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Finding the positives of staying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic

25/3/2020

11 Comments

 
To save lives and protect the NHS, we must all stay at home - but there are positives in all of this!  I have been a stay at home mum for the last 22 years, with the exception of setting up and running the admin and bookkeeping for our family business and my ongoing role as a company director for our business.  But generally I love to be at home, I have never needed to go out every day and I didn't miss the corporate office environment at all.  Of course I don't have young children any longer, I am not sure I'd have coped if I needed to home educate?  My son was never the most willing academic participant!

So overall putting aside the huge health, economic and social impact of our current situation, for me personally I am not in panic mode.  I don't need to make any big changes to my day to day life.  My son is working from home, my daughter is back from uni and my husband is understandably worrying about business.  And I can't just nip to the shops or meet a friend for coffee.  But I am accepting of the situation, I am frustrated that there are big groups of the population not accepting it though, putting the rest of us at risk.  Like everyone, I am really worried about my immediate family, my extended family and my elderly parents.
save lives, protect the NHS, stay at home covid 19
My daily walk amid the coronavirus lockdown, I am lucky to have the woods on my doorstep
There are benefits though!  For me these include:

  • Saving money!  Less money spent on clothes and eating out.
  • I'll have more time to cook healthy meals from scratch.
  • And a big one, my family all in for dinner at the same time every night, making meal planning so much easier!
  • I can really focus on my fitness and incorporate more workouts into my week.
  • I will enjoy daily walks in the woods (weather permitting).
  • I will be less busy so I can indulge my love of sitting in the garden.
  • I am planning on watching a few of my favourite TV programmes, as well as catching up on series I have missed.
  • More reading, I can work my way through my pile of books.
  • I can still chat to my friends via WhatsApp, FaceTime or HouseParty.
  • I am cleaning cupboards, sorting more clutter and organising paperwork.
  • I will see more of my son before he leaves home to move into his flat (now delayed).

But I will miss:

  • My days out in London.
  • A holiday this year.
  • My girls weekend away.
  • Friends and family get-togethers and outings.
  • Being able to see my parents.
  • The house to myself during the day!
  • A chilled glass of rose in a pub garden.

I'm disappointed for my daughter not being able to finish her first year at university, she had her placement cut short and has missed a further two placements as well as some planned social outings.  Her room lies abandoned and we will need to go and sort it out as soon as it is possible to do so.  And my son probably won't be able to complete and move into his first home for a while.  But I appreciate this is nothing compared to the loss of life the virus is causing.
save lives, protect the NHS, stay at home covid 19
My jacket is by Varley from Odette in Old Amersham. And below, my shoes are the limited edition Brooke active shoe by Hotter (£20 from every sale goes to the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
save lives, protect the NHS, stay at home covid 19
save lives, protect the NHS, stay at home covid 19
save lives, protect the NHS, stay at home covid 19
I've not posted on my Instagram account this week as I felt I needed some time to adjust to the news, the new routine and get my head around what is and isn't appropriate given the financial pressure we are all feeling.  But I do think where possible we will still want to treat ourselves, make sure we include self-care in our routine and plan for when we can get back to normal.

Like everyone, I've had to stop my regular pampering appointments, so no manicure or pedicure, no waxing and no hair colouring - I will be looking at other ways to feel good about myself!  And I will share a few ideas.

I will still get up, wash and style my hair, put my make-up on and dress up, albeit a bit more casually than I would normally if I was out and about.  I have followed this routine ever since I started life as a stay at home mum.  Nothing will change.  I will share some of my 'at home' outfits with you!
expect nothing appreciate everything quote

​I hope you will stick with me, that you will enjoy my blogs during this uncertain time, and that I can support you with some positivity, self-care and love.  I love this inspirational blog post from Sweet Elyse - Inspirational Sunday | Creating a Good Life so relevant right now as we try to create a happy home life.

And there are positives, I do think good will come from the current misery we find ourselves in.

Please share your thoughts with me, I love to hear from you.

