet

All my workout music is available to purchase on iTunes and other online music stores such as Amazon and Spotify.

Workout Music

I Love the 80s Workout Music Playlist

Van Halen – Jump
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The wolf
Salt ‘n’ Pepa – Push It
Cameo – Word Up
Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round
Prince and The Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy
Paula Abdul – Straight Up
Billy Idol – White Wedding
Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
Erasure – Sometimes
The Human League – Love Action
Depeche mode -Personal Jesus
Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind
Stephen Tin Tin Duffy – Kiss Me
Tears for Fears – Shout

Do you have a throwback decade when it comes to you workout music?

Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit!

motivational quote

Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit!

Motivational Quote

Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit! #fitness #motivation Click To Tweet

For more fitness and weightloss motivation, visit my motivational quotes page.

 

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