Friday with Heidi: Why I don’t believe in the ‘new normal’…

Oh hello, hello!

I feel like I’ve not spoken with you for ages! 

Last week’s Friday with Heidi is still partly written and saved somewhere in the ether after my computer crashed like a temperamental toddler last week. It had such a foot stamping refusal to behave that I conceded and took it as a sign to let go any desire to keep my weekly missive on schedule. 

So here I am, one week on and with a simple message for you this week. 

It’s one I’ve been sharing with my Fit Camp Members community (as a FWH reader you can join too, so please join us there if you wish) and want to help you with too.

These are not normal times. 

Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking that this is the ‘new normal’. 

For the past 11 months we’ve experienced change after change. Regulation after regulation and the highs and lows that each of these changes brings.

I have a strong sense of emotional fatigue amongst my members and I’ve been sharing with them that I feel that our goal right now is to get through this with some kindness to ourselves and some compassion.

I am in a Facebook forum for a course I was on a year ago and the founder, Dr Joanna Martin, talks frequently about ‘radical compassion’. I couldn’t agree more. We’re in a situation that goes over and above the normal prescription for ‘self care’. A bath with some candles isn’t going to fix this one!

It’s about accepting that each of our situations is so unique to us that we need to do what’s right for us. I know that’s true of our lives anyway, but I sense a lot more comparison than normal. I see a lot more sadness and desperation than normal, and I am acutely aware that most people think they should be able to cope. 

Be kind.

Your whole world, literally and figuratively has been challenged time and again through this pandemic.

You may think that because you transitioned to home working and haven’t gone back to the office for over 12 months that you should be OK with it now. 

You may think that because the children are at home again you should be able to manage home school and work responsibilities better. 

And you may be thinking that given all the time you have you should be able to keep in touch with family and friends better.

Be kind.

If you are more emotional than normal, let it out.

If you are more tired than normal, take a nap.

If you need to be on your own, make it happen. 

If you just fancy chips and mayo for dinner, have it. 

Who knows how long this will last? 

Until such times as you have the emotional strength to cope with each day, do what you must do to ensure you look after yourself to do that. 

My goal for our Fit Campers, my networking circles and my family is that we come out of this replete. 

When the restrictions are lifted, when we can see family and friends more easily and when we feel we have some freedoms back it would be really bloody lovely if we had some energy to appreciate and enjoy it. 

Be kind.

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