Grangemouth’s Simply Emma is savouring the small things in lockdown

I’m currently on week nine of self-isolation. Maybe week ten. To be honest, I’ve lost count and I think everyone will agree the days are rolling into one.

I have Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting condition which means I’m a full-time powered wheelchair user. My respiratory muscles are also affected so I’m in the high-risk group and must shield at home for at least 12 weeks. Although I’m on week nine, I technically started isolating weeks before I received my shielding letter from the government. So I still have a long way to go.

It’s such a difficult time for everyone, but for many disabled people being at home for long periods of time is normal due to illness or recovery.

Personally, I’ve had various long periods at home when I’ve been ill over the years. And for the last year, I’ve also worked from home, so in many ways, I’m used to being at home all day and luckily not finding the lockdown too difficult.

But unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all disabled people as the lockdown is causing some to feel more isolated than usual.

Carers aren’t visiting as often or at all, cut off from family and vital social care and community support reduced or stopped altogether.

Not to mention the problems with food deliveries and not even being allowed outside to enjoy the one-hour daily exercise everyone else is allowed.

I feel now more than ever is an important time to look out for each other. In times like these, it’s always nice to see the community rallying around, but it makes you wonder why it needs to take a pandemic to raise community spirit. It would be lovely if the community spirit was permanent.

I’m always helping and advising my readers by sharing information about accessible travel on my blog. Although travel is grounded, I’m trying to see the positives in the current situation and I’m fortunate that other than accessible travel, I’ve always covered a range of lifestyle and disability topics on my blog.

In a way, the pandemic has given me the chance to focus on that side of things a bit more, which has been nice. It is important for me to look out for the community I’ve created from my blog. We are all at home right now and for some people, they may be finding it more difficult, so I’m trying to make sure they aren’t feeling lonely.

I’ve been sharing what has been helping me in the hopes of helping my readers. Tips on how to stay healthy during the lockdown, ways to manage mental health, things to do and simple things helping me stay positive during isolation are just some of the things I’ve been sharing. I’ve also rediscovered my love of jigsaw puzzles. It’s been years since I last did a jigsaw and even though I’m struggling due to muscle weakness in my arms, I’ve still been enjoying it. It’s like a physical workout for me.

Simple things bring the most joy so I’ve been focusing on them.

My love of bird watching has reached new heights during isolation. We have some bird feeders in our garden so it’s been lovely to watch all the different types of birds visit each day. There is something very relaxing about listening to birds singing.

This pandemic has also brought everything I’m grateful for back to the surface and reminded me not to take them for granted - my health, family and friends. It’s also given me new things to be grateful for too.

Thank goodness for technology as video chats with my nephew have been an instant mood booster. I’m all about savouring the small moments during this time.

* Emma writes her own blog about travel and her experiences as someone who uses a wheelchair. Find her at www.simplyemma.co.uk