Wellbeing

Lynne Franks: Will Life Ever be the Same?

Our columnist wonders if life will ever be the same again, and whether we should be thankful for that

One of the more positive changes to emerge from lockdown is the extra time many of us have to focus on our self-care. Suddenly, in our own front rooms, we can partake in a selection of exciting new wellness activities, such as online Qigong classes, five rhythms workshops, yoga, Pilates, stretch sessions and more, that we couldn’t have previously dreamed of squeezing into our busy lives.

Our other habits are changing too. If we weren’t already, we’re making our own healthy meals from scratch, growing our own veggies and recycling our once-beloved wardrobes with nary a thought of buying more clothes. We are singing in virtual community choirs and discovering how to make our own aromatherapy oils. We’re learning new languages, taking virtual museum tours and visiting natural beauty spots all over the world. Even our daily permitted trip outside for exercise has led us on long meandering walks that we may not have found time for in the old ‘normal’.

In our new normal, we are writing poetry, knitting up a storm and using our creativity to plant new ideas for community projects and sustainable new businesses. We are not only self-caring but conscious of the importance of caring for others.

We are in isolation, but some might say we are more connected than ever – we are discovering that we can join whichever spiritual tribe we connect with for joint meditation and study. In lockdown, we smile when we see our neighbours out in the street and are far more considerate to those who serve us, care for us and facilitate the convenience of our lives. Even those who have been completely living on our own over the past few weeks have connected with our neighbours when we have communally clapped in support of the brilliant frontliners in the NHS.

Not only are we less selfish and selfobsessed, but we are taking better care of ourselves, too. We have come out of our shells while staying in our homes and, I believe, are now ready to co-create a better, more sustainable and positive future for ourselves, our families, our communities and the world. On the other side of this, perhaps we will think more carefully about unnecessary travel and ensure that we get to know other members of our local communities better.

We are in a position right now to dream of a new way of living and working that will be healthier and more pleasurable in all kinds of ways. Even once lockdown has passed, I don’t see this new commitment to exploring our self-care and wellbeing changing. We have been given the keys to an online Pandora’s Box and we’re not going to give them back.

Lynne Franks is now holding her What Next? Power of 7 Women’s Leadership Retreats on-line from her Somerset Hub where you can explore your future life purpose with the SEED community of like-minded, values-led women. To find out more, visit lynnefranks. com or join her Facebook Group, SEED Women with Lynne Franks, where she joins you live nightly at 6.30 pm