Recently we spoke about some of the ways we have been preserving our amazing positive culture during the lockdown. Since physical distancing started nearly 6 weeks ago, we have also been doing a variety of different things to look after our wellbeing. Swan wellbeing has always been a high priority but as we adapt to working from home and the lockdown is extended further, now more than ever it’s vital we make sure each of us are as happy and healthy as we can be.
Some of you may already we be aware of our weekly running group ‘Rons Runners’. For those of you who may not be, pre COVID-19 a group of us would get together on a Wednesday evening for a 5k jog around the city, usually ending with a pint in the pub afterwards to celebrate surviving another week. Over the years the group has grown, and we are now regularly joined by Swan family members. Although we cannot be together for our weekly Wednesday run, we have been sharing snaps of routes we have taken individually to our running group WhatsApp. Its been great to be able to offer words of encouragement to each other after a run as we normally would whilst keeping active.
Just before the lockdown began, we started a ‘Swan Book Club’. Quite a few of the Swan’s love to pick up a good book and take some time out to read in order to help their wellbeing. There were a few us who had already started swapping paperbacks and discussing the plot lines, so a book club made perfect sense! Since working from home, we have continued to read and recommend books to each other and it has been nice to talk about them in our catchups. We are also in the process of setting up our first remote book club meeting as well which will be lots of fun!
A while back you may remember, if you follow us on Instagram, we held an ‘Indigo Swan Bake Off’. Since the lockdown, the Swans have been dusting off their whisks and digging out their wooden spoons to create some more tasty treats to enjoy whilst we work from home. Some of the bakes include cookies, banana bread (of course), blueberry muffins and flapjacks just to name a few. Baking and cooking can be very therapeutic. We have really enjoyed experimenting with different recipes and sharing them with each other. Now we just can’t wait to taste them all once we are all back in the nest!
To help stay positive, fill time, and get creative some of the Swans have also been doing some colouring in. The Harry Potter themed colouring book is one of the favourites. Lots of the Swans are big Harry Potter fans and have been to the Warner Brothers Studio together a couple of times. Other creative activities the Swans have been getting involved with include puzzles and cross stitch patterns. Sometimes it is nice to switch off and focus on something a little different for a period. Whether it is a 50-piece puzzle, complicated cross stitch design or even just a bit of aimless drawing now is a good time to get the creative juices flowing.
Probably a common theme for quite a few people, but several of the Swans have been using this time to get some of jobs done around the house – where they can of course! Appreciate it has been difficult to source some DIY materials. From staining the decking and painting bedrooms to organising clothes and cleaning the washing machine, to do lists have been made and we have been slowly ticking them off! There is something quite satisfying about putting up pictures which you have been meaning to do for the last year or organising your wardrobe. Marie Kondo and Mrs Hinch have been topics of conversation recently, with lots of the Swans swapping tips and tricks. Who knew bicarb of soda could act as a cleaning agent?! Now we have a bit more spare time on our hands, it feels good to get organised and do all the jobs we have been putting off!
One of the positives in this whole situation, which should not be forgotten, is how lucky we have been with the weather since lockdown. We have had some glorious sunshine so for those who do have a garden they have been making the most of it and spending some time outside. Vitamin D and fresh air can do wonders for our wellbeing so whether it’s simply relaxing, doing a spot of gardening or having a BBQ, where we can we have been taking advantage.
We mentioned in our blog recently about different ways we have been preserving our company culture and that video calls have been an excellent form of communication for us. We really enjoy seeing each other each day and catching up on how things are going both work and non-work related. There is something so special in seeing a friendly face, even if it is virtually.
Yes COVID-19 has brought its challenges, but it has also brought some positives. More time with family in our household, we have made more of an effort to catchup with friends and family over video calls where we wouldn’t normally. More time cook and prepare yummy meals or sit outside in the garden and enjoy the sunshine. We all have our good days and we all have our not so good days, but once you find something that makes it that little bit easier for you, it will do the world of good!
