Do you have to lock yourself in a cupboard for a Zoom meeting?
Are you a mother, a bread winner, teacher, cleaner, chef, laundry lady and bouncer all confined within the four walls of your family home? This is now the reality for many parents, in particular mums, in a world that has been turned on its head by the coronavirus pandemic. The landscape of everyday living has been changed beyond all recognition. Most of us are struggling with the new norm and it seems that more than ever we are feeling disconnected. And I’m not talking about poor Wi-Fi!
Oh, how we are missing the quick catch-up over coffee, the workout in the gym, the family meal in our favourite restaurant or painting the town red on a night out with the girls. Chance would be a fine thing! It’s more like home-schooling, juggling all the chores and working from home in the makeshift office pulled together at short notice.
But if the experts are to be believed this is but a temporary measure and at some point – whenever that may be – we will return to something like life as we used to know it. So we aren’t without hope and ultimately it’s that hope that will take us to the other side.
Then we will wave goodbye to Covid and the pain and disruption it foisted on our lives while breaking into a brand new dawn and looking forward to a world of opportunity. At that point it will be worth learning the lessons from lockdown and the stringent restrictions.
Live your Best Life
During those times of house arrest we learned survival techniques, we discovered new ways of doing things and out of necessity and sheer frustration thought outside the box. Many of us questioned our very existence among other things. Do we need to work nine to five to pay the mortgage? Do we want to spend two hours a day commuting to work? Should we be taking more control of our life and exploring other options and ideas to not only meet our financial needs but to achieve fulfilment and inner peace as a person? Are we living our best life?
“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you are living?”
Bob Marley
Many of us have just realised that we don’t have to conform to the normal, whatever that is any more. Whether people care to admit it or not, our landscape has changed and from a personal perspective maybe now is the right time to influence change in our own lives.
And don’t forget at some point your ‘adorable’ children will go back to school!
How to Survive in today’s motherhood chaos…
The ever-growing demands on a mother’s time are unbending and here are ten survival tips I found useful.
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself this is the only one you have for sure.”
Oprah Winfrey
- Just Breathe
- Stay grounded – easier for some days than others.
- Re-evaluate – what three things can I prioritise and do today?
- Focus on one thing – give a realistic allocated time to complete.
- Batch cook and freeze.
- Bring order – create a specific laundry day for your household.
- Create a weekly family planning schedule that allows for real family downtime.
- Connect with a family member/friend at least twice per week.
- Be flexible – Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- A listening ear is worth 20 chores.
Positives of Lockdown…
It is worth remembering that there have many positives brought about by lockdown.
We have learned the value of community and family, we have reconnected with nature, and we have shown greater appreciation for key workers and now have a significantly better understanding of wellbeing and mindfulness.
1 – Help and support of community.
2 – Value of family relationships.
3 – Reconnection with nature and our surroundings.
4 – Improvement in cooking and baking skills.
5 – Attaining new digital skill set.
6 – Value of the simple pleasures
7 – Appreciation of the environment.
8 – Enhanced self-care and well-being
9 – Greater ability to be flexible.
10 – Value of time.
“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them, Just find a new way to stand.”
Opray Winfrey
Covid has culminated in a massive disconnect in our lives. At some point we are going to re-connect, repair the broken links in the chain and flick the trip switch back on to normality. The dawning of that new norm may offer us all a window of opportunity and the question will be, are we ready to grasp it? Are you primed to embrace fresh challenges, prepared to influence and implement change and drive a different direction in what will surely be an emerging and exciting new world?