News for April 2020

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Surviving self isolation (without spending a penny!)

Since we're only making essential journeys and a lot of us aren’t in a position to part with our cash right now, so you might find you’ve suddenly got some time on your hands and you’re not sure what to do with it. We’ve developed a list of tips for surviving self isolation - using stuff you already have in the house!
Beautify your home office
With more of us than ever before working from home, makeshift offices are popping up in homes all over the country and the world. Keep your spirits high by bringing some of your favourite things into your working environment; set up your desk with a lovely candle, a house plant or a photo that always makes you smile.
Work up a sweat
We’ve all heard the age old ‘use baked bean cans instead of weights’ - but it really does work! If you’re looking to recreate your gym workout at home, get creative. Use your dressing gown belt as a resistance band, or some old washing line as a skipping rope. And remember, there’s loads of free workouts available on YouTube if you don’t know where to start.
Start a new project
You may find that you suddenly have more time on your hands. Why not start a project? Upcycle a piece of furniture, dig out an old art kit or take an online course to learn a new skill.
Pamper yourself
Whether it’s an at home spa day, a lie in, a carefully prepared meal or a movie night, allow yourself to indulge in the things around the house that make you happy.
Keep the kids busy
All the above is all well and good, but frazzled parents will know it’s easier said than done. Whether you’ve got your sights set on a pamper session, a project, a workout or you just need to crack on with some work, first you need something to occupy your little monsters! 
We have provided some activities that we hope will help. Simply download and print these colouring pages and spot the difference activities, find some art supplies and let them get on with it… that ought to keep them quiet for a while!
And if you complete the colouring activity and share the results with us on social media by 15th May 2020 you'll be in with a chance of winning a prize!  Click the links above for details.

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Top tips for making the most of your garden during lockdown

There’s no right or wrong way to feel about what’s going on in the world right now, but one thing we can all agree on is that we’re having a run of unprecedentedly lovely weather. With time out the house still limited by lockdown, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the most of your garden.
Fresh air and sunshine are a known mood lifter and can be a great way to dispel anxiety or worry, so we’ve developed these top tips for getting out and enjoying your garden.
Start your day off right
Now you’ve got no commute to reckon with, it can be tempting to roll out of bed and into the ‘office’ (read - your kitchen) 10 minutes before you’re due at your desk; but getting outside first thing and optimising your morning can set you up for a productive and positive day. Why not make a coffee, grab your book and head outside for some fresh air. A gentle warning - it’s not quite as warm as the sun would have you believe, so you might still need a jacket!
Hang out your washing
It might sound a little contrived but seeing as we’re all having to find joy in the small things, there’s something to be said for putting on a load of washing then getting it all hung out on the line. It’ll make your house smell nicer, it’s a productive thing to tick off your to do list and it’s an excuse to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Eat al fresco
Let’s face it - a lot of us are finding there’s not much to do but eat at the minute, so why not make an experience of it? Whether you head out on your lunch break or decide to dine out with wine for dinner, make like you’re on holiday and enjoy eating in the fresh air.
Tidy up your green space
Make the most of the unseasonal sunshine by getting your garden primed and ready for summer. Cut back any overgrown hedges, dig out last year’s wilted bedding plants, de-weed your paving slabs and put away anything that’s been lying around that you’ve been meaning to sort over the winter. Harron Homes come equipped with plenty of storage so you can get anything off the lawn and tidied away that’s not supposed to be there.
 

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Protecting your work life balance

With most of the population now working and living entirely in their homes, we wanted to share our top tips on how to strike the perfect work life balance during these unprecedented times. 
1. It can be easy to log on to your emails at 7am and still be answering them late into the evening and never is this more true than when there’s no clear divide between your work life and your home life.
Don’t work 15 hour days just because you can - especially if you wouldn’t dream of it in any other circumstances. If possible, work in a separate room for find a nook that you can leave once the day is over.
2. It’s likely that your daily routine looks a little different now you’re working from home. It can be easy to have a crisis of confidence if you’re not 100% productive all the time, but remember that in the office there are plenty of opportunities to socialise and have little breaks. Be patient with yourself, and try and measure your workload in achievements rather than in hours spent.
3. Remember that nook we mentioned? Leave your laptop in it at the end of the day. Turning off your computer and walking away will allow you to mentally distance yourself from your work day.
4. Getting out in the fresh air might be limited to your garden right now, but that means you should make the most of it! Take regular breaks from your work - working from home shouldn’t feel punishing - and sit for a few minutes in the sunshine.
Enjoy the breeze and the peace and quiet, and go back to your work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
5. Now is not the time to deny yourself life’s simple pleasures. An extra half an hour in bed? Why not, you’ve not got a commute anymore. Takeaway for dinner? You’re supporting local business! Or why not take an online class during your lunch break - there are literally thousands of yoga and fitness classes running virtually during the outbreak, so why not try something new?
Reward your hard work and treat yourself compassionately in these difficult times - your mental and physical health will be glad of it.
 
 
 
 
 

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