Be creative and do something good for your soul

Be creative, have fun, 

do something good for your soul

Although this is the strangest of times, you have to find ways to be happy right here, right now, instead of constantly wishing it was over and that means becoming rather creative.

This weekend I should be in Ibiza with the girls as a pre-birthday treat, which had been in the planning for almost a year, instead we're in lockdown.  We'd rather be there of course, but we were determined not to feel sorry for ourselves so we decided to bring Ibiza to us through the marvel that is Zoom.  I have some very creative friends and family and was very impressed with their re-creation of night club scenarios in their own homes complete with neon lights, glow sticks and a bucket of foam!!  Despite being hundreds of miles apart in some cases we still managed to become rather raucous and had great fun.  In fact, it made us all the more excited for when we can finally get there in person and was proof that we'll have a fabulous time.  2021 is the new 2020 and 51 is the new 50!!

This morning I set myself the challenge to see how creative I could get on my run by staying within approximately a 2 mile radius in any direction of my house.  Luckily I'm surrounded by lovely countryside so I had a great time running across the fields and exploring paths in the woods that I'd never even been along before and have been on my doorstep the whole time.  Oh, and on my way back I came across a peacock!!

At home, in all honesty, I really haven't had much more time that I would usually. Work has been very full on and I'm quite envious of all those people who seem to have spent their days busy making things, decluttering, decorating, doing their gardens, baking etc.  I obviously haven't been out anywhere, apart from the dreaded shopping trip, so I have had some extra time on the weekends so I have tried my best to do something productive.  I've electronically de-cluttered by deleting old files, folders and apps from my laptop, phone and iPad.  I've been a bit more thorough in my cleaning and I've sorted out my wardrobe, cupboards and paperwork.  On the plus side, I've also had more time to sit and read which has been very relaxing.  It's forced me to slow down instead of being my usual whirlwind and always feeling like I have to be doing something.  The real frustration is that the lovely Mr Bob and I have a new house that we can't move into and there's no work being done on it at the moment.  We have half an orangery as you can see below 😞.  Instead of getting upset about it though, we're using the extra time to think through exactly what we want to do in terms of decorating and it's giving us time to sort out our current junk before we move.  We have no control over moving but we do have control over lots of other things so we're trying to make the most of the situation.

So, how are you doing?  Feeling frustrated?  Need some quick wins to re-motivate you?  Here's a few things to try:

• Find a virtual workout buddy.  Why not try going on a walk with a friend via FaceTime.  You can catch-up and get your exercise done at the same time.  Or you can both do a workout via Zoom.  Even better, you can join one of my PT sessions or virtual boot camp (shameless plug!).
• Check out BBC Sounds.  There's some fabulous things to listen to on the BBC Sounds app from music compilations, interviews and podcasts about anything and everything.  Three things for definite that I can highly recommend are the 'Stay Home Live Lounge' and, if you're missing sport like I am, then the highly entertaining 'That Peter Crouch Podcast' and 'A Question of Sport' will have you laughing out loud whilst you get your sport fix.
• Have an online party.  You don't need a reason, just get a few friends together on Zoom, crack open the beer and wine and start regaling those funny stories about each other.  You could even try a quiz.
• Create something to make you smile.  I am not the most creative of people I have to admit, but after sorting through all my photos I've been inspired to put together a collage of my favourite pics so that I can create a photo book.
• Re-design one of your rooms.  Get really creative by using only what you have in your house at the moment (thereby saving you money instead of ordering online and having to wait weeks!).  Got some leftover paint lurking in the garage?  Paint one wall and make it a feature.  Move the furniture and pictures round.  Print off some inspiring quotes and put them in a picture frame.
• Watch an uplifting film.  One of my favourite films is a French one called 'Amelie'.  It's about love and happiness but is very quirky and different and has amazing cinematography throughout.

As I finish off this blog, I'm sat watching a re-run of the first London Marathon in 1981 as it should have been the marathon today.  Very amusing, how times have changed in terms of running fashion!  Sport always makes me feel better though, whether I'm doing it or watching it.  I always cry when watching the marathon, or when I'm doing one for that matter!  It's bringing back memories of when I did the London Marathon in 2013, just a week after the Boston Marathon bombing, it was very uplifting, very emotional and there was an overwhelming feeling of togetherness.  Very similar to what we're going through now, we're in it together and we'll get through it together.

I hope this has given you a few ideas to be getting on with.  Have fun and enjoying getting creative!!

#2020