Blog #8: Lockdown, round two

Photo: My family and I on day one of the first COVID-19 lockdown in March. Cheesy, and yes, we took a similar photo everyday. There was no novelty factor for our second lockdown so no cheese this time round.

I’m writing this blog on the first Sunday of Auckland’s second lockdown, thanks to COVID-19 (ya dick). Possibly I’ve been wearing the same trackpants and hoodie all weekend but that’s a moot point.

Us Aucklanders are at COVID-19 Alert Level 3, which means schools are closed, it’s work from home for people who can and there are lines again at the supermarket. And instead of working in a quiet house during the week I have my 2 boys at home and my husband sharing our (my) office again. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but…

We knew this was coming; it was naïve to think New Zealand wouldn’t have its second wave of COVID-19 cases. But the move to Alert Level 3 still came as a shock when PM Jacinda told us at 9.15pm on Tuesday we were moving to Alert Level 3 at midday Wednesday (the rest of New Zealand escaped with only a move into Alert Level 2).

During our first lockdown in March, I had just finished a 6-month project for a client and I turned down a short-term project because I knew it was going to be hard juggling work and home-schooling/baking/child-referee/entertainment. A regular long-term client was awesome and early on we prioritised what I needed to focus on during lockdown and what could wait. The chief executive also sent me an email reiterating my priorities, with number one being to look after my family – awesome eh.

This lockdown though will be busier. I’m working on a big project for a regular client and I have work for 3 other clients, possibly a 4th. I’m truly grateful to have this work, however when life gets busy, one of the first things I slip up on is prioritising some of the pieces of my treatment pie.

At Level 3 my gym has closed, so no exercise classes, regular walks with friends will have to wait and as I’ll spend the mornings helping the boys with schoolwork I’ll inevitably play catch up in the afternoon and evening. (As a side note, I got the sack from my home-schooling teacher position more than a few times last lockdown. This I happily accepted until the next morning when the boys realised no substitute teacher was coming and they needed help. I posted a situation vacant advert but the only other candidate in our house didn’t want to apply.)

And if this lockdown is similar, there will be more baking, chips, icecream and chocolate consumed than usual, which isn’t an ideal migraine diet.

To be clear, I’m not complaining. I’m not doing it tough by any means, but I just know how easy it is to forget about all the things I need to do to keep my migraine beast at bay when life gets busy. And if I forget, I’m betting many of you do too.

So, I’m making a promise to myself, and I figure the best way to stick to it is to share it with you guys. I solemnly promise, no matter how hectic life gets during this lockdown, I’ll take some time each day to exercise, drink lots of water, switch off for half an hour, breathe. Or take some chocolate and a packet of salt and vinegar chips and go hide downstairs. I haven’t decided yet and I’m far from perfect.

If you’re a mum with kids at home and you have migraine disease, you should promise yourself the same.

If you’re a dad with kids at home and you have migraine disease, you should promise yourself the same.

If you’re a mum with kids at home and you don’t have migraine disease, you should promise yourself the same.

If you’re a dad with kids at home and you don’t have migraine disease, you should promise yourself the same.

If you’re a person you should promise yourself the same. You get my point.

Hopefully for us Kiwis this lockdown will be short-lived. But even so, make sure your migraine beast doesn’t get the better of you. We’re no bloody use to anyone if we can’t function.

What one thing will you do to make sure you don’t fall into the habit of putting yourself last? Join the conversation on Facebook, comment below or send me an email: sarah@sayline.co.nz