👀🕐Long time no see..🕐👀

I was really struggling to choose a topic for this blog, so I’ve decided to tackle the one word we all dread: lockdown. It’s been a while since I’ve sat down with my laptop to share a story from my life, but this one feels very different—because lockdown was very different.

During the first lockdown, I spent a lot of time in bed, not really wanting to get up. I lost my job for a short while which was terrifying, but thankfully I was taken back a few weeks later. That was the biggest relief. I’m now working 15 hours a week from home, which at least gives me something positive to focus on. Working from home feels strange, but being able to book holidays for people—giving them something to look forward to—feels really rewarding, especially right now. :)

I won’t lie: the most recent lockdown hit me like a tonne of bricks. One minute I was working full-time and going to the gym regularly, and the next I was dealing with the fear of losing my job. Watching friends and family actually lose theirs was heartbreaking. I know how lucky I am to still be working.

This time around, I’m determined to do something productive for my mental health and stay as positive as possible. With the gyms closed, I haven’t been able to go boxing, so home workouts have become my new normal. I invested in an app called Carrot and honestly, it’s going great. She shouts at you, yes—but I find it weirdly motivating haha! I try to work out once a day and go for a walk or jog when I can. I’d love to become healthier, but I’m avoiding the scales; in the past, weighing myself while dieting had a horrible effect on my mental health, and I never want to fall back into that pattern.

Adapting to home workouts has been a challenge. I’m such a social person, and I’ve always loved exercising with others—it gives me that little competitive push. Outside of the gym, I’ve only ever enjoyed road running, so switching everything to home workouts has been a tough adjustment.

One of the hardest parts has been missing my Nan. Her birthday was in April and then Mother’s Day came along, and I couldn’t celebrate either with her. She’s 80 now and didn’t really understand what was going on, which must have been so scary for her. She lives 20 miles away and I couldn’t even go and see her. I sent her some gifts and a personalised card with a photo of me and my sisters—it made her cry, bless her. I love personalised cards; they’re so special and meaningful.

I’ve been trying to keep my mind busy when I’m not working, so I’ve started doing adult colouring books. They’re amazing for relaxation—I’ve spent hours just colouring away. Someone recommended it to me and at first I laughed, because I didn’t think it was “an adult thing”… how wrong I was.

I’ve also recently gotten into reading, starting with Tyson Fury’s books. As most of you already know, I love the Furys—from Tyson’s boxing career to Paris and the kids. His books give you such a deep insight into their lives and the daily struggles they face. Their honesty and down-to-earth nature really inspire me. I’d recommend Tyson’s books to anyone who needs strength, motivation or a reminder that even the strongest people struggle. One of my favourite lines is:

“If mental health can bring somebody as big and strong as me to my knees, then it could bring anybody to their knees.”

It’s such a powerful reminder that mental health doesn’t discriminate.

I’ve been making self-care a priority during this lockdown too. It’s always been important to me, but now I’ve realised how much looking after myself helps my mental health, motivation, and ability to function day to day. I’ve always loved face masks, foot masks, hair masks—you name it! I adore a good pamper evening, especially now that I have more time on my hands.

I hope this blog gives you a few ideas to make lockdown a little easier.

Keep an eye out for my next post—I’ll try to write again soon.

Chloe x