The past few months, although have been a little Groundhog Day like on occasion, have also presented us with an opportunity to slow down a little, take a step back and reflect. Life before lockdown now seems a distant memory and although I really miss seeing friends and colleagues, dining out and visiting the nail salon(!); life inside my four walls hasn’t been at all bad by any stretch of the imagination. One thing I have not missed in the slightest is the 5:30am alarm call to get my minis to school on time for 7:30am (sometimes 6:30am if they have sports clubs!) – and I dare say they are loving the extra few hours in bed too!
Above all it has been really lovely to spend quality time with my partner and children, and not quite throttle one another…yet! My eldest has learnt how to cook, with apple crumble, rock buns, potato wedges and stir fry now in his ever-growing repertoire. The youngest has started reading more frequently and his choice of subject matters from Martin Luther King (wow) to wrestlers(!) always gives me a giggle. It hasn’t all been plain sailing and we are now on a PlayStation ban which has technically made my life harder but we’re trying to come up with alternatives to keep them occupied – this week is the cold turkey phase so next week should be easier; here’s hoping anyway!
From the calm before the storm (AKA the boy’s wake up time), throughout the day and into the evening, I strongly believe in indulging in some little self-care rituals that not only spark joy but bring a sense of calm to an otherwise chaotic household!
- Ginger, lemon and honey Tea. I always make a big weekly batch of this and aside from being a taste sensation it is so good for you, packed full of goodness and just really starts my day in the best possible way.
- A Great Skincare Routine. Just ten minutes on a morning and evening using my favourite products gives me a nice little boost. Throw in a few minutes face rolling with my rose quartz roller and I’m in a great place for the day ahead.
- Energy Healing. I don’t do this as often as I should but when I do, I absolutely love it and feel a million times better. Dr John Amaral (as seen on Goop Lab) is my hero and I love listening to his webinars and doing his 7-day challenges. He is so calming and if you can spare just ten minutes, he really helps with my mindset and I always feel so positive afterwards.
- Zoom Zoom Zoom. From weekly team catch ups with my colleagues, to quiz nights with friends and chats with family back at home, Zoom has been a godsend and has provided hours of entertainment and ALL the fun!
- Exercise. Now I can’t quite say this sparks the ultimate in joy and is more of a necessity after developing an unhealthy obsession with Hunters Truffle Crisps – thanks Kibsons. I try and squeeze in 30 minutes a day where I can and just hope that by the end of lockdown I will not be rolling out of my home 😉
- English Breakfast Tea. Because I’d never forget my beloved cup of Yorkshire Tea – a cuppa really just makes everything better doesn’t it!
- Music. I love music and have created a few different playlists on Spotify that always perk me up when I need it. The boys also love having music on in the house, so we whack it on, turn up the volume and dance like no-one’s watching; it’s the best remedy to cheer you up!
- All the Apps. Now I’m all for limiting the amount of screen time in our home but sadly I can be the worst culprit at times. From watching Lydia Millen on you tube, to browsing Selfridges, Cult Beauty and Zara a little more than I should, it’s fair to say I love an app. I also love ‘Color Me’ which is like a paint by numbers and so relaxing. We’ve also just discovered the Scrabble app which I haven’t played in years and is also my justification for being abysmal and losing every game but one to my other half who is the king of games!
- Cooking. I’ve managed to try out a few exciting new recipes and have of course succumbed to baking banana bread and other things that I haven’t made in years – cheese scones anyone? We also do a weekly BBQ in the garden that I LOVE and we all look forward to. It’s most definitely the little things 🙂
- Netflix and a massage. We’ve gotten through numerous films and binge watched series after series, my favourite being After Life. Throw in a foot massage too and my joy is well and truly sparked!
It really is the little things. Throughout these unprecedented times, there is so much unrest and uncertainty. Front line workers are risking their lives daily to help others, businesses are under huge strain and numerous job losses have become a sad reality for many. To be home and healthy with loved ones really is a blessing and something to be grateful for everyday at the moment. This is a time that we will probably never experience again in our lifetimes and I’m sure we are all experiencing the up and down days; days when we want to get dressed and days when we want to stay in our pj’s. As long as we do what is right for us, whatever that may be, that is the most important thing.
I hope you all have a list of things that are also bringing you some joy in these current times.
Stay Home & Stay Safe,
Laura xx
