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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 Enforced Digital Detox

Detox

My Enforced Digital Detox

Just back from my holidays.  10 days in Cornwall; ok not very glamourous but I love it there.  Beautiful beaches, incredible surf, a slower pace of life, picturesque fishing harbours, Cornish pasties, cream teas, BBQ’s at the beach; the list goes on!   Did I mention there was virtually NO mobile reception?

It’s weird.  There was I  looking forward to 10 days of chilling, family time and just getting away from the hum drum of life when I suddenly got cold sweats as I watched the last bar of my mobile signal disappear as I was greeted by the ‘Welcome to Cornwall’ sign.

No mobile reception, no Wi-Fi, no emails, no social media.  Surely this should have been liberating?  The kids were not better either.  The minute we got to the campsite, my eldest asked what the Wi-Fi password was.

So how did we cope?

Ok, admittedly, I was able to get a signal when we drove 15 miles to the nearest town where I did manage to get a digital binge, but we only did that a couple of times.  We did cope.  We did manage to suppress our irrational FOMO panics.  Without our heads buried in a screen we were all able to enjoy what was going on around us, enjoyed being silly together, slowed down, chilled out.  What I did notice is that the kids adapted to being off-grid quicker than I did.  Even without the distractions of surfing and  body-boarding, they were out playing, kicking a football around, playing tag, making new friends on the camp-site.  I took to reading more and just enjoying my surroundings, focusing on the now and not fretting on what I was missing out on at home.  I enjoyed the conversations I had with my kids, enjoyed listening to their slant on things, enjoyed their sense of humour.  My eldest son took to reading the newspaper and all 3 kids got the hang of Sudoku.

Setting a good example

Back home, we have digitally ‘re-toxed’ but maybe I am now more aware of what a pointless distraction and drain on my time being constantly glued to my phone or tablet can at times be.  I’m also aware that I am just as much to blame when it comes to influencing my children’s digital habits as are their peers.  In the past I’ve joked that my iPad is my virtual Childminder; it’s faithfully kept the kids occupied so that I can get on with things or allow me to have a cuppa without interruption.

Yes I do have a ban all digital devices at mealtimes, a bedside ban and that they are switched off an hour before bed (including me).  But I think as a parent I should be more aware of my actions; if I’m constantly looking at a screen my kids will think that is perfectly acceptable behaviour.

My digital detox has made me aware of how much I influence my children's own digital habits. #parenting Click To Tweet

Should we switch off and do something more worthwhile instead?

I know I am not the only one that is guilty of becoming addicted and obsessive with technology and our mobile devices.  Now it seems that more and more people are making a conscious effort to disconnect.  A recent report published by Ofcom claimed that 15 million internet users have voluntarily undertaken a ‘digital detox’ from technology in order to ‘strike a healthier balance between technology and life beyond the screen’

Yes of course there is great value in using digital technology, mobile devices and being able to connect digitally; they help us do our jobs, simplify our lives and help us connect with others that we perhaps wouldn’t be able to so it’s not all bad.  But perhaps maybe we should enjoy focusing on the now; live in that moment and appreciate what is going on around us?  Enjoy that walk through the park on a Sunday morning without having the need to check work emails?

Step away from that Smart Phone!

So don’t you think we all need to switch off sometimes?  Step away from the Smart Phone, put down the tablet or maybe try and resist the nagging urge to check social media for the squillionth time just in case we have a friend request or the comment about what you had for lunch has received anymore likes?  Maybe maintain our friendship’s face-to-face as opposed to status-to-status?  Shouldn’t we all just try and get over this fear of missing out and maybe just enjoying focusing on the now and enriching our own lives rather than coveting the edited lifestyle of others via Social Media?

I bumped into a really good mate today at the Gym; I was leaving as she was on her way to a metafit class.  I hadn’t seen her properly for ages.  Let’s meet up?  What have you been up to?  Nowadays we all seem to know what’s been going on in our friends lives without us actually seeing them in the flesh.  After being off-grid I honestly didn’t know what my friend had been up to for the last few weeks.  So we arranged to catch up over drinks next week, now isn’t that novel?

Have you ever forced yourself to take a digital detox?  If you have kids do you set boundaries when it comes to digital devices in the home?

Detox

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