Lots of love and stay safe.

Michelle xx
​

​I link up with:

Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 


Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

11 Comments
Gail link
26/3/2020 08:19:39 am

Definitely some upsides to all of this, the slowing down of the pace of life; fewer cars on the road (lower emissions), children and adults finding more ways to interact with each other. I miss the buzz of the office, and it's quite difficult to do some aspects of work at home. But I look at this time as "this too will pass," and hope that as many of us as possible come through it unscathed.

Reply
Michelle Green
26/3/2020 03:53:33 pm

Absolutely agree Gail, it will pass but I hope we will learn from it and I wonder if some will make permanent changes xx

Reply
Irene
26/3/2020 02:35:27 pm

Hi Michelle I’m very fortunate that it hasn’t changed my life too much either. We’re retired so our income isn’t going to change we’re used to a slower pace of life. I will of course miss socialising especially eating out as I’m not a great lover of cooking!!! I’ll also miss my exercise groups but I’m doing yoga at home and walking every day. Going to try to get my husband to do Joe Wicks’ senior chair work out as he has dementia and wouldn’t move at all without my encouragement. Only down side is we’re high risk because of our age but we’re self isolating as much as possible. Stay safe lovely lady love your blog xx

Reply
Michelle Green
26/3/2020 03:55:51 pm

Sounds like you are doing a great job, sorry to hear about. your husband having dementia, my dad is caring for my mum and I worry he will struggle a bit but so far he is doing amazingly well. I have a local chef making us some meals and I am going to take some over for them to put in the freezer. And a few for me too!!! I am not overly keen on cooking (well not every day anyway, I run out of ideas)! Love Michelle xx

Reply
Karen Ball
26/3/2020 06:06:54 pm

Hi, Michelle, liked the way you highlighted the positives.....that's the way we need to keep thinking through all of this. I am trying my best not to read too much news as I am a worrier at the best of times. I miss my little job ( even though it was just a few hours a week) and helping out at my local art and craft centre. On the plus side I am having longer chats on the phone with friends and getting some books read. Our boiler broke last weekend and after a week its still not fixed.....so its kept my mind occupied !!! Glad you have your family round you, stay safe and looking forward to more posts, love Karen xx

Reply
Michelle Green
27/3/2020 06:23:35 pm

Sorry to hear about the broken boiler! Despite sunny days it has still been quite chilly. Ours ran out of oil a few weeks ago, I was so fed up! But yes I do need to see the positives, today has been full on with working out some business stuff but tonight we will get a takeaway so that will make it easier. Stay safe Karen and hope you get heat back soon xx

Reply
Michelle link
26/3/2020 11:20:30 pm

It’s always best to try and see the silver lining, since fretting about it doesn’t change anything. I’m a retired introvert. I adore my friends, but some seem to feel the need to get together more often than I do. I am appreciating not feeling pressured to socialize.

Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com

Reply
Michelle Green
27/3/2020 06:24:56 pm

I love that, a retired introvert! I can't do too much socialising at all, I look at some of the instagrammers and I think how on earth do they keep up with it all!? Stay safe xx

Reply
Where is Carlsbad link
27/3/2020 04:48:07 pm

I really like your choices. I try your choices all the time. Also, I regularly log into your website every day. Thanks.

Reply
Michelle Green
27/3/2020 06:37:17 pm

Thank you x

Reply
Jo Hall link
29/3/2020 09:38:56 am

Great blog, thanks Michelle. I'm also not someone who finds it hard to stay at home, maybe because I'm a natural homemaker 😆 I'm also not easily bored and know that I'm lucky in that respect! Having said that I'm still very much looking forward to the time when things can get back to normal for us all and we can once again meet up with friends and chat in person over a cup of coffee. How we will appreciate it!

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    Michelle ...

    ​Welcome to Fifty & Fab – a lifestyle blog to inspire and empower women over 50. I’m passionate about sharing insights on health, menopause, fitness, beauty, and style, tailored just for you!

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