This article is written by Helen Weedon, Senior Investment Manager at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

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“Keep your chin up.”

The phrase has echoed throughout my life. I think my mum first said it to me when I started pre-school. She definitely said it to me in a text earlier this week.

Luckily, I am naturally a glass-half-full kind of a girl, a bit of a Tigger, full of enthusiasm, energy, and bounce. That’s not to say life hasn’t been tough or that I haven't been pushed to the very limits of my coping strategies. There’s been divorce, redundancy and most recently, a son with a serious psychotic mental health condition.

And of course, Covid has forced me to re-examine my own health and wellbeing and throw all my best tricks into the ring.

I work in the arts. Early on, I was a teacher and a lecturer in dance and performing arts. I then went on to work in the public sector as a Cultural Manager, and now I work for the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

After 6 months in the office and just starting to feel at home, we switched overnight to homeworking and Zoom. For an extrovert who gets her energy from being around other people, this has been tough.

Several years ago, I decided I needed to get to grips with my health. I quit smoking, started cycling to work and finally discovered running. Looking back, I can see that getting physically in shape was a prerequisite for getting myself mentally fit for the turbulent times that followed.

Fast-forward to life in lockdown.

I had stopped running following an injury, and I wondered if now was the moment to try again. I downloaded the excellent BBC C2K app, dusted off my running shoes, and got started.

I feel very lucky to work for a boss who gets it; someone who supports people with real and complex lives and who knows that we are all different and all work differently

The routine of getting up 3 times a week and going out was great; the fresh air, the endorphins, a chance to feel good about achieving something. I started to feel a bit better. Around that time, my yoga teacher switched to online classes. I re-organised the lounge, created a yoga corner, ordered some rather lovely incense sticks and taught my very excitable diva hound, Desmond, that when the mat comes out, he is to sit quietly and not bounce all over me while trying to lick my face. There’s downward dog, and then there’s “Down, dog!”

So at least 3 times a week I do yoga. Talking of Desmond, the once-a-day exercise slot was, of course, dedicated to him and his needs. Together we discovered new routes, explored fields along the edges of Swindon, observing the natural world all around us. We watched spring turn to summer turn to autumn, watching the farmers tend their crops and livestock as the seasons passed. All the while Desmond pursued his life goal of catching a squirrel. One day Desmond, one day.

Desmond, the diva dog (credit: Helen Weedon)

These moments spent in nature gave me time to reflect, to breathe, to observe my inner thoughts and feelings. It was like recharging my batteries for the next challenge, and I discovered I really quite enjoyed my own company. This was super important, particularly as my son would spend time in the mental hospital over the summer months.

Perhaps my greatest lesson was to allow myself to be flexible. I feel very lucky to work for a boss who gets it; someone who supports people with real and complex lives and who knows that we are all different and all work differently.

I stopped trying to work the routine 9 to 5. I went outside when the sun was shining, hung my washing out, interspersing housework with office work. I worked earlier some days and later others, but always on my terms. I took regular breaks — even just walking into another room would change my outlook and mood. I wasn’t afraid to say how I was feeling and encouraged my colleagues to do the same.

Life, lockdown and the ongoing challenge of Covid-19 have taken their toll. Yet rebalancing my home and work life, staying active, getting outdoors and taking control of the things I can control have all really helped keep stay upbeat. Some days I still get down.

This week has been especially tough, but this morning I went out running, this evening I will walk my dog, and tomorrow will be another day, and my chin will be up. — Helen Weedon

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