Everyone's probably feeling some degree of anxiety and/or depression with this current situation. However, for those who struggle with mental health issues like this daily, whatever global crisis is or isn't happening,  it can be especially hard.

I'm one of those people and I found yesterday difficult. I put on a brave face for the online video nursery rhymes session I'm running, but I was in turmoil inside. I haven't got as many problems as some, and I try to keep it in perspective,  but anxiety doesn't make that easy. I have a healthy family. My husband is still able to work from home (something he often did anyway), so that's not changed much. We have toilet paper and food. But yesterday I was off kilter, out of sorts.

I was tearful, angry and frustrated. Mainly with things I can't control - like seeing my neighbours meet at someone's gate for a cigarette and a gossip, much less than the 2m recommended away from each other - and it was really upsetting.

I feel like life for my home-loving spouse hasn't changed a lot. His hobbies include cycling, dog walking,  and he enjoys a lot of things online, like the radio podcasts from his home country. All of that he can do still, no problem.  I, on the other hand, get cabin fever very quickly. I feel like I need a cuddle, and he doesn't really want to chat. I went for a long dog walk in the woods, which helped, but  there's nothing like a catch up with your best friend over coffee, girl talk, and I miss it!!!

So how do I plan to make today easier to manage, less emotional? 

​It's started well, with news of a newborn. Congratulations Becca and Diego, so happy for you! I have been up two hours and done loads of washing, cleaned the kitchen and 'done the necessarry' (feed and dress baby and me). We've had our morning story (twice, thank you Amazon for a fresh delivery,  The Tiger Who Came To Tea was today's choice) and baby is chilling while I have a coffee/blog break. Feels like a normal Saturday,  and being productive sure helps.

I've also stopped following local groups on Facebook who are clubbing together to help others. I initially wanted to help but food bank assistance with a 9 month old would be challenging, and the other things so far just seem to be people posting about what they need or are angry about. I don't need to see that. I offered a homebaked gluten free cake for anyone vulnerable and on a gluten free diet, but there were no takers. Added to that, i received a phonecall from some random woman in my postcode who was telling me to hot-foot it to Costcutters who have paracetamol in stock. I don't need paracetamol,  and didn't aprecise a panic call from a stranger. She'd got my number from the volunteers list who are supposed to be delivering groceries to those in need.... not what this was intended to be used for, spreading secret communications of grocery a bail ability! Concerned, I messaged the administration of the WhatsApp group for my postcode to let them know what happened, and they're going to set some ground rules for the group. I'm going to leave the group today, as I think I have enough to deal with with a baby and things here, and I'm now trying to avoid hearing things about Corona Virus. From today I am going to ignore my phone much more, and only check the news once a day. I think I'll rejoin the Facebook Corona Virus happenings when and if we actually need help.

Now, I've already done loads of productive things today (see yesterday's post for why this is imoortant) - time for something I enjoy,  for me. I'm going to download Now TV and enjoy their free trial. I heard Rocketman is on there, and I've wanted to see that for ages.

Enjoy your day, be safe.
​Lou x

Being isolated from your friends and family is tough. I live in the same town as my brother and my best mate, and we normally see each other a fair amount. Dog walks, movie nights, dinners, cinema trips, shopping, BBQs... All of which have stopped due to the need to socially isolate. Staying 2m from someone is difficult if you're serving up burgers!

So how am I protecting my mental wellbeing? I recognise I'm lucky having a husband home, a baby to engage with and a dog to walk, but this will be tough for 12 weeks,  potentially more.

1. I'm maintaining the normal dog walking schedule. We're not self isolating yet so  taking her out to places that aren't very busy is fine. Fresh air and exercise,  essential for mental health wellbeing!

2. I'm trying to help others where I can. An acquaintance of mine ran out of nappies at the weekend so I dropped some at her door. Today I'm baking a gluten free cake for someone vulnerable and gluten free. 

3. Checking in with my friends is helping, those I know who live on their own, who have children at home, my grandma (staying with my uncle, happily), and the two who are about to have a baby each - good timing eh?! A 10 min chat  on the phone does wonders.

