How to be kind in a time of uncertainty?

I have been very quiet on all social platforms over the past month or so. Not because I have been ill or anything like that. I have been busy. I decided to take on some more contract work, up until I have a baby. Allowing me some more flexibility once the baby arrives and meaning that I can really start to build my business. But things have changed…..

The saying, “so much can change in a year” actually now needs to change to “so much can change in a day.” As a small business owner (does a staff of 1 mean small business?!) I am worried, not just for my small business but for the businesses of my clients, of friends, of people I watched grow and build something from nothing. There is so much we are unsure of.

I am personally not as worried about getting the actual god damn virus as I am about what it is doing to our society and the economy. An economy that now affects me and my unborn child. More so than this virus will.

I have had a very weird weekend, worried about what will happen, will we ever get back to normal again. Will my social media news feed be about anything other than COVID-19? Will we have a new normal? Will we ever be able to get a full shop again without the shelves being empty? What companies will survive this and what companies will cease trading?

I have been made redundant twice in my short career, very early on in my career, during the recession, and I worked in the events industry. I never once worried about work, but this is different. This feels like the end of days, and that is because we don’t know what is going to happen.

However I do believe we can do something about this, and not just by washing our hands, but by being kind to ourselves, being kind to our neighbours and being kind to small businesses. We have the power to change the society we live in!

Being kind to yourself – reduce the amount of you are looking at social media, there is so much out there, too much, it is hard do decipher what is fact, what is fiction and what is total utter BS!

Get outside, AMAZINGLY (or not depending on if you believe in the conspiracy theories) the planet is healing, pollution is reducing and nature is still here, THANK GOD. I am planning on taking a walk in nature, or even doing a 5 minute mediation in my garden everyday. Drinking in that fresh air really does help!

Read – diving into a good book is a great way to escape the panic! Doesn’t have to be all fiction, a non-fiction book can help you learn, and remind you of a world before and after these strange times.

Some great books I have read of late:

- So Lucky - Dawn O'Porter

- Reasons to stay alive - Matt Haig

- Grown ups - Marian Keys

- Five minute Mum - (I haven't read this but I have heard such good things and I know so many who would benefit from reading this!)

Being kind to your neighbours – this isn’t just about offering to do shopping for the elderly this is about shopping responsibly. Not panic buying so others are left with nothing. Shop local, the corner shop, the local markets and the local green grocers. All are fully stocked and they need your business far more than the big chains! Shop normally!

Being kind to small businesses – I know of too many small businesses that are being affected. How can you help? Buy a voucher, share posts, share contact details. Offer a kind ear. It doesn’t all have to be about money, you can support small/local businesses by sharing and listening!

Just a few thoughts from me about how we can help out. Stay positive people, raise your vibration and we can, together overcome this.