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Good Morning,
I hope you had a lovely weekend. It was the first for England being back in lockdown and I’ve been in touch with family and friends who are affected by it. I know it will be extremely difficult for people this time around with the reduction in daylight hours combined with the colder temperatures and general dreich Autumn weather. Daily walks aren’t very appealing now which increases the opportunity for isolation and loneliness to kick in. It’s important to reach out and keep in touch with loved ones who might not be forthcoming or quick to admit that they’re struggling.
While we’re not yet in full lockdown here in Scotland, we’re living under tighter restrictions and have been for a few months now. Not being able to spend time with family or friends indoors is challenging however if the sacrifice now allows us to get together at Christmas then it’s one worth taking. I’m keeping busy on the weekends, working my way through my gift lists and compiling ideas for each individual. I normally hold off until Black Friday to do the majority of my festive shopping however some shops have already started with the sales and deals. It’s difficult to gauge if the savings will be as big as previous years with retail having been heavily impacted although not as much as hospitality and travel.
I’m focusing on the things I can look forward to which include being cosy at home watching Christmas movies while carefully wrapping gifts. I’ll be wearing my cosy new loungewear from H&M which is super soft and fluffy. It’s a simple pleasure but they are often the greatest.
I know not everyone enjoys working from home but for me it’s a luxury and something I want to cherish and take full advantage of before we’re forced back in to the office and old ways of working. I know in years to come when we look back on this time we’ll wonder why we didn’t make the most of it. How many times have you got up and ready for work particularly in the winter when it’s still dark and miserable and wished you didn’t have to leave the house? I’d say it’s pretty much a daily occurrence and it’s not usually about the work, it’s mainly the having to get ready and be somewhere for a set time or having to walk from the car to the office in the most dismal of weather. Some days it can be down to not wanting to converse with colleagues and have the accustomed small talk or not feeling 100% but having to put on a face and pretend as though everything is fine. I’m sure I’m not alone but it’s something to keep in mind on the days when you might feel a bit deflated or frustrated. If you can find joy or comfort from the small things still possible then it makes the current situation more bearable.
xo!