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Life in the ‘new normal’

June 7, 2020 By: Mehroocomment

It’s strange but true. Real yet surreal. Back to normal but a “new normal.”

The world is ‘opening up’ after the corona virus lockdown that has affected more than 7 million people worldwide. Hong Kong which was affected in its very early stages seems to have done quite well comparatively. While Hong Kong has never been under any official ‘lockdown’ considering the fact that the people of Hong Kong took it upon themselves to ‘socially distance’ right at the very start, a string of imported cases in mid-March forced the government to implement stricter measure to control the spread. Slowly and steadily that has paid off as these restrictions are now being eased and life is gently rolling back into some kind of normalcy, or is it really? 

Here are some of the ‘new normal’ scenarios some of which might be a bit daunting, but instead of feeling sorry, sad or anxious, try to implement some of these helpful tips to make the best of the situation – 

  1. Back-to-school

After 4 months of online schooling, my younger son was super excited to get back to “real” school. The day dawned as we both excitedly sat in the public bus on our way to school. When we reached, it was lovely to see these kids walking towards the school, some alone some in pairs, armed with their backpacks marching straight ahead. It looked like a normal school day to me except maybe one thing was missing. Their smiles. Noses and mouths hidden behind the masks, their usual smiles, laughter and banter missing, this did not look or feel like a ‘back to school’ day! Next they have to line up at the school entrance to do their daily temperature checks, they are also expected to wear their masks all the time for the full 7 hours of school, PE included! The only time they are allowed to take them off is when they have lunch, which is again a quick orchestrated affair, unlike the usual much-awaited meal hour with their ‘besties’. Lessons are taught by teachers working very hard, trying their very best to teach on two different platforms – online and the physical classroom. Certainly not the most enviable profession in these times!

What you can do

– Encourage and appreciate your child’s tenacity and discipline in maintaining the mask rule at school.
– Do a regular temperature check for your family.
– Send a ‘Thank you’ card or an appreciative email to your school staff and teachers for their commendable work. 

2. The Mask-ed world

We are pretty much getting used to seeing masked faces all around us, so much so that if anyone is without one, they are stopped from entering certain supermarkets, malls and even public transport. While the disposable masks are effective and ok to wear in cooler weather, the cotton masks provided by the HK government, are much better as they are breathable, lighter and easier to wear, comfortable to use and super efficient thanks to a washable filter in its lining. However they could look a bit puffed out and may tar your social appearance. 

What you can do

– Use a thick eye liner pencil and natural shades of eye shadow to do up those eyes – making them the standout feature on your mask covered face. 
– Be thankful to the HK Government for providing this environmental-friendly free mask. 
– Try to smile at strangers even through your mask. A smile is viable in your eyes and can heal hearts instantly. 

 

3. Greetings

It’s funny or even awkward at times, when you are finally meeting your friends after a very long break and when the first desire is to go and hug them straight, but then you are suddenly mindful about the new ‘social etiquette’ and stop yourself just in time, standing there looking unsure, offering a squeaky ‘Hi!’ 

What you can do

— Say ‘Hello’ from afar with a warm traditional ‘Namaste,’ or give a light casual touch with your elbows to replace that warm embrace. 
— But if you really want to give vent to your feelings then you can maybe wash your hands first before the hug to become as virus-free as possible, or maybe you could check with your friend in advance about the appropriate mode of greeting to avoid the uneasiness when you meet. 

4. Sanitized world

Everywhere we go we see hand sanitiser bottles – big and small in public areas, reception desks, security desks, supermarkets, malls, etc. As if the world wants us to wash all our germs away. If you are standing in a lift, you now start using your elbow or knuckles or even a tissue paper to press the lift buttons. Don’t want to risk any germs getting on your finger tips! Forget the hair brush, the pen, the spare keys and abolish the lip gloss for a long time to come, make way for the hand sanitizer! Available in all shapes and sizes and various fragrances and alchohol-levels, this sanitizer has officially replaced the tiny perfume bottle you would have carried in your handbag!

What you can do

-Stock up on sanitizer bottles and always have one in your handbag/pocket when you step out! The one with a holder is even better as you can hang it on your bag and get your hands quickly sanitised even without touching the bag.
-Carry tissues in your bag and be courteous enough to press lift buttons using those. What you don’t want to get, you don’t want to pass on either!

 

5. Online world – The Big Invasion

While most businesses have struggled to survive in this crisis, the move to “online” learning, teaching, working, shopping have built fortunes for some others. After the initial frustration in dealing with new online apps, I am now quite used to organising my webinars and online courses sitting in the comfort of my house. No transportation, no coffee meetings, no casual conversations….just fast, efficient work! But that comes with a price attached. You get so comfortable working from home, that there’s never any end to the day’s work. Morning tuns to afternoon to evening to night, in different time zones and before we know it we have clocked more than 10 hours of continuous zoom-ing, evident by our tired eyeballs, aching back and sheer exhaustion of just sitting.

What you can do

-Discipline yourself. Establish a work-routine with fixed start and end timings just like going to office.
-Have your phone on ‘focus mode’ which will enable apps only after a certain time in the morning and will disable apps after a certain time in the evening, so you don’t get distracted by your phone at all times. 
– Yes online courses are cheap and most webinars are free but don’t feel pressured to take on everything that is visible just to prove a point. Take up one course at a time and only as much as you can really focus on. 

“Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.” – Jack Canfield

 
 
Cover Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash

 

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Mehroo Turel

mehrooturel

BUSINESS COACH FOR WOMEN | Mom of 2 boys 👬
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🌷✨ Tomorrow’s the day! Are you ready to cel 🌷✨ Tomorrow’s the day! Are you ready to celebrate Mother’s Day with us? There’s still time to grab your tickets! 🎟️💐
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Join us for a day filled with fun, shopping, and fun activities for the whole family. 

