Hello everyone,
The past 2 months have been about Covid19. What’s been happening has been horrific, so I am writing this blog post to lighten the mood and try and help people see the positives, as hard as it is.
I was talking to my uncle Peter, who is from South Africa. He was telling me that during his time in solitary in apartheid South Africa, the most important thing was to have a daily routine. It doesn’t need to be jam-packed, you don’t need to be doing chores all day long. All you need is to have a plan.
Setting an alarm
As obvious as this might sound, especially for people that aren’t working/are only working part time, this is a vital part of the day. Getting up gives us a purpose and thus prevents us from falling into a desperate slump. Even if you set an alarm to 10am, it’s still creating order in your day.
Writing a list for the day
Every evening I sit down and write down a list of what I want to accomplish the next day, and in the next week. I spread the tasks out, make sure I have positive, fun things in there as well. It’s easier to stick to it that way and again, prevents you from falling into a slump.
Home exercise
This is probably the hardest one for me! I have been used to going to classes at the gym, therefore not needing 
to motivate myself since one of the gym teachers do it for me. I don’t think I need to mention just how beneficial exercise is; the hardest part for me is deciding it’s time and finding a good video on youtube. There are lots to choose from, personally, I like Pamela Reif’s videos. They’re so tough but I like the simplicity of them, the music is upbeat and the atmosphere gives me energy. Just half an hour a day of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) does wonders for the body! And 30mins doesn’t seem so daunting…
Slow down and breathe
This time is ideal for catching up with things that you just didn’t have time for in the past. Deep clean your kitchen, do some spring cleaning, read a book, read another one, paint, draw, play games with the family, cook, take up a new hobby (I’ve got my sewing machine out again and have been experimenting). The driving factor for me is that when I look back at this time, I want it to be a positive time (or as positive as it can be). Instead of worrying about the things I can’t do, I can feel grateful for the things it did bring me.
Most of all, no matter what you decide to do with your days, STAY HOME and SAVE LIVES.
Good luck!
Ellie