How to survive and thrive in lockdown 3.0

So we have entered Lockdown 3.0 in England, which for me means reverting back to our plan from March, as the children are also off school. But unlike before, I have a routine I can just tailor that I know works.

One thing I’ve learnt from all this is to be like water. To go with the flow and follow the path of least resistance, which actually is what we are programmed to do. The worst thing I can do is fight against it. So I now can accept the situation more easily, regardless of how I feel about it, knowing that there are four individuals in our house who have needs that need to be met.

As before, this is how I will be managing it:

• By remaining calm when everyone else around me might be losing it.
• By being practical wherever possible.
• By keeping perspective on what is going on around me.
• By taking positive action which gives me a sense of control when so many things are uncertain.

The key is not to panic because this exacerbates the situation, just like dominos falling, and ask for help if you need it.

Here are some tips on how to survive and thrive

Establish a routine

Both me and my husband continue to work from home during this time whilst juggling homeschooling our kids. The only way to balance work and keeping our kiddies occupied is a routine. This way we all know what is happening and we have a better chance of actually satisfying each other’s needs.

I’ve simply revised our daily timed plan, which includes all the activities for the day. The basic structure of the day will obviously include mealtimes and the bedtime routine but will also include:

• Crafting
• Outdoor activities
• Academic learning
• Family activities
• Cooking
• Free time

This may seem like overkill but it really helps us to manage our household during this time.

Talking to our kids

I feel very fortunate that both my children seem pretty calm about everything at the moment. I think their school has done a great job in educating them on what is happening.

As for hubby and I, we continue to filter what they’re hearing as some of the language can be quite scary. But we’ve still been honest with them and also reassured them that we will manage and they are safe with us.

Children are a lot more perceptive than we sometimes give them credit for. So, telling them what’s going on whilst using reassuring language makes them feel safe. I think it’s really important to have these conversations and tailor what we say depending on their age.