MAKING THE MOST OF THE NEW NORMAL

Self isolation, social distancing and working from home is the new norm for most of us. Whilst free time and sleep-ins may have sounded like a pretty nice deal at first, it's not long before our motivation takes a massive hit, and the anxiety surrounding all of the current big changes start taking its toll.

It's important to remember that it's normal for anxiety to be at an all time high - We are worried about the health and safety of ourselves and loved ones, financial hardships, and not knowing when we'll be able to connect with our friends and families and go back to a time when we didn't constantly refresh the news. 

We don't have much control over the current situation, but what we do have is choice over the way we respond to what's happening around us; Feel terrified, or be in the present moment and try to make the most of the time we have.

There are plenty of things I put off doing because I always made the excuse of 'being busy', or 'not having enough time', or 'it's not really a priority right now', including writing on this blog. The free time I've had last week since I was stood down was a massive wake up call that apart from working, socialising and studying, I didn't really have hobbies or projects that I was passionate about.

If you, like me, have previously said 'if only I had the time', now is your chance to change that.

If you're looking for inspiration on projects to invest your time into, here's a little list to help you get started: 

Do an online course or up-skill

If there's an area of interest that you've always wanted to learn more about, or a new language you want to master, there are great online courses (free ones too) that give you the opportunity to do just that. 

I'll be using this time to further develop my knowledge in digital marketing. If you're a beginner wanting to become a digital marketing guru, Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google is a great place to start. 

The Fashion Institute (TFI) is also offering free online classes with Industry Experts for those wanting to break into the fashion world. 

Start a veggie garden or fix-up the back yard

Just because you're confined to your house doesn't mean you have to stay inside. Going green is not only environmentally friendly, but has great health benefits. Use this time to plant some veggies, paint the fence, do some gardening, and get your Vitamin D fix. 

Start a side hustle or do free-lance work

Have a clever business idea? Now might be the perfect time to start doing all the ground work to get it started. Start writing your business plan, and look into government help available to small businesses. If you've got a unique skill, freelancing is a great way to keep productivity levels up, and earn some extra cash. 

Get creative

Taking up painting, graphic design, or redecorating are all ways to unleash your creativity. If you've been wanting to renovate your house, start making plans to design your dream  home. If you're a great artist, you can also sell your paintings online through platforms like Etsy. If you're not a great artist or want to learn something new like graphic design, now is the perfect opportunity to watch online tutorials to revamp your skills. 

It's easy to lose perspective at a time like this. It's important to remember that we have so many things to be grateful for. Being healthy and safe, and having the time to put our plans and big ideas into action is an incredible gift. We have to make the most of it. We are lucky to have the chance to do so.