There is no question, life has changed, our routines have been broken, our freedom has been temporarily lost and overcoming this situation sometimes feels a long way away.

But I have taken the time to reflect on things and look at the positives.

I’m actually quite happy to work from home each day. In my technical report writing and research role, times of quiet and solitude can be what I need.  My work still allows me to have some form of routine and for that I am really grateful (even if that only means getting up at a certain time to get showered and changed, feeding the dog and hopping onto the sofa with Elmo the pug and my laptop!). 

I really appreciate my evenings and weekends. How many times have I said in the past, if only I had more time?  With my husband we are finally catching up on all the films on our ‘to-see’ list, getting the garden summer ready and dominating the video pub quiz world (four-time champions!)

And, while we are very close with our families, distance or lack of time can easily cause a delay in meeting up; with virtual nights out this is no longer a problem.

Now that the boss has found the conference call button on WhatsApp, we all have a daily catch-up. It’s a great way to chat through our workloads and also to check in on everyone on a personal note to see how they and their families are coping.

The hardest thing about working from home is knowing when to switch off; there is always just one more job you want to finish off!

Life in lockdown has certainly made me appreciate things more. Our local community has come together, helping with shopping for the elderly and vulnerable.  With a new housing development recently completed nearby, through a WhatsApp chat group I’ve spoken to many people I hadn’t met before, and there certainly seems to be the consensus for a road party for everyone to meet when this is all over. 

I guess with everyone else I’m waiting for the end of this pandemic to be able to see our loved ones again, but even as life returns to normal, I will definitely reflect on some of the positive changes that I’ve been forced to make during this time and hope to carry on with them in the future!