Hi Musers. If you’re here in the UK, then you’ll know that we’re in our third national lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve been fighting this battle for almost a year now, and it’s been hard. I’ve barely seen my parents or grandma. I had to send Christmas dinner up to my Mum, Stepdad and Brother rather than having them around the table. I planned to meet my ex-work colleagues a year ago to catch them up on my new job and it still hasn’t happened. Incidentally, I’ve also been made redundant from that job, got a new one which was very poorly paid and then got a much better one that I start on Monday – Eeek!

I know that as far as the Covid-19 pandemic goes, I’ve had it fairly easy. My depression has been at it’s worst ever but I haven’t lost anyone or got sick myself. I was technically made redundant but was actually furloughed, so I had money coming in while I was looking for a new job. It could have been so much worse.

It’s been so long…

I admit I didn’t think life would still not be back to normal by now. I naively thought we were looking at 6-8 months tops. I’ve realised it might be that long from now before things even begin to improve. We’re all exhausted already so this information can feel like too much to deal with. This is particularly true of you work in healthcare, are responsible for the care of a loved one, or having to deal with the schools being closed again.

Please, please just look after yourself

I’m trying to keep this post brief in case you only have a couple of minutes to fit it in. Going forward I want you to bear the following in mind:

• You can do this. You have battled through everything this pandemic like the warrior you are. I’m proud of you!
• Even the toughest warriors need time to eat, rest, and tend to their wounds between battles and you do too. Ok, you might not have physical wounds but you will have mental, and emotional ones. Take time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes a couple of times a day. Have a cup of tea, read a blog, meditate, take a hot shower, whatever works for you. 
• Help others if you can do it safely and without compromising your own mental or physical health. Call on a neighbour you know is alone to make sure they’re ok. You can’t go into their house but even 5 minutes chatting on the doorstep may help. If they’re elderly maybe see if there’s anything you can get them when you’re out.
• Do NOT start fretting about your weight! It’s a measure of how deeply diet culture has its claws into us that in the middle of a worldwide pandemic which has killed more than two million people we’re still fretting about putting on weight like it’s the end of the world. It honestly isn’t. Please let 2021 be the year you kick diet culture to the kerb forever.
• You are beautiful. You’re strong. You’ve coped like a total badass. You are more than enough exactly as you are. Keep rocking it!

Til next time musers feel free to share your top coping tips in the comments. Til next time be safe and take care of yourselves.

Love CMoo xx