A Life Update March 2020

Hello! The world feels like a very different place since I published my last few blog posts, in which I was sharing my exciting travel plans for 2020 and my experience of a luxury afternoon tea. How blissfully unaware about what was just around the corner.

We’ve been on lockdown for two weeks now, but I decided to start isolating 3 weeks ago before any of the rules were in place. These past 3 weeks have been tough mentally. Mainly because I am trying my best to keep anxiety at bay and secondly because entertaining a toddler inside for days on end is erm, challenging, to say the least.

Just like a huge percentage of others around the world, our spring and summer now looks very different to what we had planned. We can be sad, we can be frustrated, but ultimately, our disrupted plans are not important. What is important is that we all come together and do our bit to help fight this virus. To help save lives. Suddenly, doing nothing means everything.

Scott is currently working from home which means The Travelista HQ has been officially hijacked. My pretty office aesthetics have been ruined by two big black DELL desktop computers that Scott works from. Our childcare has had to close temporarily which means I am back to being in full time Mum mode, stealing hours to work and blog on weekends and evenings.

Theo is still on two naps a day, the morning nap is in his cot for between 60 and 90 minutes and the afternoon nap is for about 40 minutes in his pram whilst we’re on our daily walk. The daily walk is part of our new ‘quarantine routine’. Once Theo is asleep, I stick my headphones in and listen to a podcast and try to just mentally disconnect for a little while. I always get back from the daily walk feeling more positive and uplifted. I am so glad that we can still go out for exercise. Can you imagine the mental health implications if we weren’t?

As you can imagine, almost all of my upcoming projects have been postponed for the foreseeable. They were all within the travel and tourism industry which of course is going through such a tough time at the moment. Being self-employed has definitely brought an additional stress to this situation, but I know I am one of tens of thousands who are all in the same boat. For the past month I have been doing some freelance social media consulting, specifically clients on how to manage their social media during the outbreak. It has been unexpected, but very welcome work.

I am really missing human interaction and have never FaceTimed family and friends so much in my life. The amount of virtual pub quizzes I have taken part in over Zoom is more than I care do admit, but all of this helps us to feel more connected. I’ve even created my own TikTok account! (Watch this space). We have gone out to clap for the NHS and key workers for the past two weeks. I found it so touching and seeing all my neighbours all doing the same really lifted my spirits. To quote @therapywithnaomi, we have never been more separate, yet so together.

I know that the pandemic is far from over, but I am looking ahead to brighter and happier times. Imagine how much we will all appreciate the little things from now on. Our health. Our freedom. Our family. Our friends. Our first overseas family holiday to Almunecar is still booked for September. We are keeping everything crossed that it can still go ahead, but are not keeping our hopes too high.

This situation is affecting us all in different ways. When things get tough I remind myself that we are all in it together. Just like the traumatic time we went through whilst Theo was in NICU, I will look back on this time as something that has made me a stronger and more resilient person.

Thank you to all our incredible NHS and key workers who are still keeping the country moving. You are truly incredible.

Love Jess x