4. A routine is helpful: We still do the morning dress/breakfast routine, the book, bath, snacks and bedtime routines, and again, walk the dog.

5. I'm mixing up activuties, both for me and for baby. We're moving rooms regularly,  she's having toy rotations, and I'm not just spending hours on Netflix. Variety is the spice of isolation life!

I'm also trying to maintain my daily wellbeing goals I was doing before we'd even heard of Corona Virus: I aim to do something productive and something that makes me happy each day. It's a shorter prompt compared to the FIVE WAYS TO WELLBEING - still worth a Google.  

For example, today I made a cake and hoovered (productive), and I sang with my baby (happiness injection).

Several of my mum friends, on chatting to them, have told me they try to do something for them, not something for the family or kids. This ranges from painting their toenails to having a nap, reading for 20 mins and a long hot bath. The key thing here is it's a relaxing activity, I think.

It all helps, keep well!

Lou x

DAY ONE - 17th March 2020

**I've realised formatting text on my tablet is not working, and the odd word may be being repeated - sorry! I no longer have a laptop so this will have to do for now!**
​
Amid frustrations over vulnerable people not heeding the advice and selfish panic buyers clearing shelves, I decided to be constructive and made a list of things we (my husband, my baby Roxanna and I, or combinations of) could do from home with just ourselves for company.  Self Isolation is what they're calling it when you can't leave the house as you have symptoms or are sick. This will be torture for me, I'm always out and about and get cabin fever very quickly! Follow me as we work through the growing list of things to do to keep us occupied, especially as even as we're not sick, I see lock-down coming nationwide...

I want to feel useful and help those in need so I've signed up as a volunteer to deliver things to local people self isolating. It's a new initiative, a great one if it works, as many people are not going to be as prepared or healthy as we are (touch wood). I'm already a bit wary as the Facebook page seems to be dominated by rants and disbelieving tales of empty shop shelves and the behaviour of others. Well see...

I had been meaning to go to a new Spanish singing class for babies today, but that's been cancelled, along with my other normal groups. 

Day Two - 18th March 2020

I am trying not to bake as there is a shortage of eggs and sugar in the shops.  Well, a shortage of everything, it seems. People are going nuts. Baking being my default for boredom busting, this is proving difficult! I am saving baking bread too, for when I'm really up the Creek with a combo of boredom and lack of bread.

I'm already feeling a loss of family visits and popping in on friends. My relatively new mum friends network is being missed in particular. Normally I walk the dog with someone, I do mums groups Monday, Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday, and there's the occasional day out/shops browse/coffee/lunch when the wallet is (rarely) lined a little heavier. 

Problem​ solving!! I messaged my mum friends and posted on a couple of mums Facebook groups that I was going to run a nursery rhyme session online for 30 mins to help reduce the feeling of isolation and boredom while baby groups are cancelled. They are so key to getting parents and carers out the house and socialising! And guess what? 24 people joined me!!! 😆 I only knew three of them, I was so chuffed! Will have to repeat...

Day Three - 19th March 2020

I mentioned that we feel pretty prepared in our household.  We are lucky enough to have Costco membership (a remnant of when I worked for myself) so we've always got toilet roll. Last week we thought we'd better get some long life / dry goods supplies in, you know, just in case... Man, I'm glad we did! We had our regular shop done and have probably got an emergency supply of tins, protein, pasta type staples for over two weeks, if there's a serious shortage. The bits and pieces are NOT TO BE TOUCHED! 😄 So far, so good. Even the treats (ideas like jelly, hot chocolate, which will need only hot water) remain untouched thus far. I can see fruit and milk being a problem, and eggs. El Husbandio should have got me those chickens I asked for at Christmas!!

Today I made what I feel was probably my last non-essential outing: To the nursery we hope to send Rox to when I do go back to work (all being well, end of June... who knows???). The schools etc are closing down tomorrow so I wanted to make sure we were on their books ready for normal life to resume. 

Have looked out my bread recipe books ... Those who know me well know life without bread is hardly worth living for me!

Join me tomorrow when I'll be talking about mental health coping mechanisms in this crisis.

Lou x