How to not let COVID-19 win at home.

HAPPY EASTER - I hope you are enjoying the break, even if the days do not feel too different to any of the other days from the the last two weeks.

Here in New Zealand, we are two weeks into our lock-down, and have (hopefully) just two to go. Whether we like it or not, our worlds have become smaller, and potentially even simpler, and so maybe this is not all bad. One thing is for sure, we will all remember this weird old period in time, for the rest of  our lives.

The first couple of weeks have passed more quickly than I imagined they would - and for me being confined to home has not been so bad. I'm aware though, that for many it has felt challenging  (even if they have remained free of physical symptoms of COVID19) and that this could increase further over the next couple of weeks. Some folks who live by themselves are starting to feel the isolation, and some family members and people from shared households are starting to get niggly with each other.

So the big thing for all of us for the next couple of weeks is  to be thinking about how we can each personally take charge of this. How do we not let COVID19 win? So  if you are living  with others, what will you do, from your end of things, to maintain a positive and relaxed vibe in the household?

We all have a responsibility to think how each of us plays a part in ensuring that it's mostly smooth sailing over the coming weeks. We want to make it as manageable for ourselves as we can in the here and now.. But also as the years slip by, we need to be able look back on this strange time that was forced upon us, and know that we did the best with it that we could, and that we actually came out of it better connected with those people that matter to us.. 

There's no need to re-invent the wheel right now, as already there is so much useful info out there - So here are some links to some great articles. 

1) There's a raft of useful resources for parents with younger kids, including some ways for helping to keep things calm at home over the next couple of weeks: Helping children and young people while they are learning at home | Education in New Zealand

2) From a completely different, yet equally important direction, there's some good stuff here from the Gottman Institute for helping couples to stay focused and keep connected during this challenging time: Redefining Individuality and Togetherness During Quarantine

Good luck for the coming couple of weeks. With two weeks of lock-down already completed, hopefully we have now got this "family relationship stuff under pressure" nailed. We can do this. The trick is to keep it going and  know for the future, that COVID did NOT win. Not only did COVID not make you physically sick,  but it did not manage either,  to turn you against the people who  matter most to you.

Kia Kaha

PS: New Zealand has been experiencing a 20% increase in family violence  since lock-down started. Forget COVID19, nothing will bring more enduring damage to a family than this. 

​Talk soon..