views from lockdown – week 5 – 5 May 2020

“Calming the mind is yoga. Not just standing on the head.”  –Swami Satchidananda

I’ve found it tough going this week mentally, not so much from the lockdown for us, but other issues.  I’m tired, my arthritis aches, and anniversaries are passing by, friends a\nd family are struggling in lockdown.

Again this week, I am joining Sarah from Life in a Breakdown and Bex from Futures and other contributors too.  We are sharing how we have got in the past 7 days in lockdown in the UK.

Here are the questions:

1. How are you feeling/coping?

I’m OK.  I am still very tired, though because of medication I am sleeping OK.  It is mostly because my arthritis pain is much higher than usual at the moment. Pain = fatigue.  It is so bad in my fingers at the moment; I dictated this post – as I have one for most of the blog posts I’ve done recently.
I know the pain is because my subconscious anxiety is churning around in the background.  Knowing this doesn’t mean I can minimise the pain/fatigue.

Last week, was hard mentally because it was the fifth anniversary of my ex-partner of 20 years dying suddenly. None of his friends mentioned him or remembered even though he was a popular, kind and helpful bloke.  They don’t talk about him, even on his birthday.  So I was very fed up – usually, to remember him, I climb a local hill but I can’t do that at the moment.

Rest in Peace gentle giant – he died far too soon at only 47.

Supporting my mental health with self-care

I used all my mental health and wellbeing techniques to keep myself on an even keel.  This means more yoga, more mindfulness, more walking in the fields and woods around our home, more pottering in the garden, more listening to music.  More ideas:

• My mental health care kit – ideas for self care
• Try mindful meditation in the garden to calm your mind

I’ve also been making more of an effort note three positive things happening each day.

2. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?

‘Working’ days – I’m still pottering on with online learning, photography and blogging.  Things are definitely coming together in the garden.  My husband has worked hard digging and painting the porch.  I’ve been watering the pots and garden daily as it has been so dry and warm here in Manchester.  Luckily I find watering the plants very relaxing.

Evening  routine

In the evenings we’ve been watching films and TV – I’m staying away from anything heavy or negative. It’s definitely better for my mental health.  Also, I don’t look on timehop as there would be memories of The Giant and many holiday adventures.

• Loving Your home made perfect. I love the AI plans – it gives us loads of ideas if we ever get enough money for an extension.
• Films – given what an auspicious day Monday was – May the fourth be with you. We watched the original star wars film (A new hope) – I wrote more about Star Wars Yoda and Princess Leia on my post on Monday.

Zoom chats 🙂

Though I’m knackered afterwards – it’s because it’s so different to working face to face as your brain is having to process so much information from a flat screen.

Yoga

On Saturday I joined in a zoom yoga session specifically for women in the menopause, like me.  It was just what I needed. We did some kundalini yoga focusing on breath work and some hatha yoga.

I do yoga at least once a week in the real world with my fabulous yoga teacher Sadhana – she’s running online courses at the moment. A few years ago, I persuaded my Chap to come to yoga with me – he’s a runner, was getting injuries.  He started yoga, six weeks later, his hamstring troubles were sorted, lengthened his running stride and his breath too.  He still does yoga at least twice a week, and during lockdown he’s trying out different kinds of yoga.

• I’ve written about yoga, on the blog – Have a look:
  www.viewsfrommygardenbench.com/yoga
• www.viewsfrommygardenbench.com/beginners-yoga-which-yoga-style-suits-you

3. How are you dealing with everything at the moment – are you self-isolated, going out for essentials etc? Has this changed?

We are only leaving the house/garden to go for local walks or a run.  My husband goes to a local lidl 2miles about once every two weeks and we get milk from a small coop shop locally.
I won’t be rushing out if any of the restrictions are changed at the weekend.  We are planning on only essential food shopping as rarely as possible.

4. What advice do you have for others?

Follow the rules – stay home, stay safe, wash your hands, flatten the curve and keep supporting the NHS.   It’s really serious and it’s disturbing to see people ignoring the rules.  The figures for deaths are still high especially here in Greater Manchester especially in areas with high deprivation.

I haven’t written much about my thoughts about the pandemic. The very poor response from the Government, but I tweet.  Follow the science and the investigative journalists – World Health Organisation, Office of National Statistics, Financial Times,  and the expert epidemiologists.

5. What have you bought this week that others might like? Especially if from a small business.

I haven’t bought anything this week online.

We have had some food deliveries from the Makers Market team who usually run monthly markets for artisan food, drink and craft makers – some rather epic sausages, some cheese, and FLOUR. Very happy husband!  He’s been making a lot of sourdough bread and scones to keep us going.

6. How has your routine been this week? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)

I’m still keeping to a good routine during ‘working week’– getting up and breakfast before 9am. On Mondays, we have a proper cooked breakfast, so it sets us up for the week.  My Chap cooks my favourite breakfast poached egg on toast with mushrooms 😊 We’ve cut down our coffee intake at it has been making us wired – oops.

• Mindfulness at 9am Monday – Open Doors Yoga –www.facebook.com/Openingdoorsyoga

At the weekends, we walk after tea as it’s much quieter and only the odd dog walker around – and the youth smoking weed.

7. Have you planned anything for once lockdown is over in the past 7 days?? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)

Nope other than deciding which local hills off the beaten track that we might climb when things are things are a little brighter.  We are only 25 mins drive from the moors near Bolton.  But at the rate we are going, I think that will be while off.

8. Anything else

Creativity

I haven’t made anything crafty this week, my fingers have been far too painful.  I’ve still been taking photos 🙂 We’ve been listening to music – especially REM.  Always remembering the Gentle Giant’s love for their music.

*****

How has your week been?

Remember #bekind to yourself too.  Please take some time to rest especially if you are homeschooling or a key worker.  We will get through this together.

Stay at home, stay safe and protect your community and the NHS.

Carpe Diem,

Love Bec xx

Follow my view from life in lockdown

• views from lockdown – early March, working from home
• views from lockdown – week 1 – 7 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 2 – 14-April
• views from lockdown – week 3 – 21 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 4 – 28 April 2020
• views from lockdown – week 5 – 5 May 2020
• views from lockdown – week 6 – 12 May 2020
• views from lockdown – week 7 – 19 May 2020

*****

Here’s week five from Sarah and Bex:

• www.lifeinabreakdown.com/life-in-a-lockdown-5
• www.ialwaysbelievedinfutures.com/life-in-a-lockdown-linky-week-5

If you’d like to join in with Sarah from ‘Life in a Breakdown’, Bex ‘from ‘Futures’ and the contributors. Answer these questions and join in:

1. How are you feeling/coping?
2. What are you doing to keep yourself occupied?
3. How are you dealing with everything at the moment – are you self-isolated, going out for essentials etc? Has this changed?
4. What advice do you have for others?
5. What have you bought this week that others might like? Especially if from a small business.
6. How has your routine been this week? (Question by Don’t Cramp My Style)
7. Have you planned anything for once lockdown is over in the past 7 days?? (Don’t Cramp My Style)
8. Anything else?

Click the picture below for the link-up info or look under their posts:

Not got a blog? just email yourself your answers to these questions 🙂