From unique crafts to delicious food, and engaging activities for the kids, we’ve got something special for everyone to enjoy!

Date: Sunday, May 5, 11:00am-5:00pm
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Building trust' - That's one of our core values a Building trust' -

That's one of our core values at Mums@PLAY, as we gathered today as vendors, sponsors, entrepreneurs - with our passion for what we do and our combined positive energy to make things happen! 

See you on Sunday at The Mother's Day Market

Date: Sun, May 5 • 11-5. 

Location: 33-35 Hillier Street Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

REGISTER HERE. 

https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/mothers-day-market-tickets-874653079907?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android
Such an honor to collaborate with the Hive and be Such an honor to collaborate with the Hive and be a part of this engaging panel, sharing the stage with brilliant minds and accomplished women entrepreneurs at the 'Celebrate HER Stories' event last Thursday. 

Thank you to The Hive team for this collaboration and invitation to share our stories with authenticity. 

Thank you HER Fund 婦女動力基金 for daring to create a change and empowering women. 

Thank you to my Mums@PLAY community members for showing your support! 

And lastly a big thank you to the audience for your active listening, those nods and smiles, as you related with our ups and downs of running a business and balancing our lives as women, mums and professionals. 

Look forward to more powerful collaborations and opportunities to engage and motivate! 

#womenentrepreneurship #womenleaders #hkwomen #thehivehk
When you take the same route every day You tend to When you take the same route every day
You tend to lose sight of the details,
The flower that just bloomed
The leaf that just fell
You're oblivious to the present
Your mind is overworked
With baggage from the past
And future that is yet to occur. 

Today I said STOP
I woke up at 5:45 this morning. My head filled wit I woke up at 5:45 this morning. My head filled with Sabs.

Saboteurs or Sabs as we ”lovingly” call them in our family are the negative voices in our head that tend to overwhelm or sabotage us. They are the relentless inner critics that often overpower and undermine us. Typically, I assert control over my mind, not letting them overpower me, centering myself on my senses….but not today.

Read the full blog here https://mehrooturel.com/2024/04/21/saboteur-discovery/

#saboteurs #positiveintelligence #pqcoach #certifiedcoach #icfcoacheshk #icfpcc #emotionsmatter
Boredom brings brilliance, ....taps into the reces Boredom brings brilliance,
....taps into the recesses of our sub-conscious mind to bring about #creativity and #curiosity. But I also think that boredom could also lead us to dark dungeons of the past or apprehensions about the future, and if these thoughts are not controlled, they can lead to overwhelm and stress. 

Taking control of our thoughts becomes so important specially in the 45-sec attention span that we have.

Self-command, that is taking control of our own mind, in this fast-paced, tech driven world becomes not only important, but a necessity. 

Here are some examples of how you can practice command over your mind while still at work

- Take a walk to get your coffee (focus solely on your feet and the steps you are taking)

- Zone out of your computer by closing your eyes and taking two deep breaths, really focusing on the inhale-exhale pattern 

- Stare out of the window or stare into your laptop - really focusing on one thing and one thing only. 

- Close your eyes for ten seconds when you are having your lunch, and really taste your food or hear the ambient sounds around you. 

Just focus on your senses every few hours and see how differently you tend to handle your day and the challenges that are thrown in front of you. 

Have a great week ahead!
👑Join me for an empowering evening of inspirati 👑Join me for an empowering evening of inspiration and connection at Celebrate HER Stories: Women's Panel & Networking at the Hive Sheung Wan! 

As one of the panelists, I am honored to be part of an expert lineup that includes founders and go-getters, Shea Stanley, Founder & Chief Executive Insider of Little Steps Asia, the esteemed author of "Whispers of Worth," Shobha Nihalani, and Louisa Dearlove, Founder of Fēnxiǎng.

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In the chaos and constant stimulation of our world In the chaos and constant stimulation of our world, the mind often finds itself caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts, worries, and distractions. It seems as if it never rests, always churning with an incessant stream of internal dialogue. But amidst this perpetual motion, there lies a profound and transformative power—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱

Imagine a vast, serene lake reflecting the beauty of its surroundings. Its surface is undisturbed, allowing the depths below to reveal their hidden treasures. In much the same way, the mind possesses an inherent stillness that, when cultivated, can lead to immense 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

Yet, achieving this stillness is no easy task. It requires practice, patience, and a gentle surrender to the present moment. We must 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 of our attachments, expectations, and the constant need to control. Only then can we begin to peel away the layers of mental noise and enter into a state of profound tranquility.

In this stillness, we discover that 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝘀. We are not limited to the boundaries of our transient emotions or fleeting desires. Instead, we tap into the potential of pure awareness—an expansive, timeless space where the mind can rest and rejuvenate.

I often say that 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, flowing, moving, splashing, having fun, but once in a while, the river needs to slow down and pause at an interim lake or pool to replenish its energy and nourish its waters. The pausing is not an end to its journey but a necessary part of its flow.

Learn to attain this stillness once every few hours. It will not take up your time, rather it will be the best investment of your time, as you get back to your work with renewed energy, vigour and creativity. 

Get in touch if you need help https://calendly.com/mehroo

Photo by dirk von loen-wagner on @Unsplash
Wishing you a relaxing Sunday .... Enjoy your coff Wishing you a relaxing Sunday .... Enjoy your coffee, read the news, smile, laugh, take a nap.... just do what makes you feel good in the moment 🍹 😀 🌞 🌻 

#sunday
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