Beating the blues…

Beating the February blues

As we fast approach the end of the month, the start of a new year where things were supposed to go back to normal…. What have we learned?

I have to be honest, as a working mum, (in fact, even just as a mum) the idea of another round of home-school, was enough to send me back to 2020.  The endless hours of negotiations, emailing proof that schoolwork was being done and that my kids were in fact still alive and of course, counting down from 9am, to Gin O’clock…. was all just so emotionally draining that it felt as though the ‘mum’ was being sapped out of me…This time around however, it hasn’t been as bad as I had remembered it previously.  Is this because everyone is now used to this way of living, or is that the world has quickly ramped up the digital mindset and as a result, online teaching is one of the benefits to come out of it? 

For me, Covid really has taught me a few life lessons……

1. The UK is far more digitally savvy than I ever imagined.  From live teaching, where children can see their teachers and classroom so clearly through a ‘video call’, use interactive whiteboards that can be viewed in real time as they work….Just incredible!  But, above this, I have learned how inbuilt digital really is amongst the young generation, and that are far more resilient naturally, than many adults.  For the first time, I have seen the benefit of a digital world from their point of view, rather than jumping onto the panic train of internet security and how they are likely to be groomed if they spend too much time on the screen…Even internet security measures have improved! Just incredible.  Our future economically, suddenly doesn’t look so daunting.

2. Recruitment continues to evolve and there really are good points to a more virtual interview process – a far better approach (for both parties) to do video calls over telephone interviews – it still gives a really good starting point to the process. I do still think there will be a place for face to face, but as far as processes go, virtual certainly makes the interview process, more efficient.  Furthermore, workplaces can survive with the dreaded ‘flexi’ approach.  People actually do sit at their dining room tables…. and work.  We can be adult about home working and the world still continues to thrive, even during a pandemic.  Let this continue.  Please don’t forget how important a balanced work life is….not only personally, but for overall work performance too.

3. You don’t have to drink every night…and I have the willpower to last until at least a Wednesday! I blame it on the fact that I am not a teacher, trying to be the best one!  When things improve, I don’t think this exercise will have universities flooded with applications from those wanting to train to teach….and now I really do take my hat off to those who do.  Thank you, we need you just as much as we need those saving the lives of sick patients.    

January leads to February and February leads to the cold weather blues….my aim this year is to NOT allow February, the weather, or Covid to get on top of me by February….the countdown to the Summer starts now!