Cognitive Space

End of Week 14 – June 20, 2020

It’s official. I have completed 8 weeks of my #daily5kchallenge. I am pretty sure that it’s a habit. I miss a day and I’m pining to get back on the pavement to walk. It’s been nice to walk during the day with friends and in the evening with my dog, Sally. I also appreciate the time I have to myself to walk and THINK. I love the idea that I am in a job where I am paid to think and be innovative. I have agency and autonomy. I am back to teaching and I love working collaboratively with like-minded people and students. I have it pretty good. I love being home with my kid, but I am realizing that she is growing up and she too likes her independence. She will be in grade 12 in the fall and she really wished that she had the chance to do her N-drivers licence test. That would be pure freedom for her. Thank you COVID-19. I have a bit of time left with her as mom.

The end of Week 14 of #COVID19BC. The numbers are low in our province, but the fear and the probability of catching the virus are still present until there is a vaccine or effective treatment. It freaks me out to think about the possibility of catching the virus. I was much more vigilant when I was living alone in my apartment in Prince George. Admittedly, I was getting a bit crazy living alone without human contact. I felt lucky to have friends who would call and check in with me daily. My #mentalhealth was a priority for me. I spent 8 weeks in isolation before I decided to return back to the Sunshine Coast to reunite with my daughter. By doing so, my probability of catching the virus increased exponentially. I know that I am in a small community, but Sechelt is adjacent to the Lower Mainland and there are more people in this house than living alone in my apartment.

My mental health is 100% better and balanced by having face-to-face contact on the Sunshine Coast and by being in Stage 2 of the pandemic, I have connections with friends in my community. We go for walks and I get outside more often and having great edu-conversations with others as we walk along the oceanside. I can’t complain. What I did not realize was my cognitive-paralysis. I guess i did, but did not attribute this phenomena to the pandemic. I think that there might be a correlation though. I sat through a couple of meetings last week and there were several mentions of some of my colleagues “struggling” with research due to increased service time, learning how to teach remotely online, and having to work and stay at home (which may include teaching your own children at home, minimal wifi connection, or lack of tech capacity or capabilities).

For me, I spent the first 8-weeks in isolation and in fear. Missing my teacher candidates and their final year with us in the program, yet had to create asynchronous learning opportunities to complete the term… for self… but also I hope that helped for some of my students as we transitioned into the “new norm.” Coming back to the Sunshine Coast has been great for my spirit as a mom, but also for my sleep habits. It might be the ocean air, but I’m sleeping from midnight to 8am versus 4am to noon. This is a good thing. As I am learning how to be “at home” on the Coast and working remotely, my COGNITIVE SPACE has finally cleared up. My direction and purpose are clear and I am ready to get to work. That said, I am a million miles behind. I say that, but it’s all relative. I hate the idea of catching up, but I managed with my #daily5kchallenge… I can do the same for my work. My mind is free and settled with the new norm. I feel good. It’s time to write. I’m ready.

#pandemicreflections #noticethedetails #bekindtoself