Broke Girl in the City’s Lockdown Diaries: Week 6
The theme for this week is Thank You. Each Thursday, I go outside my house to clap for the NHS and all of the key workers who are looking after people in care homes, surgeries and hospitals, as well as all of the people working in supermarkets, cleaners, people who collect our rubbish. I am shielding at the moment, but I am thankful for those people who are caring for others right now and providing essential services, which means we all have food and medical supplies and can communicate with one another.
A big thank you to Captain Tom Moore, who raised over £30 million for NHS Charities who celebrated his 100th birthday this year.
VE Day in Lockdown
It seems strange that we will be celebrating another bank holiday at home. Next weekend will mark 75 years since VE Day.
I would have gone home to commemorate my Grandmother’s birthday, who sadly passed away before Christmas. I remember my Grandmother’s care home celebrating with cream scones and tea the year before.
I am keeping in touch with my mum by writing letters, which I wrote about in Week 4. You can keep and cherish letters, and I am sure in later years, I will look back on these letters fondly.
Music is getting me through
I have energising songs and all-time favourites playing during the day, depending on how I am doing and feeling. A great friend of mine, Amber Angell, played a DJ set this weekend, and I have been listening to other friends and brands who have been taking their festivals and music onto YouTube.
Lionsgate Live! A Night at the Movies
Lionsgate made four of their film titles free for the next few Saturdays on YouTube, so I finally watched La La Land! Next week will be the uplifting biopic Eddie The Eagle, followed by the British classic Bend It Like Beckham and the smash-hit blockbuster The Hunger Games – exclusively on the Lionsgate UK YouTube channel.
Loan approved!
When I left my job last September, I made a promise to myself that I would buy an iMac with my next first paycheck. Not with the money that I was given when I left.
On Friday, I took out a 0% interest loan with Barclays to buy myself a 27″ iMac! Now, this might seem like a great expense during lockdown when we are looking to tighten our financial belts. So why did I do this? It’s because I really believe in investing in yourself. I took the loan out over 18 months, which means that the repayments are affordable. This iMac is an investment in myself, which I can use for blogging and photography, and I can finally teach myself how to edit videos.
My Top 3 Tips for Lockdown: Week 6
1. EMBRACE THE NEW NORMAL
It’s amazing how quickly we all have gotten used to the ‘new normal’. It’s been weeks since I last left my house to post a letter to my mum.
I have simplified my life over the last few months. Minimised my media consumption to keep anxiety levels low. Set up a workstation with a desk, chair and headphones for both my phone and computer. I have also used this time to focus on my diet and self-care.
It’s important to evaluate what has and hasn’t been working in our lives. Think about what we DON’T want when we come out of lockdown just as much as what we DO want.
2. INVEST IN YOURSELF
Something that I truly believe in is investing in yourself. Every year I put myself on different courses and attend free workshops. If you are furloughed, in or out of work. This is the perfect time to invest in yourself.
I bought myself an iMac as an investment. However, you don’t have to spend a penny right now. Each weekend I listen to a free webinar. Today I have been listening to Tony Robbins & Dean Graziosi with top female podcaster Jenna Kutcher who talked about how to create value for yourself.
Without putting pressure on yourself to be busy all of the time. Use this time wisely to invest in yourself.
3. PUTTING YOURSELF FIRST ISN’T SELFISH
I started therapy back in January, which was the best decision of my life. After my best friend died, I sought out therapy, but my application got stuck in red tape between my doctor and Vitality. I was broken-hearted but didn’t receive any counselling or therapy at the time. Grief really has no time stamp, even with the therapy. I still miss her.
I received my last therapy session this week. Finally, I met someone who took the time to get to know me and work with me intensely. What the therapy taught me is to be mindful. My auto-pilot mode is very strong. I tend to be a workaholic if left unchecked, and I tend to worry about other people rather than prioritising myself.
Therapy taught me that putting myself first isn’t selfish. Be gentle with yourself right now.
That concludes week 6 of my Lockdown Diaries!
