As lockdown eases bit by bit in Wales, I’ve been thinking on what I’ve learned, things I’ve discovered, things I’ve enjoyed or disliked – I’m hoping that this post will be a reminder to look back on in case I start forgetting! Although there are some things that I would love to be like they were before, there are certainly things that I’d like to change for good! So here’s my list…

Keep blogging

I enjoy writing, but I never seemed to have the time before. I’ve still worked full time at home throughout lockdown but am saving two hours a day commuting.  I really hope I keep it up this time but I need to get better at sharing my posts so people can read them!

Keep it local… in the main

I’ve really noticed how hard local businesses have worked to adapt and support the community.  Deliveries to the door or changing what they offered to suit need and wants.  Some of these businesses/individuals had lost a lot of their usual income and others diversified.  The community where I live has a group who put leaflets through every door to make sure everyone could ask for help if they needed it.

My Zumba class is now on Zoom – it makes me laugh and gives me energy. I also enjoyed a weekly stretch class instead of a treatment, for my poor muscles that craved attention after being stuck at a desk for hours on end!  My local veg delivery that I’d started six months before lockdown still arrived on time with healthy food.  I still had an Avon book dropped to my door by a woman who lives around the corner.  I discovered wonderful new products to try that I may not have considered before, as I often popped to the shops on my lunchbreak and stuck to my usuals.  I noticed a post on social media this week, a local food delivery business who were disappointed that people had been cancelling their deliveries now that the shops were back up and running.  I really think it’s important to keep supporting these local and small businesses, who were there for us when we needed them.

However, I did get thinking about our larger organisations.  There is of course, a place for our ‘big’ shops.  They provide variety and employment for many.  It’s been really sad to see the demise of some much loved high street stores that I loved visiting.  So if we want to keep them, we need to still use them! 

Overall, I will be significantly more conscious of supporting local going forward and hope that I continue to visit these first.  I will keep shopping at my favourite high street stores too, I don’t want to lose them.  At the end of this post I have shared the links to some great findings over the last few months, mostly small and/or local!

Family and Friends – the little things

I’ve always tried my hardest to make the most of family time, but the reality is that life is often a rush. I of course remember the special moments, but I really tried to be more present during lockdown. Breakfast time became one of my favourite times of day – we always sat together at dinner but rarely at breakfast. Realistically going forward, once school starts back again etc, I know that this may not be every day but I’m going to really appreciate this at weekends.

I love walking and being outdoors but before lockdown it seemed like another thing that was almost like a to do list item, squeezed between other things to do.   We’ve been on loads of walks and have got our money’s worth out of a fantastic Little Life carrier we bought!  I noticed how much better I felt and on weeks where it rained a lot and I stayed inside I felt rubbish.  One day we went on a walk in the pouring rain and it felt wonderful! I must remember this in the winter when I don’t feel like it so much.

I have missed having a cuppa and a chat with my family and friends so much.  Technology has helped but it isn’t the same as in person.  Now that places are opening up, I have had a couple of catch ups and it has been so lovely, I can’t wait to catch up with more people!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reducing is a tricky one, given that I have just written about spending to support businesses. I think it’s about balance. I’ve always been pretty good with clothes for example, I keep things for years! When it comes to reducing other bits to buy… it’s hard!  I set myself a challenge that I couldn’t buy a replacement beauty product until I used up what I had, I had quite the collection. It’s also frustrating to throw away products because they have a shelf life. I went through all my products and donated any brand new ones that I knew I couldn’t use to The Hygiene Bank, there was a donation bin in Boots which was so handy. It’s really worth checking out their website for different ways to support them.

Now, I’m being more selective on what products I’m buying, focusing on quality over quantity.  I’ve started clearing out my attic and I have found things that I had forgotten about and would like to use again! I’ve also posted things I no longer want/need on Facebook freecycle groups and selling pages – I hate things going to landfill.  A couple of friends have very kindly given me things for my toddler, mostly like new!  So they too have reduced what’s gone to landfill and someone else gets to have joy out of the items.

Keep learning new things

I have always believed in lifelong learning, it’s never too late to learn anything new! It doesn’t have to be a training course; it could be watching something online, asking someone to show you something or trial and error. I’ve learned a lot about using Microsoft Teams, as I’m sure many others have! My garden teaches me constantly what does and doesn’t work.  I’ve caught up with a work-related qualification that I’d previously lost motivation on.  Things I’d like to learn in the near future are how to use my daughter’s sewing machine and I’ve got my eye on another qualification.  I prefer classes to distance learning, but I am getting better with it so maybe I’ll come to enjoy this way much more.  It also means I can do things at a time to suit. My dream is to learn pottery one day… think I’ll have to keep that one waiting for a bit longer though!

Look after myself

This I am bad at on a day to day basis.  I do enjoy having treatments done and will continue them going forward, but the day to day looking after of myself was so bad before! In lockdown I made sure to use my facial products properly, my skin is looking a lot brighter. I have also downloaded the Calm app – spending a few minutes being mindful really helps.  It also sends me notifications to remind me to do it. For the first time in a long time, I deleted the app on my personal phone that held my work emails during annual leave. It was always so tempting just to check. I think it has helped for me to really switch off.

Overall, lockdown has mainly taught me to slow down a bit.  Yes, I will still have to juggle work, family life and social time but it doesn’t have to be as frantic.  I’ll continue to work from home more than before, I’ll be a bit more choosy about what I use my time for.  Will I still be like this in twelve months’ time I wonder?

Finally, I wanted to share some links to some things I have found great – these are purely from my own experience, I’ve not been asked to share. Only one has a referral link that I’ve declared, I don’t mind, you don’t have to use it, but it would be nice if I have convinced you to use the site 😊

• Humm Therapy Balms – recently launched in four different varieties, these organic multi-purpose balms are fantastic quality.  Their price is fantastic compared to other brands offering similar.  They are made with beeswax from the owner’s own bees! Packaged in glass pots with metal lids, they’re plastic-free too.
• Ecocobox  – I cancelled my other beauty subscriptions ages ago.  I didn’t want to keep getting little plastic samples that really varied in quality and produced a lot of waste.  This box has introduced me to some fantastic brands and are large sizes! Also, there are products for babies and toddlers too, the box being tailored to your profile. If you sign up using the referral link, I’ll get points that I can use towards rewards.
• Bao Skincare – this is the nicest smelling organic skincare.  The facewash is like pure oranges, I will definitely be buying more!
• Upcircle Beauty – my new favourite moisturiser.  Discovered in an Ecocobox, it absorbs really well and doesn’t leave a residue.  I struggle with some moisturisers sitting on my skin for too long.  My skin is looking really bright at the moment! Packaging is also 99% plastic free and they also offer plastic-free refill for the other 1%.
• Seed and Bean chocolates – these chocolates are so yummy! I bought a multi-pack and it went embarrassingly quickly… I placed another order this week!  The ‘foil’ wrapping is actually compostable and the paper outer is recyclable.
• Little Legwear Company – really sweet clothes for little ones.  I bought a beautiful dandelion print trousers for my toddler.
• Banc Organics – organic vegetable delivery covering Carmarthenshire and areas of Swansea. Their facebook page seems easier to navigate than the website at the time of writing.
• Neals Yard Remedies – I’ve linked my friend’s distributor ‘shop’ as it sells the same things as the main website but I’m supporting her as she hasn’t been able to run her amazing therapy business during lockdown 😊 You could use the main website if you’d prefer to. My partner uses all the men’s products and they smell so good! I love their products too and am currently using their face scrub, body wash and hair products, the scent lasts ages.