During our time of being physically distant from the Institute, our Public Involvement Coordinator, and a member of our Advisory Board, have begun producing a series of blogs. They felt felt it would be a great opportunity to invite you to read about a single topic from their individual perspectives. This is the second blog in the series, this time written by a member of our Advisory Board, the theme of this blog is: 'post pandemic' what comes next?

We all have hopes and aspirations even if it’s just to get through the day. These last few months have dashed or put on hold many of my hopes and aspirations.  Although, I have learnt a lot these last few months, I still need to be aware of how things make me feel. How my behaviour can influence my mood. My hopes and aspirations are mixed in with all the negative stuff that I know haunts my every waking minute. The ever-changing rules, recommendations, the negativity in all media outlets and restrictions are enough to drive make anyone anxious. One of the biggest hopes I would have, post pandemic, is that the rapid change slows down. Even if we have a new norm of wearing masks everywhere, and having to queue to go into shops and the bank, I can cope with that.

Even now, six months since the start of the pandemic, things are still changing every day. Social media has become so political and generally negative. The news is constantly changing and becoming ill is everyone’s nightmare. Coughs and colds, people breaking legs and other diseases still happen so life goes on in the background. It's hard to think past all of this, after all, information given to those members of the public who may be very anxious is everywhere and telling us all to live in the moment rather than thinking of the bigger picture. With all that in mind, let me tell you, as someone who has suffered with mental ill health for many years, what I hope for on the demise of the pandemic.

Over the months of lockdown I have been kept busy with work and pursuing my hobbies that had lapsed due to other commitments. I re-started both piano and singing lessons, both of which I have high ambitions in. Being tech savvy, I am able to access these remotely, which is great news. I chose two tutors who work at the University of Nottingham and who keep me inspired to carry on with my music and working towards taking more exams in the subject, which I am more than happy to do. Being somewhat older than their other students this makes me feel great that I am at point where I can keep up with the younger generation. It may take me longer but post pandemic I hope to get to the higher grades in both the subjects, I am currently around a grade three piano and grade five singing. Grade eight is the highest, before diplomas, come into practice. Music when I was at school was a great influence on me and already made me feel good when performing. It has also had a great influence on me through lockdown, both, when I was happy and on the days that I was sad and not able to commit to doing anything constructive.

Another past time, established during lockdown, was walking. As you may remember we were allowed out of houses for an hour each day for exercise. Initially, I found it very hard to be inspired to go out as the pandemic felt like a monster that sat outside of my front door that would catch me as soon as I left the security of my house. Since I started walking, we have only missed three days so far. Keeping a diary of the daily lengths we walked has enabled me to reach a fantastic score of over six hundred miles. Following the pandemic who knows where this will go. I have learnt however, the days that I have missed, or done very little exercise, my mental health will not be good. Post pandemic I will continue to walk, not only is it good for my mental health but it has opened up conversations with strangers who are now acquaintances that I see most mornings and even if we only say good morning it helps me manage the day. If only everyone was able to understand that a simple "good morning" or "good afternoon" can go a long way. My learning has made me realise that the person you meet in the street maybe broken emotionally and how nice it would be if the world could carry on saying just a few short words to each other.

My love of sport was affected by the lockdown. I started off still exercising, as that also helps my mood. Like most people though, I soon dropped the sessions I did in the garden. We were lucky that the weather was so nice at the start of lockdown and we could spend time in the garden if we were lucky enough to have one. I am a great lover of badminton and since restrictions have eased have started to play again. I have been playing now for a good three years and have a long-term goal to play in a team. That’s the first time I have gone public on that but it’s a goal that has been there for a while now and my aspiration that my hope won’t go away. Badminton isn’t going away and I look forward to all the training I have to undertake to reach that particular aspiration.

I know I can’t change the world and all that is happening but I can control the way I respond to it. There are still sad times ahead whilst I tackle my mental health issues but on a clear day all I want to be is happy and if I can reach at least one of my goals, post pandemic, I know I will have grown and developed as a person.

Stay safe