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I haven't written a blog for quite a while but felt it important to document this moment in time not only for my business but also for my own personal reference. I work from home and under more 'normal' circumstances I would rise at around 6.30 and my work day would begin at around 9:00 / 9.30 am and be split between baking, decorating, admin, planning and family time. Daily routines would be set depending on work commitments and planned schedules followed from Monday through to Friday when the pace slows a little (unless I have a wedding cake delivery) ... and becomes those 2 days that we used to call the weekend! BUT! ever since the lock-down period began a new pattern has emerged.
The alarm inside my head NOW goes off at anytime between 4.30 / 6:30 am and my day begins when I mooch downstairs, where if he's already up Mr S. will have made a breakfast of Greek yogurt, berries and a mug of green tea (he knows what I like ☺️).
We'll have a good morning hug then go our separate ways (in the same house) to start our day.
I grab another green tea and go into the office where I'll scroll the days News, IG and FB and catch up on the previous days 'Daily Briefing'. I now like to call this 'News and Views' as somehow it makes it seem more important when I enter it into my planner the day before. I check my phone for any family messages and look at my to-do list for the day ahead.⠀
My day officially starts when Mr. S. goes out to work at 7.30 am, with a home gym session of either 30 mins cardio (#C25K) or 60 mins full body workout (@8WWG) followed by a quick shower / dressed and then and a 'Clean and Clear' session! Now I know this sounds a little bit like a medical examination, but is actually my new term for (as again I think it makes it sound more important) having a quick swoosh and swipe around the kitchen worktops, emptying and refilling the dishwasher and basically moving anything and everything that is in sight and out of place that is annoying me!
This is followed by a mid morning ‘Coffee and Catch Up ’ WhatsApp call with my 3 lovely daughters and the grandchildren if their mum (Tasha) can pin them down long enough! We share our daily / weekly wins and woes depending on how we feel, put the outside world and each others worlds to rights and try to put everything else including any anxieties about life outside of lock-down into perspective before moving on with our individual days.
Although currently paused I am still very much working behind the scenes on my business and taking orders for when I can safely be back up and running, so allocating time to keeping my business alive and 'out there' is crucial.
So I'll spend an hour or 2 catching up with emails and enquiries and planning, editing and scheduling content for my social media, I have very recently joined and set up a profile on LinkedIn too so I'll also have a mooch around to see what's happening in the business world and also to see if anyone has found me yet ... (is anyone out there that would like to connect?).
Lunch is generally around 12.30 / 1:00 and weather permitting is taken outside in the garden or in the conservatory if not. When you're working from home (or self isolating / shielding ) I find a change of scenery is good for the soul and can stimulate creativity even if you're still only looking at your own space! I'll also catch up on a chapter of my latest read which is currently @thesecret365 ... very interesting and very thought provokingly deep!
My afternoon usually begins with a scheduled Zoom training / meeting or podcast / online tutorial that I have been promising myself that I would catch up with but somehow never found the time! I also try to catch up with my business coaching which somehow I always seem to fall behind with!
Most days I aim to finish up my 'office time' around 4:00 pm when my lovely Mr. S. arrives home from work ... then it's 'cuppa and chill' for him while I start to prep the evening meal before we head out for our daily 1 hour walk.
Our evening meal usually lands on the table around 7 / 7.30 and following that I / we slide onto the sofa to watch the latest in the series of whatever it is that we're currently following. Recommendations welcome!
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I notice as I write down my 'general' routine, that now I seem to have found my 'groove' in this 'new normal' ... not only am I enjoying the 'balance' it has given me but I'm also realising just how much more productive, proactive and focused I am and how much less critical and harsh on myself I am being! This enforced downtime has made me very much more appreciative of quality time and family, personal growth and development, optimistic attitudes and work life balance ... and it has also allowed me to be a little bit kinder to myself and for me personally that is very much a positive aspect of the lockdown ... and something I aim to take forward into the future! ⠀
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Of course, there are undoubtedly days where I’m more productive than others and like most people I have my off days and down days too. However to counterbalance this I’ve started to jot down 3 things I’m grateful for and spending 5-10 minutes or so visualising these reinforces the positive aspect and makes a huge difference to my mindset.
Yesterday’s gratitude was for my health, my lovely hubby and the beautiful sunshine.
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So tell me, what does your routine look like? Has it changed much due to #lockdown?
What will you take forward with you?