Adapting to the new world – some positive lockdown vibes
“It is not the most intellectual or the strongest species that survives, but the species that survives is the one that is able to adapt to or adjust best to the changing environment in which it finds itself.” — Charles Darwin
Well, we never thought we’d open a blog post with a quote from Charles Darwin, but, hey, we’re living in a whole new world these days. Life has changed, we have changed, we have adapted.
Manage My Website has changed, our personal lives have changed; we’ve found new ways to keep working throughout the pandemic and keep our minds and bodies active.
And our clients have been doing the same. We know, because we asked the very question to them recently and the stories below are very uplifting. We’re sure each and every one of us has a positive to take from lockdown if we really think about it. And after reading these stories, maybe you’ll be inspired to try something different too.
Mary Dalgleish
- How an online course during lockdown inspired my new book
“When Lockdown struck at the end of March 2020, like many others, my work as a complementary therapist and trainer came to an abrupt end. I was left wondering what I could do to make best use of the time I now had on my hands, so I decided to invest in some online courses to enhance my knowledge and skills. As well as my therapy practice, I have been teaching anatomy and physiology on complementary therapy courses since 2000, so I began to investigate the possibility of designing an online course in this subject.
After a web search I came across a suitable course and was going ‘full steam ahead’ until I came to session 5, which was all about gathering my course materials together. As I was planning to move house after lockdown, I felt that this was also an ideal opportunity to sort out all my teaching resources as part of my moving preparations. I was amazed at how much material I had gathered over the years to prepare my lessons, and realised I had prepared enough teaching material to write my own book. I took a break from the online course and concentrated on organising all my lecture notes and presentations into a logical sequence, and so my book “KNOW YOUR BODY – The Essential Guide to Human Anatomy and Physiology” - along with an accompanying Workbook - was born . . .
Both the book and workbook have been getting good reviews and purchase details can be found here.
Now I need to get back to completing my online course!”
Alan Ferguson - 5K? No way!
We now neatly segway across to a story from Alan Ferguson, Web Manager at Central Bedfordshire Council as he knows his body and the impact lockdown had on it.
“I suffer from…sorry start again. I live with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is a form of arthritis in the spine. I inject each week to manage it and avoid a lot of pain!
Another way to help manage the condition is to keep active. The frustrating thing about hitting lockdown was my visits to the gym ground to a halt.
It used to kickstart my day, 3 times a week on the way to work. But gyms closed and work did too! I needed a release. My wife and daughter already enjoyed going running. So, I thought why not. I downloaded the couch 5K app and chose former Olympian Michael Johnson to coach me. Basically, it builds you up week by week to eventually run 5K.
I built up and eventually ran 5K. It was about 36 minutes. Slow and steady but I made it. I’ve kept it up and had the ambition to get under 30 minutes. Not only did I manage that, but I also managed to clock 28 mins 52 seconds as a personal best.
I’ve calmed down now on breaking my personal best as I go running with my wife and daughter. My daughter is now 6 months pregnant and still going with us! So, we take it steadier these days! I look forward to a few year’s time when I’ll get to go running with my future grandson.
I do miss the trip sot the gym but maybe I’ll get back there. In the meantime, I’ll keep pounding the streets of our village and someday consider upping the run to a 10K challenge!”
Nice work Alan! We look forward to hearing about the 10K challenge soon.
From the outdoors, we move indoors, and a story from photographer, David Robertson on how he captured kitchen life through a lens.
David Robertson - 30 days in my kitchen
“The pandemic has been a challenging time for me, and for many other people I’m sure.
As a photographer I found it relatively easy during the first lockdown to immerse myself with workshops, editing my image backlog and exploring photography around my home.
As June 2020 passed and the restrictions were relaxed I started to get back to [the new] normal. Out with my camera and out meeting friends. How short this reprieve turn out to be!
The November lockdown hit me hard and my mental health started to deteriorate. Decree Absolute, quietness, loneliness.
In January I joined a Zoom workshop (incognito) called “Finding a Voice & Developing a Style”, about developing a unique project. The participants were challenged to create something new and share it a month later.
Panic attack [metaphorically]. Go out with a camera, when this was probably against the rules of the time. Then my muddled thoughts started to clear. Out? Why not find a novel project within my own four walls. I feel better!
I give you Kitchen, my project on thirty days in my kitchen...warts and all!
Thanks to Allie and the team for their assistance with my website.”
We’re off outside again after David’s story and over to stylist Ellie Lines.
Ellie Lines - Good vibes only
“I discovered podcasts and really tried to get my meditation game back on to get me through this past however many months… I love listening to Naill Breslin’s Wake Up/Wind Down podcast . It's a short one to start your day and to end it. He always seems to say the things you need to hear right now when you tune in. The Daily Stoic is also a great one to make you just stop and think and to re-focus and help you take that next small step forward when you might be finding it hard to or things a little overwhelming. Calm It Down is also a nice one to listen to, to do just that - Calm it down….
Also, I always enjoyed my dog walks, but I think now more than ever, especially my first walk of the day, it’s an hour or so of pure bliss and magic. Setting the day up your way, without any influence. The trick is to try and carry that peace and calm throughout the day. It’s currently work in progress, but I am trying…!”
We move on now to Amanda Eatwell, a freelance photographer and how lockdown proved to be like a little lottery win!
Amanda Eatwell - Hold the vision, trust the process
“I would have to say that Lockdown One was the jackpot lockdown for me: it allowed time to think in a way that is often hard to find with 21st century living.
The photography world opened up, as we discovered the people behind the galleries and organisations that we admire. For a few months everybody was very open, as the need for connection with others was brought to the fore. There were talks and presentations daily: sometimes it was hard to keep up! I learned a lot.
Due to the pandemic I have had to take on a full-time role outside of my freelance photography life, but I never stop working towards getting back out there and performing as an artist every day. ‘Hold the vision, trust the process’ as someone wise once said!
I also learned the phrase ‘on it like a car bonnet’ during a Skype call with MMW founder Allie Astell, and have used it with a smile on my face several times since!”
Susan Ogden - A breath of fresh air
Last but not least we have Susan Ogden.
Susan’s advice is similar to a lot more we’ve ready already…”lots of country walks in my local National Park and visiting gorgeous gardens. Plus taking photos of flowers I see on my rambles. I love the colours of this poppy…” we do too Susan!
Thank you all so much for sharing these stories. We hope they’ve sparked some inspiration for you. We’d love to hear more stories so feel free to comment on the blog below. With best wishes from the Manage My Website team.