From the moment your children are born, your perspective is forever altered. Protecting the tiny and fragile life in your arms becomes your number one priority. All the things that used to cause you stress and anxiety suddenly seem much more manageable, or even trivial. Throughout the years since, you’ve conquered every challenge that came your way with aplomb. But now, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, you face a once in a generation event that has even the most resolute Mums feeling great anxiety and worry. As well as protecting your child from the remotest chance of coming into contact with the virus, you also need to cope with the myriad challenges that come with the nationwide lockdown which was put into effect last week.
If you’re unsure how you’ll cope with what could be 6 months of self-isolation, get stuck into this coronavirus survival guide for stressed Mums…
Set yourself new challenges every day
You may be working from home. You may be on furlough. Or you may already be a stay at home Mum whose access to her outside support network has been cut off virtually overnight. It’s important to keep yourself active and motivated. Try setting yourself new tasks every day. Whether it’s an ambitious home workout, trying a new recipe with pots from a Le Creuset outlet or even a rigorous spring clean. Don’t forget that you can also turn last year’s clutter into this year’s cash by selling unwanted goods online. People are more bargain-hungry than ever at the moment and what may seem like trash could be someone’s treasure.
Pick up the phone
Mums are extremely resourceful people, accustomed to taking on the whole world. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that you’re on your own in this difficult time. The smartphone can be equal parts blessing and curse at a time like this. Reduce your dose of social media. People are at their best and their worst online right now, with certain people instantly looking for someone to blame rather than pulling together to make things better.
Still, remember that the people you love are never more than a phone call or a video chat away. And you need one another now more than ever in these uncertain times. Whether you’re calling for advice, tips or just a giggle and a catch up don’t confuse social distancing with social isolation.
Start planning things to look forward to
While it may seem like this lockdown will go on forever, it’s important (both for you and your little ones) to remember that it won’t. As such, it’s important to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. Talk to them about the holidays you’ll be able to go on. Talk about the friends you’ll be able to see and the fun places that you’ll be able to visit that you’ve taken for granted like cinemas and museums.
Find ways to reign in your stress
Finally, while these are stressful times, it’s essential to remember that kids pick up on our stress. And unlike us, they don’t have the emotional infrastructure to be able to keep calm and carry on. So do your best to reign in your stress. Everything from starting the day with some yoga or gentle exercise to drinking herbal tea rather than coffee and trying meditation to relax your mind can make a huge difference to your child’s mental wellbeing, not to mention your own.
What are your top tips for surviving self-isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic?
This is a collaborative post
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