It’s the beginning of a time we couldn’t have predicted. Day by day more and more things close. More shops close, restaurants shut, gatherings cancelled and universities and schools close their doors. Covid-19 has hit us hard.
It’s not only the physical parts of our lives that have felt the damage of Covid-19. For many of us our mental health has been scarily impacted and just as we thought 2020 was going to be our year right?
It‘s safe to say my 2020 Italian dream trips are well and truly in the bin as I stare at the inside of my bedroom.
But it‘s worth it for the elderly, the sick, vulnerable and those fighting it working for the NHS on the frontline. Self isolating as much as we possibly can is a MUST right now. Trust me, as someone who hates sitting at home alone and anxious I know it sucks. However, to do our part to aid the doctors and nurses helping us, self isolating is a must.
When I consider my elderly family members and one of my closest friends who works for the NHS I know I can’t take any risks. Taking it another step further, I know we can’t just sit at home detached from our communities and people in need. We just need to do it slightly differently.
So we need to learn to redefine this season as one mostly inside the walls of our homes.
How can we do that?
Firstly, we need to nurse our mental health and find the right balance between doing and resting. Creating and rejuvenating. We have to impose balance to our daily routines or isolation and uncertainty might get the better of us. If you are staying at home, find what works for you. I suggest getting down to the root of things you loved as a child but your usual schedule means you compromise on. For me I’ve always loved all kinds of reading and writing. Writing poetry, short stories and blog posts like this. I love studying the Bible and learning. The more in-depth the better. Pick something you’ve always loved.
Please pick up that book you’ve kept collecting dust for 3 years. Oops.
I've always wanted to learn to play the harp but turns out getting a harp is quite expensive so even in self isolation it looks like I still won’t be doing that.
Once your routine has balance we can start preparing ourselves to help others.
There’s so many apps and groups you can join during this time to get into your community. apps like Nextdoor, a neighbourhood app that helps you connect to those in your area so you can offer to help in any way. Even if that’s dropping some food shopping on your neighbours doormat.
Remember to use the gift of the internet to stay connected and sane.
My friends can be expecting FaceTime calls from me checking in, we can still there for each other In slightly different ways. Human connection is vital and it doesn’t have to be face to face to have a catch-up with your friends and family.
This time is unprecedented and probably one of the most challenging seasons we’ve faced and for all of us it feels like we’re watching everything fall around us. ive got one main piece of advice: if you pray, pray. If you don’t, pray.
Please remember,
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
We will all see each other on the later end of 2020 where things will hopefully look a little less crazy. Keep faith, eat snacks.
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