Things are pretty strange right now. It all feels a bit bonkers. You’re working from home, business up top and comfort below. You’re either eating everything in sight or realising its 6pm and all you’ve consumed is espresso and twitter feeds. But, there are tonnes of people out there writing articles and offering online classes to help you put some structure in your day, make sure you’re getting a workout, and get some ideas on what on earth to do now you’re juggling working from home and being a teacher.
If you’re still working, don’t forget about the thousands of artists and performers out there who have suddenly found themselves with no income. They are wonderfully skilled people with many talents – find what they can offer on the notice board. Maybe you can let your kids practice french with them for an hour? Or get someone to explain a few GCSE biology topics for them. Or maybe you’d like to outsource your lesson and activity planning?
Anyhow, the list below is made up of things I’ve come across lately that I think are useful. Feel free to send me more suggestions!
Working from home
- A brilliant collection of guidance and resources can be found here from LocalGlobe and Latitude.
- Managering in terrible times (not covid specific, but a lot still applies) and Productivity in terrible times (again, not covid specific but lots of good ideas)
- An hour by hour guide through your working from home day from Heights
- Free Ebook which collates a lot of remote working ideas
- Set up a slack workflow in your team to remind them to take a break
- Remote working playbook from Equal Experts
- Company handbook from Gitlab, and a remote working ebook
- How Basecamp communicates with a remote workforce
Mental wellbeing
- If you’re having problems with anxiety or start experiencing anything like it. You can sign up to http://anxietyuk.org.uk. £40 a year, they throw a year of headspace in with it too, and there’s plenty of resources available for you there.
- If you’re not a fan of Headspace, here are some free guided meditations on Spotify, including an insomnia guide.
- Woebot is a CBT style chat bot that guides you through questions and gratitude journaling
- Fancy trying some hypnotherapy? There are a few audio tracks on this app that focus on different things like health, anxiety, and relaxation
- Advanced lying down by YogaSpace, a 20 minute breath awareness audio guide
- Add a daily dose of happy news into your feed
- Headspace is offering a few free meditations
- Calm have also put a lot of different meditations, sleep stories and other things on their blog for free
- For a good giggle
- Mind.org have put together a guide for those already struggling with mental health with regards to Covid-19
Looking after kiddos?
- Emergency advice from teachers on home schooling
- Coding starter kit for kids from Humble Bundle
- Daily PE classes with Joe Wicks, Monday to Friday
- 87 Indoor Energy Busting Games for kids
- Resources for homeschooling from Twinkl and use code CVDTWINKLHELPS
- Phonics play is now free
- Learn how to build a Rocket with Jodrell Bank
- Facebook groups
How to help
Sign up to become a mentor for young people on 1 Million mentors
Bored?
Fitness classes
Online circus fitness classes to keep fit whilst Cloud Aerial Arts is closed
Free live Acro and Conditioning 1 hour online classes with Systke each day at 20:00 GMT + 1 (Amsterdam time zone). Please be ready 5 min before we start.
Helena Astridge will be running a number of classes through Zoom – Email her for details
Cariad Yoga – £6 a class Tuesdays at 7pm , with 15 Spaces are available for FREE for the Unemployed / Self employed / NHS Staff – please email eirian@Cariadyoga.com to explain your situation and book onto the class
Learning
Scribd is making itself free for 30 days through this link (no credit card required)
Language learning site Babbel is offering 6 months free when you buy 6 months
Online Conferences
7-8 April – Lead dev conference – For tech leaders and managers. Free