Starting a new chapter | life and health in our post pandemic world

Sometimes I wonder if the last two years were a dream, did all that really happen?  It felt like the plot of a movie a lot of the time.  A worldwide pandemic.  Loved ones separated.  Confusing media messages.  An urgent vaccine developed.  I am desperate to put it all behind me, rebuild my day to day life and start a new chapter post pandemic.  And get back to feeling healthy - mind and body!

I think the early days felt almost quite fun, like a novelty.  I probably didn't feel that at the time, but when I look back, well we had no idea that it would last any longer than a few weeks, months at the most.  Gathering for Boris' press conference at 5 pm every day, setting up family quizzes and zoom chats, drinking too much wine, and putting up with Chris Whitty's 'next slide please', all seems like it happened in a dream.

When I look back at my lockdown posts now, I realise how hopeful and how naive we were in 2020!  The weather was amazing, we got outside lots and we still thought we'd be back to normal in 2021.

​This is a sponsored blog post.

Finding a way back to 'normal' post-pandemic

The post pandemic blues

Even now I think there is a post pandemic fatigue, normal is so near and yet still so far.  I am still seeing too much mental health anguish among friends and family.

We all want our lives back!

​But good times do come! 

​Life does get better and the depression lifts and you begin to love life again.

So what shall we do to feel better and reclaim our health?  

Outfit all previous season or pre-loved - I will link similar below

Finding positives in your happy place!

Where are your happy places?  My top two are:

The seaside, I love to be by the sea!  England or abroad will do!  I loved our two nights away at the Beach Hut Suites in Felpham in Sussex earlier in 2021.  The weather wasn't great but I adored listening to the crashing waves and seeing drama of the coastline.  But equally I loved the heatwave week we had in Cornwall in July!  It was too hot to do much but just to be able to wear summer dresses, eat outside, walk along the beach in the evening and try paddle boarding was fantastic!

London, I love nothing more than a day in London.  Fortunately my daughter has inherited my love affair with the big city and I get to visit her when she is working in London and I can't wait for 2022 when she will be starting a permanent job based somewhere in London!  My favourite places, Chelsea (I loved Chelsea in Bloom in 2019), walking along the Embankment, grabbing a ferry boat to the Tower of London, black cabs and chatty drivers, Covent Garden, shopping on the Kings Road, London parks, rooftop terraces, walking by the river, exhibitions (going to see Mary Quant seems so long ago),  

Below: seaside relaxation, days out in London - let's get back to normal!

Remember the good times will be back!

What else do we love about life?  I feel that the return to normal is very slow, that we are still not quite ready to believe it is safe or that we are allowed to enjoy ourselves post-pandemic.  Why?  I am only just starting to plan and see friends!

I think I will have a new appreciation for freedom to do what I love!

Escape days, nothing to worry about, going on holiday, hopping on the London train and arriving in Marylebone with nothing more planned than a wander to see where I end up!

Holidays!  I have missed my weekends away with friends.  After the fabulous weekend we had in Krakow, we were looking forward to planning Budapast.  What happened to my girls weekends too, I must make sure they start again in 2022!  My last hot holiday abroad was some winter sun in La Gomera in December 2019, it was fantastic and we said we would do it again!

December 2019 - travelling before it all changed!

The 'It's NOT Covid Super Cold'

I have just recovered from the 'It's NOT Covid Super Cold'  Basically it is a bad one!

What can we do to boost our immune systems?  Are you more nervous about getting sick than you were?  I had my first ever flu jab last year.  I am obviously double jabbed for Covid.  I cannot stand wearing a mask though, I am sorry but I binned mine and avoid them at all costs!  But I do use my common sense - remember good old fashioned common sense??!

I felt so rough, it started with a sore throat that went on for days ... I thought I was getting better, then the cold hit.  It bought with it overwhelm, low mood, insomnia and fatigue and took me two weeks to really get over it.  I was not impressed!  I should have rested more!

Cold & Flu Guard

Immune boosting protection this winter

There are a lot of nasty colds about plus the post-vaccine side effects, long Covid, the low mood, the fatigue - we are certainly not bouncing around full of life that's for sure!

Let's try and fix it and do the best we can for our health and wellbeing ...

​Get outside and exercise.

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Take your vitamins - particularly Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc.

Wash your hands, open windows in crowded spaces, let the fresh air in.

Rest and take time out for you.

And what about trying a new nasal spray that provides a barrier against cold and flu viruses?  Cold & Flu Guard is a mouth and nose spray recommended for use before exposure to a virus or at the first sign of a cold.  It creates a physical barrier in your throat and nose to trap bacteria to be neutralised and removed naturally.  It is ideal for use in busy public places like shops, offices, public transport and schools.  

It coats the back of your nose and throat with a hyaluronate barrier and Flavobac - a naturally derived citrus extract - to protect the two areas where a virus can enter your body.

Apply 1-2 sprays per nostril and the same again in your mouth.  Repeat 2-3 times per day when you are in an environment where you might be exposed.  Or if you feel the first sign of a cold and continue until symptoms subside.

Cold & Flu Guard has been developed by Oraldent and intensive laboratory tests demonstrated that Flavobac is effective in killing viruses within 5 minutes.

You can get 20% off a single pack or a 5-pack of Cold & Flu Guard using my discount code which is valid until 30th November 2021 - enter MICHELLECF20 at the checkout.

Take Cold & Flu Guard out and about with you this winter

I shall be using my Cold & Flu Guard this winter and hoping to avoid another super cold!  

Look after yourselves, mental health and being kind to each other has never been more important.  Remember to talk!

Love from
Michelle xx
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Outfit: my cream teddy shacket is from Next last year, this is a similar one Threadbare Borg Biker Jacket and my blouse is pre-loved (originally J Crew) but Hush have some very pretty blouses for autumn.

Disclaimer: this blog post is part of a paid collaboration with Oraldent, however all views and opinions are my own.

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Other blogs I link up with:

Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 

​Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

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