How to (continue to) look after yourself (during the ongoing pandemic)

The UACES Network | 7 January 2021

You might think that after 2020 we have all read enough articles on mental health and self-care. This might be true, however, we think there can’t be enough reminders out there coming from different perspectives. 2020 showed us how important it is to find balance in our everyday lives but also how different it might feel for everyone. Some people like it quiet, others like doing more activities. Whatever it is that makes you feel good, do more of it in 2021.

What did we learn in 2020?

It is ok not to be ok. It is also ok, not to be as productive as usual. It is ok to take time for oneself and it is ok to feel and be different than usual. At the beginning of the year, we discussed during UACES #MidweekMeetups how we were coping with day-to-day changes. We created a space for exchange in our community and for our members to catch up with each other.

To be reminded about ‘How to look after your mental health while working from home‘ or how to keep up a ‘Work-Life Balance’ we summarized the meetups, where we chatted casually about concerns and possible solutions. This is just as important now as it was in spring 2020. So take a look back at 2020: what have you achieved and how did you achieve it? Then, set out a plan for 2021.

So, what have we learnt? Regularly arranged online coffee mornings have kept some of us going, taking time to speak to family, friends and colleagues is still one of the most important things to avoid feeling lonely.

Focusing on work or things we love helped us through other lockdowns and all the new online courses, webinars, workshops and chats brought us more together than we originally expected.

Even though it feels like we now know how to take up new challenges, books and educate ourselves, we are still in an extraordinary situation with online teaching and online meetings and it might not come as easily to continue with all the things we started in spring. We have learnt a lot, but we are not done yet.

Let’s keep going

As the pandemic is not over yet, we need a little bit more endurance. Why not try the things you haven’t tried yet. Or just re-do the things that worked for you last year. There is no right or wrong. For a little inspiration why not scroll through our #UACESselfcare campaign which we ended 2020 with. And why not do a little workout using Alix Hubble’s Stretch-and-Relax sessions that we recorded for you? (Email us, if you would like to receive the links again.)

Most importantly, know that you are not alone. We are all in this together. Reach out for help if you need to, from colleagues, friends or your membership association, UACES. We are here to support you and we want to hear from you if you need us.