Today was the first day that we didn’t go anywhere at all. The enforced lockdown commences at 1159 pm tonight, but we didn’t need to buy anything, so made the decision to stay put.
The current situation still feels very surreal, but I expect we will all adjust over the next few days and will find our new rhythm.
Today, I have been thinking about creating daily routines, to ensure that healthy habits are maintained and to ensure a degree of order, not only in my home, but also in my head.
Even though we are homebound, there are so many things I am able to do. It is as if I have been given a gift of time and I am keen that I don’t squander this.
I have been compiling a list of things to do that will make a positive difference in the quality of my life and environment. Let’s face it, it would be so easy to settle in to binge read or watch Netflix for hours each day, watch the news compulsively or surf the internet.
From my list, I have built a basic framework of everyday must dos. I feel so much happier when I have some structure in my life and I think that this is what will keep me healthy and sane over the next few weeks.
So, starting today, I will be running/walking around the block where I live. This loop is 3.4 km, which I can comfortably run when on the treadmill in the gym, is steep in places, so will keep me physically challenged.
Another non-negotiable activity is walking my dog each day. Again, just from my door, up the hill and back again.
These two activities will keep me fit, and limit the risk of becoming stir crazy. Fresh air and sunshine are also so, so good for the soul. 😊
Regular family video calls to my grown up children and their families will also be a pillar of my new existence. It will be hard not seeing them in the flesh until goodness knows when, but we will likely be speaking with them even more frequently than we normally do, so that’s a bonus.
Drinking water is another habit that I want to maintain. I have found an old glass carafe for this purpose, and will serve my water infused with slices of lemon or oranges to make hydration a more elegant ritual.
Whilst not fixed in the daily calendar, I am taking the opportunity to shower my home with some well overdue TLC. I intend going through every cupboard, closet and drawer to purge, clean and streamline. I have already tackled a couple of areas that hadn’t been sorted for years. It feels so good having them ship-shape again. I have a few DIY jobs planned too. Minor paint fix-ups and such like. The sense of achievement will be huge when all of these little niggly little jobs get ticked off the list.
Today I took full advantage of the weather and did a spot of gardening. A little every now and then will have my garden looking spick and span in no time. There is little flowering out there at the moment, but I was able to rescue some straggly stems of hebe to bring inside to add a little splash of prettiness.
There is so much else on my list of things I want to do during this isolation period. I have some sewing and knitting projects that I am looking forward to tackling, a swag of books on my kindle and genealogy research to undertake.
I have the luxury of time to take up some new learning, meditate, work up a weights exercise programme, teach myself to crochet or try out some new recipes.
The feel good factor of today was placing teddy bears in our street facing windows for littlies out for bear hunting walks around the neighbourhood with their families, on their brief daily outing. Out of the dreadful reality of this pandemic we are living through, the community coming together in such a way is such a bright beacon.
It is our connection with others that matters most ultimately.
Quietly Quaintrelle 