scrabble pieces spelling stay home

Isolation nation

It’s been pretty much 2 months since the isolation/lockdown life began for everyone. I however feel like I’ve partly been in isolation for the last 8 months. It’s a weird feeling, and a lot of the time I feel guilty for feeling this way as well.

Out of sight, out of mind

I didn’t really feel like this first time around as I only had 3 months off, and work was great at keeping in touch throughout the period as well. However, having extended time off has been both a blessing and a curse.

I’m so grateful to have this time with my two kids, and be able to spend every waking moment as the three musketeers. For an extrovert though that enjoys their job, some days are truly gruelling.

No invite to work events, no check in from the bosses.. all communication to this date has been initiated by yours truly. I do have some beautiful colleagues who I chat to regularly, but overall I say “Thank gosh I kept my work laptop, otherwise without the emails it would feel like I’m unemployed.”

No ticket, no entry

Being a parent to young kids also forfeits a lot of social interaction. A complete slap in the face to me first time round. After a while you get used to it though. How many times can you decline a Friday night bevvy or dinner and drinks on a school night before you drop off the invite list? It’s no one’s fault, but again having less contact with people you used to can make isolation even worse.

In saying that, your friendships change and this is a normal part of life. Other people are in different stages, so it’s only normal to see less of those still partying and start seeing more of those married and parent friends who live similar routines.

Somewhere over the isolation rainbow

There is a pot of gold waiting for me with the quality friends and family in my life.. and I want to stress this. My sister from another mister and I practically video chat every week day, and we regularly see our parents so the kids can spend time with them too. I haven’t yet made myself an imaginary friend (probably won’t need to considering I get forced to play Harry Potter each day with my 4 year old), and we are slowly having playdates and coffees with our friends once more.

It’s been a very strange time with all the bushfire and COVID-19 drama, but each day I try to focus on the positives. No doubt, I’ll go back to work and then talk about how much I miss being with the kids at home.

woman exercising inside

HIIT that!

Seems like an appropriate time to write this workout post with the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and everyone trying to stay active at home. I was going to the gym 4 times a week up until the day prior to having my second , but gave up my membership while on maternity leave to do home workouts. You could say I’ve become quite well versed at stalking the online personal trainers over the last 8 months!

In saying that, I thought I would share some of my favourite workouts that I have been doing (from post natal recovery to now). Some are programs which you pay for, others are just videos on YouTube.

  1. The Bod – Sophie Guidolin
    This has now been turned into an app but I bought the Maintenance and Pro editions a few years back when losing weight from my first pregnancy. It’s good as it also has meal plans, and gives you gym and home options for each day.
  2. Centr – Chris Hemsworth
    Did I get sucked in thinking I’d get to work out with Thor every day? Maybe, but I’d actually heard good things about the app from a friend. I just finished week 1 of the Centr 6 program and am feeling the burn! Each workout is no longer than 30 mins and includes warm up and cool downs. There are things I haven’t even yet touched such as recipes, mindfulness, yoga and 100’s of workouts so looking forward to sticking with this one.
  3. Yoga with Adriene
    I love this channel. All free, but such good yoga that will leave you feeling refreshed and woosa. She also has a 30 day challenge if you can commit to daily practice, and her cute dog is featured every now and again 🙂 .
  4. Bodyfit by Amy
    I liked using Amy’s videos for my postnatal workouts while I was getting back into things slowly. She also has some good 15 minute kettlebell workouts.
  5. Sydney Cummings
    The best but and legs workout I have found.. for those who have no weights and just a resistance band. Sore for days! Sydney also has some great HIIT workouts that you can do in even 10 minutes for when you are short on time.
  6. SWEAT Summer series – Kelsey Wells
    4 weeks of postnatal exercises (mostly using body weight) to strengthen your core etc.
  7. HIIT workouts by Heather Robertson
    Quick, high intensity workouts for when you’re short on time. You only need your mat and some space inside.
  8. Boxing with Nate Bower
    If you have a boxing bag and gloves, these videos are awesome to work up a sweat. Just takes a few mins to get your head around the moves if you’re not a boxer as he refers to them as numbers rather than the actual punch (hook etc.)

Feel free to add any other recommendations in the comments!

medical mask on ground

M-m-m-my corona virus risk if we go

I’m at the verge of my whole phone news feed turning into Corona Virus COVID-19 stories. Backtracking to December though. I finally convinced my husband that although I wasn’t going to earn any money for the majority of the year, and we just spent our entire savings on our house renovation, it was the best time to fly to Europe for 2 months.

Fast forward to now and we have everything pretty much booked. But things are very much up in the air. After being asked by so many friends and family members if we are still going, the answer is “We will decide at the start of April.” Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. We lose thousands (and I mean thousands) if we don’t go. If we go, and something happens due to corona virus medically, or travel plans need to change, we could again spend thousands more.

State of mind

Start of March

Reading the data, it seemed kids and infants were at a lower risk but they don’t know why (reassuring). I’d hate myself though if my 9 month or 4 year old got really sick because we went. Plus, we went through some scary seizures with my daughter at that age so that brings back fun memories too. Either way, I’d say at the end of Feb/start of this month, I was leaning more to a yes.

Enter in the Italy travel ban, and a few articles saying airlines were now offering change of dates etc. and I’m back on the fence. If we don’t lose potentially half of our trips money (close to $10k), then maybe it is worthwhile cancelling?

End of March

Not much more to say apart from, “See ya Europe, maybe in another 5 years.” Fingers crossed we can do a road trip instead prior to me returning to work late this year. Refund wise, we are doing pretty well so far. Luckily we booked mainly AirBNB so a lot of those cancellation policies were pretty relaxed. Our airline has issued vouchers and now we are waiting to hear back about trains, and hotels. It’s tough, as every dollar you get back is being taken away from a business that desperately needs it to. No winners here.