Orlando Reid April Newsletter

Welcome to the very first edition of the Orlando Reid newsletter - in this month's publication we have focused on providing you with useful content to help you get through the lockdown period and beyond. 

Tips To Help You Cope Self Isolating

 

With millions of us now advised to self-isolate and practice social distancing to prevent further spread of Covid-19, we all must make adjustments. It might sound simple at first, to just stay indoors and end social meetings, but it can present various challenges such as anxiety, loneliness, and stress. There are coping mechanisms that we can incorporate into our daily routines to help combat any challenges we may face during this time. Continue below for some helpful ideas to support you in self-isolation.

1. Remember you’re not alone
It’s so important to remind yourself that we are all in this together. The whole country has been asked to quarantine so we are all going through similar thoughts and feelings; and everybody has their own personal circumstances to muddle through. Take some comfort in being a part of one big community doing your own part in battling through this pandemic.

2. Have conversations with people
The power of talking to someone is immense. Just because we can’t physically go and socialise doesn’t mean that we must stop socializing altogether. Make a conscious effort to pick up your phone and call family, friends, and work colleagues. You should try to do this daily. You could even create a new daily routine, such as having a morning coffee with a family member virtually. If you have the facility to do this over a video call, then even better!

3. Use social media
Similar to point number 2, use social media to communicate with your friends, family and work colleagues. This will help you to maintain your strong connections and relationships with people and help you to feel more supported, avoiding feelings of loneliness.

4. Plan your time
It can be very easy to lose all the structure from your days which can often leave us feeling unmotivated to do anything. By planning your time, you can recreate a routine into your daily life so that you feel more active and your body can release those positive hormones. Doing activities in the home can give you a sense of fulfillment and allow you to do things that you previously did not have the time to do. If you have children, planning a routine or schedule can also be helpful for them adjusting to being at home instead of school.

5. Use your support network
In stressful times, it can be easy to shy away from reaching out to people. But it is crucial that you do so. If there is something that you need and are unable to get for yourself, such as groceries, contact family or friends to ask if they can get these for you. They can leave them on your doorstep for you to collect so that you can maintain the government isolation rules.

6. Focus on the facts
There are so many articles about Coronavirus online, as well as ongoing news updates on TV; it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Within all this information is a lot of speculation; especially on social media. Try to stick to the respected health advice websites when looking for updates, such as the NHS, Public Health England, and Gov.uk. If you do start to feel overwhelmed, try to limit your news intake to just once a day.

7. Don’t ignore how you’re feeling
Don’t be hard on yourself if you feel stressed or worried. It is normal for those feelings to come and go at times. One way to manage your feelings is to write things down in a diary as a way of acknowledging how you feel. Reach out to someone to talk about how you feel, or to take your mind off it completely. You can also use activities that you enjoy in the house so that you feel in control and enjoy your time.

Essential Tips For Working From Home

For a small number of people, working from home will be the norm. But for the majority of the nation, the current climate has caused us to quickly adapt our working practices to home working for the safety of ourselves and those around us. In doing this, it is important to create healthy working practices to maintain motivation and routine throughout the day.

We’ve gained advice from those who regularly work from home so that we can share some top tips for the coming weeks ahead. Continue below for our top tips on how you can get the best out of home working:

1. Get ready for the day
Get up and ready for work as you normally would. Getting dressed out of your pyjamas and fresh for the day helps you to maintain a routine and get ready for a day of work. Doing this will signal to your brain that you are going to work and create a good mindset.

2. Have a routine
Working from home can get lonely, so a routine will prevent the day blurring into a mix of work and relaxation time. Creating a morning routine that will guide you into your work chair each day so that you can signal the separation between home and work. Start and finish work at your usual times so that you do not become overworked.

3. Create an office space
If you have a separate office space to work in, then that’s great. But even if you don’t, it is still important to create an area in your home that you can designate and associate with work. Whether that be at a desk, or if it has to be your dining room table, this will support you to keep a routine. At the end of the day, shut down your equipment and put it away. This will signal the end of your working day and the start of your own time.

4. Keep to your regular hours of a working day
With all your work equipment at home, it can be tempting to try and get ahead by setting yourself mammoth tasks that take you all evening to complete. Set yourself achievable goals (as you would when you go into work) so that you maintain your usual work hours and maintain your positivity and optimism. This will also allow you to keep a work life balance.

5. Have regular breaks
When you are in the office, you naturally take short breaks throughout the day. Whether that be to go and make a drink or go and discuss something with a colleague. These breaks away from the computer are crucial for your productivity and health. Breaks away from the computer screen help to break bad posture habits, help with concentration and productivity, and prevent fatigue. This should be no different at home. You can call a colleague for a chat, go and make a drink, or spend some time in a different room for a few moments.

6. Get some exercise
Living and working in the same space can be challenging at times so you may find it important to get a change of scenery. Stepping outside for a walk not only allows you to “leave the office” but also allows you to get valuable exercise (providing this is in line with Government guidelines). Some fresh air and natural light will do you the world of good. With people rarely leaving the house, a short walk could be all the exercise you get in a day so place importance on this. Alternatively, you may want to do a short home workout. There are tons of guides online to help you do this. Let’s not forget about those all-important endorphins.

