Carry on Beautiful!

While we’re all on lockdown, and most of us are no longer in work, it seems everyone is pushing the idea of being super productive. I’ve been guilty of it myself for sure, but this isn’t just some fun free time, is it? I’ve see the phrase ‘if you don’t do it now, it’s not because you didn’t have time, it’s because you’re lazy’ floating around online a lot, and I hate it.

There’s a pandemic going on. Everyday, numbers and statistics are going up, news reports are flooding in, and people’s personal stories of illness and loss are being shared. If you’re not currently getting stuff done it’s not because you’re lazy, it’s because you’re human. We can only handle so much.

Our routines and entire sense of normalcy have completely changed. Some people may be able to take that in their stride, I really thought I was at first, but for some of us, this is a really difficult time. There’s so much anxiety and uncertainty at this time, and it’s okay to not be writing a future best seller or turning I’m your house into a Mrs.Hinch paradise. It’s okay to be doing absolutely nothing.

I’ve been trying to be productive and keep up with personal projects because I feel terrible if I don’t, and that’s just not fair to myself. I’m so anxious about friends and family, I feel so terrible for all the people currently going through horrible stuff, I’m worried about everything and the news only tells me that I should be, it’s okay if I don’t have the motivation or executive function to be doing stuff, and it’s okay if you don’t either.

Of course, it’s important to push ourselves to do the things that’ll help us feel better, and function as normally as possible. Keep up with your dishes and laundry, have a shower, change your pyjamas, but even then you shouldn’t feel bad if you’re not managing to.

For most people I know, this is the first ‘big’ thing to happen to us as adults. I vaguely remember Swine Flu being talked about, but that was obviously a much smaller scale, and I didn’t have to worry because that was my parents job. This is the first time I’ve ever had to worry if I’ll be able to get what I need from the supermarket, or how long it’s going to have to last. Or had to worry about my mum going to work. Or been greeted by my boss with detol wipes to touch door handles and light switches.

It’s weird, and scary, and it’s okay to be affected by it. Look after yourself, if that means doing nothing until this is all over, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Do what you need to do for you, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad for it.

-Dana