Events - St Peter's and The Moors Big Local

If you feel like you lost your motivation and your zest for life during lockdown, the coming of Spring should definitely bring some reasons to feel more upbeat.

Spring itself is about new life; it’s when nature comes out of hibernation after a long winter, and hopefully as the seasons change and we start to slowly come out of lockdown, we should feel like we have a new lease of life too.

If you need a little bit of helping getting motivated again after the past year, Big Local can help. We’ve got some lovely activities going on over Easter and in the coming months to help you feel great again.

Here’s how to get motivated again after lockdown.

Walk the River Chelt Trail

There’s something about getting out for a walk when the sun is shining that makes you feel great, and we are proud to say that we are the sponsors of an amazing new local activity.

Christina Poulton, the founder of Art Playground has put together a walking trail along the River Chelt. You can find tags along the way with a QR code you can scan which lets you access an audio post about something interesting nearby. If you want to get fit and learn more about the local area at the same time, check out the walk on the website https://riverchelttrail.co.uk/

This project was funded by through our Community Chest. This is a small grants fund for community-led activities or projects that local residents or groups would like to set up. You can apply for up to £250, or £500 if the project/activity is working in partnership with a local organisation.

Examples of things you might want to do include organising community trips, family events, activities for young people; the possibilities are endless!

If you have an idea that would make St. Peter’s and The Moors an even better place to live and work, you can apply for some funding from the Community Chest here. You can also see the kinds of things that have been awarded funding in the past few years if you need some inspiration.

Spend time in a green space

If you have green fingers and you love being out in nature, you can do yourself and your community some good by joining the Friends of Elmfield Park group. The group is a band of like-minded local residents who are dedicated to looking after the green spaces that are so valuable to all of us. From plant swaps to litter picks and garden tidy ups, there’s something you can get involved in.

Many of the group’s activities have been put on hold due to the restrictions but after 29^th March, the rule of 6 applies outdoors, so we’re hoping that things can get going again.

The next events on the group’s calendar are:

Tewkesbury Road Garden Tidy up on Saturday 3^rd April from 11am

Plant Swap and Litter Pick on Saturday 10^th April at 10.00am.

You can join the Friends of Elmfield Park Facebook group here to find out more about the amazing things they do and their upcoming events.

Get your heart pumping

The lovely Amy Pope, a local personal trainer who runs Aptitude Fitness, is looking to run some outdoor bootcamps for ladies in Elmfield Park. Get your heart pumping, have fun, and get your motivation back after lockdown!

Watch this space for more information.

Have some Easter Holiday Fun

We all need a little light relief and something different after the past few months, and we’ve got some great things going on over Easter for all the family.

From an Easter Egg Trail to cooking sessions, outdoor activities, and opportunities to be creative, there’s something for everyone. Get in touch if you’d like to get involved!

Normally, the new year brings excitement and hope about what it might bring. But this year, even with the vaccine and the prospect of brighter days on the horizon, we find ourselves still in lockdown.

After many months of restrictions, financial struggles, anxiety, and not being able to see our families and friends, we can be forgiven for feeling fed up and flat.

But if you feel tired and fed up right now, know that this is a normal response to having to deal with anxiety and uncertainty for so long, and you’re definitely not alone in that feeling that way.

So how do you pick yourself up and move forward in times like these?

Here are our tips on how to stay resilient in tough times.

Be kind to yourself

If you’ve been giving yourself a hard time about struggling to work from home while homeschooling the kids, or you’ve been meaning to do loads of things during lockdown and you just haven’t got around to doing them, be kind to yourself. If you feel tired, have a break. Know that nobody expects you to be a perfect and productive parent or some kind of superhuman during a pandemic. Your best is enough.

Look after your wellbeing

In stressful times, it’s more important than ever that you look after yourself. Eat well, take some exercise, and make sure you get enough sleep. For healthy meals on a budget, follow our Facebook page and give some of our lovely Ali’s recipes a try. She uses food from our #ReduceWaste food project-remember you are very welcome to come along and get what you need on a Monday and Wednesday.

Don’t spend too much time on social media or watching the news

There’s nothing wrong with staying up to date with what’s going on, but if you read negative stories and argumentative social media comments, and watch the latest depressing headlines day in, day out, it will really affect your mood. Try listening to uplifting music, reading positive books, or watching comedies on TV to give you a bit of a lift.

Find ways to reduce stress

After feeling anxious, worried, and stressed for so long, many of us desperately need to find ways to relax. Find something that works for you. Everyone is different. Some people relax by going for a walk or run, and for some, it’s curling up with a good book that reduces your stress levels. Find your thing, and do it for at least 10 minutes each day.

Stay connected with others (and no, it doesn’t just have to be on Zoom!)

While we are truly blessed to have technology that has allowed us to stay connected with the people we know and love, Zoom fatigue is a thing. Video calls are great, but there are other ways to stay connected too. Write a letter to a friend or family member who can’t get online, or just pick up the phone. Staying connected makes us all feel loved, cared for, and supported.

Start a new routine

If lockdown has you feeling fed up, bored, and lacking in motivation, why not make yourself a new routine?

The word ‘routine’ doesn’t seem exciting, but you could use the lockdown as a chance to start new things and structure your week with things to look forward to.

Sunday might be your pamper day. Friday evening might be virtual drinks with friends. You might even get around to reading that book or painting that room, which you’ve been meaning to do for ages.

And did you know that Big Local has some things going on that you can get involved in, even though we are still in lockdown?

Our Ali has some online coffee get-togethers going on every Wednesday from 11am-12pm and Thursday from 1.30pm-2.30pm where you can meet other people in your neighbourhood, have a cuppa together, and chat.

As well as our coffee get-togethers, local resident and writer, Michelle Robinson, will be hosting some creative writing for wellbeing workshops on three consecutive Thursdays starting on Thursday 28^th January.

If you are interested in taking part in either of the activities, message Ali via our Facebook page, or text 07864 721 616.

Category: Events

How to Get Motivated Again After Lockdown