Well, here we are again! The clocks have just changed, officially marking the end of the good old British Summertime (well we had a good spring, summer wasn’t brilliant, but what’s new?!). What a strange year it’s been since we went in to lockdown, with us all managing restrictions as part of our day to day lives now.
Most of us have adapted as best we can to working from home and established new routines, however, with the darker nights and chillier days upon us, we may find that we need to make some new changes to keep us mentally strong and able to tackle the next few months.
Back in May, the team participated in a Step Count Challenge and we decided we’d not only relive past glories, but ramp up the ambition and take it right through October and November! Just the motivation we need to encourage us to get out and about, even if it means donning waterproof trousers, hats, scarves, gloves – the staple items required to survive a Glaswegian Autumn and Winter! On one of our recent team Zoom catch-ups, we actually commented on just how beautiful Glasgow looked this autumn and appreciated how the slower pace of life had allowed us to notice the stunning colours. This lead on to a fun fact being revealed; due to the warm and dry spring (which was much needed during lockdown!), coupled with some bright autumnal days, the leaves actually have a higher concentration of sugar this year meaning they have a much stronger pigment. We learn something new every day!
If you don’t fancy braving the elements, then why not tune in to Strathclyde Sport’s Instagram channel from the comfort of your own home, where you can access their Instagram Live classes as well as the incredible 117 workouts the team posted from 25th March until the facility opened again in September? Whilst we’re working from home, it’s important to remember to take regular breaks and with many of the classes fitting in to a lunch hour (with time for a sandwich too!) then it’s certainly worth considering to make sure you step away from the laptop.
It’s important to remember the benefits of eating and sleeping well too, particularly if you’re exercising. Eating a balanced diet can help maintain a healthy body and mind as well as giving us energy to exercise. This in turn helps us to relax and unwind, leading to better quality sleep leaving us refreshed and raring to go – it’s a win-win!
Of course, keeping mentally fit doesn’t always have to include anything too strenuous. It can be as simple as settling down with a new book and diving in to your imagination. We like to think of ourselves as amateur book critics and over the past few months have enjoyed sharing reviews and recommendations at our team meetings.
We’re lucky that the University has created a ‘Wellbeing and working from home’ hub which has an array of resources to help us manage the new norm. With helpful links to MIND and the Mental Health Foundation, it’s worth having a look at.
There’s no escaping the fact that the streetlights come on much earlier and we’re closing our curtains at dinner time, however, with this, came the return of the team’s favourite shows - Strictly Come Dancing and the Great British Bake Off! The sparkle and glitter of Strictly is a welcome distraction from a tough few months so if you need some escapism, snuggle up with some hot chocolate, some marshmallows and enjoy some dancing! To unwind after a tough day ‘at the office’ some of the team bake cakes to devour whilst watching the next set of aspiring bakers take to the tent to produce their showstoppers, obviously taking copious notes to improve their own baking skills!
We all need a chance to relax and if we can strike a balance of physical activity with some rest and relaxation then hopefully we’ll be able to face the next few months head on. In a work capacity, we’ve had to be flexible and agile to deal with new opportunities and whilst it can be difficult, if we try to adopt the same approach to our wellbeing, then we’ll come out the other side feeling stronger and able to deal with anything.
We’re always here to talk, it doesn’t have to be about events, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch even if it’s just to chat about Strictly or Bake Off! We’re all here to support one another in whatever way we can. Take good care and stay safe.