Day 3 - Corona Voluntary Lock Down

Woke up this morning with the beginnings of a new routine. Grabbed a coffee, a heat pack and my laptop from downstairs and back to bed to edit, revise and publish my day 2 blog. May not really be the high performance morning routine, but it was providing some comfort.

Day 2 was tough, marked by anxiety, now without my kids around me, comfort was welcome.

With the blog published it was time for brain training. This something I've been doing for a while actually. It's like screen games for grown-ups, that keep challenging your mind. Definitely a good part of my new morning routine.

Had a FaceTime call from Mum which was really nice. She was concerned about me being alone in lock down. She had gone for an early swim and felt she had done well in keeping a solid distance between her and the few others that were there ate the pool.

She didn't go for a shower there. Just in, out and shower at home. Awesome!

Checked in on social media, supported a few people who're trying to make a positive difference out there and then started researching online classrooms to see how much better I could do virtual coaching. I'm really used to whiteboard or paper to draw up models with the groups or people I'm coaching. I've created illustrated models and I can knock up sexy PowerPoint presos but find that drawing them out for people actually works better. I follow up with the illustrated models. I was struggling with how I was going to be able to keep this within my practice.

Turns out there are a number of options out there and I can even take Zoom to a new level.

Time for a long walk to get some sun, fresh air, connection and exercise.

I've learned from neuroscientists, doctors, common sense and, most importantly, from my own mind body that walking is disproportionately good for me. So I quickly got dressed and headed out with my headphones to listen to some podcasts (here's a good one on the benefit of walking).

It was so good :) The sun was out and it was glorious (compared to yesterday anyway). I passed quite a few people and it got me thinking. We need to be conscious about how we do this. A few things that came to mind

1. Create space as you’re passing - for them, for you and for the community.

   1. Smile at the person passing - this is an opportunity for connection.

   2. Enjoy what you’re doing - gratitude trumps anxiety.

It was so nice. And it was so nice also listening to podcasts which had nothing to do with the current crisis. Interestingly I realised when I stopped halfway (4.5kms from home) that I'd put my shorts on inside out. Ha! That'll make people smile :) Anyway I listened to a great Impact Theory podcast on the way back on success hacks that will level up your life and I think it was then that I became resolved to follow through on a crazy idea I had earlier.

It's crazy and it's Humane

IDEA - I want to offer my support to those who need it. I won't charge for my services. People can pay, after the fact, what they think it was worth to them OR what they can afford.

To do this, there were some things I needed to do and prepare.

• build a webpage on my site,

• create the ability for people to book sessions online

• research, setup and test an online classroom setup

• get the word out there.

and not necessarily in that order

After a shower, I was at my desk doing serious research and things were looking fulfilling. Sure it's madness but it's deeply connected to purpose and it excites me, so fuck it.

Had a call from a mate and that gave me an opportunity to understand his point of view on things. He's following the business as usual approach with a healthy dose of additional and overt hygiene.

I thought, at one point, that he might have influenced my position, on voluntary lock down, but things didn't really stack up. Damn.

In the early afternoon I got on a Mike House webcast on COVID-19 survival. Mike's a trusted colleague, survival expert and author of the book "Thrive and Adapt - No matter what" I knew it would be great for perspective and it was.

More research, tutorials and testing of tech and started building the webpage and online booking capability.

FaceTime'd each of the kids individually which was great. Each of them was going OK in their own way and I think really appreciated the contact. My daughter had a meltdown later on, about home-schooling and isolation from teachers and friends (she's a big people person), and apparently settled pretty well once she'd had a chance to let it out.

One day at a time.

Had a late call from one of my neighbours, as she was spooked by some noises outside. I was spooked by her coming too close. She's a dental hygienist. Not sure if that should make me more or less comfortable, but distance would be preferred. It did give me further insight into how others were dealing with the crisis. Naturally people are worried for their own financial position, without yet understanding the relative position to others.

Success is a relative thing. So is devastation. It's the great leveller. We need to get beyond self.

BTW I got the website ready and so if you, or anyone you know (CEO to frontline), needs some coaching support, please get on the website and book online. I've created a Humane Corona Support service. I haven't yet worked out how to take the voluntary payments. Figure that out later