7. Take your lunch break
You are still entitled to your full lunch break and it is important to take this. Ensure you continue to eat well and take time away from your work space to break up the day. Using this time to get some exercise (as advised in step 7) is a great idea too.

8. Get on the phone
Communication is so important during this time. Working from home can be isolating (especially if you live alone). To overcome this, ensure to keep up with regular team meeting via group calls. Check in with your colleagues throughout the day – even for a general chat not related to work. This is what you would usually do in the office and it is important to maintain this to make the day more enjoyable. Call people instead of email so that you can have proper conversations during the day which is so much more personal that email communication. You could even use Facetime for a more personal touch.

Keeping The Kids Entertained

 

With schools now essentially closed across the country, many parents are having to care for their children whilst also working from home. During these unusual circumstances, it is essential to keep your children’s minds active, as well as ensuring that they exert some physical energy. We have compiled a list of resources and activities which should help fill the days…

1) Joe Wicks PE lessons – Joe Wicks, known as “The Body Coach” is streaming thirty minute PE lessons for kids every morning at 9am from Monday to Friday. You can either follow the workout live or catch it on his YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ

2) Carol Vorderman’s maths resources – since the Government chose to close schools for the masses, Carol Vorderman’s online maths resources have been made free for all to use. You can visit the site at https://www.themathsfactor.com/ and there are plenty of resources to keep your children busy, all of which have different levels of difficulty attached.

3) TES.com – You may never have heard of https://www.tes.com/ but if you are a teacher or work in education then it is a goldmine of resources. You can sign up free and then in the “Resources” section you will find literally thousands of lesson plans, activities and ideas that teachers upload to the site and often form the basis of their own lessons. With TES you can search for a specific topic and there will often be multiple resources – if you are looking to keep up your child’s scholastic habits during the school closures, this will be a real lifesaver.

4) Audio books – David Walliams’ children’s books have proved to be extremely popular and for the next month a new audio story will be released each day totally free of charge. Just head to bit.ly/AudioElevenses each day for the latest story.

5) Twinkl – Twinkl provides professional educational resources from early years upwards and often puts together some of the most imaginative learning resources around. During the Coronavirus period, they have made many resources free of charge and are offering free guides to help you with your child’s education https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/covid19-school-closures

6) Teach them to cook – If you are looking to teach something extra-curricular then why not start in the kitchen? Teaching your children a few basic recipes will eat up the time, as well as teaching them valuable life skills. You can start with baking basic recipes that require few ingredients, to them helping you with dinner for the evening.

7) Learn a new skill – With the internet, there is no excuse for avoiding new skills and has there ever been a better time to do so? With your child, you could learn how to knit – order the tools online – and could watch videos together, whilst helping one another with the intricacies of the craft. Other popular crafts to learn include crochet, needlepoint and cardmaking.

8) Practise yoga – In the current climate, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with world events, and children are extremely sensitive to our own behaviours. One activity that you can do together and is mutually beneficial is yoga – there are plenty of apps or YouTube channels which you can use to guide you through the process, and it should help with your whole family’s wellbeing.

Planning Your Perfect Garden

 

With the current Government guidelines keeping many of us at home in our properties, and the weather starting to pick up, now is the perfect time to think about your outdoor space and what you can do to maximise it. We have put together a few tips to help you plan your perfect garden, ready to be your sea of tranquillity throughout the Spring and Summer months.

Plant planning
Nothing will bring more life to your garden, literally or metaphorically, than filling it with plants of different shapes, sizes, and colour. And if you ask us, the greener the better. Over the past few years, correlations have been made between mental well-being and time spent in nature, so line your garden with green and rake in the benefits.

Potted or planted? Depending on your garden type, this decision may be made for you, but if you do prefer potted plants, try using buckets or ornamental vases for artistic appeal.

Another important decision to make is the choice between low maintenance or high maintenance plants. If you don’t have a particularly green thumb, you should consider plants that will need minimal care and that last all year round rather than ones that need to be replaced seasonally.

Make yourself at home
Comfort in your garden is non-negotiable. Why design a paradise that can only be enjoyed from afar?

Your furniture needs may be determined by your household size and whether you frequently invite guests over or not, but don’t let that deter you from splurging on seating, there is no harm in having too many seats or cushions to choose from!

Nestle your tables and chairs amongst your shrubs and flowers, and create a tranquil living space.

Making every inch of space count
Having a small garden does not mean that you have to have no garden at all. Create your own mini haven by surrounding your outdoor furniture with shrubs that are ideal for privacy. And to make your secret garden even more charming, use feature tiles, fairy lights, and textiles.

Once you‘ve used up all of your floor space, why not move upwards? Climbing trellises along your walls and fences can add an elegant touch.

As can shelves bearing potted plants along your exterior walls. This will add a contemporary and sophisticated look to your garden and will make use of space that would otherwise have been wasted.

Design away!
Whether you prefer minimalist or busy designs, make your garden your own by taking the time to carefully plan it. If you do prefer the thought of a simple garden, use symmetry to your advantage.

Flowers, shrubs and trees will add a healthy look to any garden, especially when there is a higher patio to grass ratio. Make the most of your lawn space by moving vertically along your walls with trellises and outdoor shelving, and use pots that add character to your garden.

Furniture serves more than a practical purpose. Your outdoor seating should be arranged to maximise your space and to create an enjoyable space.