Lockdown has changed things a lot. I looked forward to going into university, for labs and teaching one and a half days each week, but now I’m learning at home. I miss the social side of university life and I miss seeing family and friends, especially when things are not running smoothly.
My days are busy with home schooling and household tasks like preparing meals (which are requested often!). I’m also studying and working part-time as Admin Manager for our family business. It is a juggling act: I’m just taking it one day at a time.
It is a concern that my children, aged 14 and 11, cannot see their friends but they are off to a good start with virtual schooling. It has been lovely to hear laughter coming from my daughter’s room as she chats with friends and teachers. She has become totally independent since the first lockdown and takes full responsibility for her learning. In normal times, I discourage my son from spending too much time on devices but for lockdown it’s the opposite. I study for about two hours a day with my books and laptop, writing assignments and revising for an upcoming exam. This sedentary set up is unusual for us as a family, so sometimes we have to find ways to make it work without disagreements.
I love exercise and being outdoors, but I injured my knee and had to pause running, cycling and the long dog walks. I find that losing my head in study helps take my mind off things. I listen to podcasts when I can’t sleep and I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner on more evenings than before the lockdown. Some days my mind is too full of other thoughts to think about study and on those days I really appreciate having my family around me.
Marjon, please remember we’re all going to have wobbles but we’re going to get through this uncertainty together.
Danielle Magill
BSc (Hons) Health and Wellbeing Practitioner