THE POSITIVITY ISSUE :)

The One To Cheer Us Up. Goodness knows we need it…..

Hello There!

Welcome to issue 2! It's great to have you here and thank you for continuing to read. And a super special welcome to new subscribers we have on here. I hope the newsletter resonates with you and you find it useful :)

So, I thought for this issue I’d run something of a positivity theme. I mean, yesterday in the UK non-essential shops were allowed to open, for the first time since January. We can now meet up to 6 friends outside to socialise, so that pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel that Boris talked about in one of his briefings seems to be getting ever bigger.

So, it’s all eyes on 21st June when we’re predicted to return to normal. That’ll mean socialising as we once did without social distancing and mask wearing. What are your thoughts about that? Do you think we’ll be ready? Are you nervous about venturing out again in complete freedom or will you be battering down the door?

For me, I think I need to work on changing my mindset. Because we’ve been living under such stringent regimes for over a year, I think my mind has naturally evolved to operate in a socially limited way. It doesn’t naturally produce thoughts such as “Oh, I really must catch-up with XX” or suggesting to the husband that we could have friends over for a meal. Pre-lockdown, these thoughts used to pop into my head unbidden and very naturally. Now they don’t occur. And that frightens me. If the unbridled freedom that we’re promised does actually occur (and I think that may be a big “if”) then I’m going to work on trying to re-establish the social side of my brain.

For now, though, that's an unknown and it pays to focus on the positive. So let's crack on in that vein.

Trawling the net (as is my habit) I found this article from 2019 in The Independent that gloriously celebrates how women in mid-life are having the time of their lives. This was obviously written well before COVID, but it speaks of a time we can look forward to returning to and pick up all the wonderful benefits that being this age brings.

Have a read of the article here

One of the biggest changes of the pandemic has been where we work. Home working has been the norm for over a year and once reluctant employers have had to introduce systems and processes that allowed this to happen.

But, it hasn't been easy. The stress of supervising children's home learning whilst trying to maintain a degree of professionalism in your own home working. And, for the time being, no date has been announced when we'll be able to go back to the office. If employers do at all, given the huge savings on rent and rates etc, they can make.

With this in mind, here's an article from Business Insider that outlines tips to working from home and still keep your sanity!

And whilst we’re talking about keeping your sanity when you’re working from home, here’s a great book I’ve read. It’s chock-full of tips and advice on how to love being home-based and it’s very clear that the author, Rebecca Seal, as an established freelancer is very used to working from home. Rebecca covers all manner of home working issues - working around children, organising your day to suit you and even recommendations of what to eat and drink! Available as ever from Amazon, if you’re having to work from home for any length of time - either temporary or permanent - I’d recommend adding this to your To-Read list.

45 NOT OUT NEWS

45 Not Out is all about community. That’s one of the main reasons I it up. So to extend this community of amazing, amazing women, I’ve set up a closed Facebook Group. If you’d like to, you can join the group here . It will be full of more age-positive stuff that hopefully adds to your life. I’d love to have you on board :)

So. that’s all from Issue 2. I hope you find it useful. If you know someone who might benefit from receiving the newsletter, then please share it with them

If there’s anything you’d like me to include please drop an email to unacottrell20@gmail.com.

Failing that, stay well, safe & strong and I’ll see you in a fortnight

Take care,

Una x