by Tommy Watson
On a beautiful bank holiday weekend, with the sun shining and the barbeque on the go, you would be forgiven for almost thinking that normality has resumed.
Of course, the reality is very different and once this is all over, who knows what the new normal way of life will be. There is no way of knowing just how long is left as the pandemic continues, but my hope is that once this is over we can all take some positive learnings from this time. Here are a few reflections from my time on pause so far.
I've always been big on routine and habits (for those of similar inclination I'd highly recommend James Clear's Atomic Habits). Now, when the days and weeks start to blur into one, keeping a routine feels more important than ever.
A big part of my normal routine is exercising before work. Typically, this would be a morning run around London, passing St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Westminster and Buckingham Palace. Now that I'm working from home, I've stuck to the 6am alarm and the habit of starting the day well with a morning run or walk – just around our local woods instead of the London office.
As my commute from bedroom to front room is pretty quick, there's no need for an early alarm. However, I find that it really sets me up for the day and gets those positive endorphins going. Another big plus is that when the weekend comes around, I enjoy the novelty of a later start. That clear distinction between working week and weekend is important for me.
The sudden switch to working from home means the end of the daily commute, saving a couple of hours each day. On the surface, that sounds like a huge positive, but in strange way I miss this time.
I've always seen my train journey as my time: to read, catch up on podcasts, make notes on articles or reflect on the day. In a world where there is no longer clear boundaries between work and leisure, carving out this me time has become really important. So, whether it's taking an hour to read or just a quiet few minutes to meditate, I'm being very deliberate about scheduling me time into my day. I must caveat this point by saying I don't have children and I appreciate for those who do this is likely to be a tough ask!
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has enjoyed a virtual family games night or drink with friends. When you know everyone is at home, staying connected has become easier than ever!
Over the last few weeks I've regularly spent time with all my family (which typically only happens at holidays), spoken to my elderly grandmother a few times a week rather than every few weeks, and caught up with friends I only see a couple of times a year on a weekly basis.
But what happens when we go back to our everyday lives? A busy life is an easy excuse for these things to become less regular and eventually fall down the list of priorities but should that really be the way? Quality time with family and friends is important, and I hope I can continue to make a point of staying better connected with my loved ones when quarantine ends.
Just a few weeks of working from home has really got me thinking about how much of my discretionary expenditure is unnecessary. For a financial planner, this is a sobering thought!
Of course, there have been some big cost savings with no travel, but what about the other costs that are very loosely associated with typical working life? I've never thought of myself as particularly excessive, but a couple of coffees a week, a breakfast on the go here and there and a Friday treat lunch at one of the local street markets all adds up!
This experience has made me focus on how I spend. I'm sure I'll still enjoy the occasional coffee or market lunch, but I'll definitely be more deliberate with these little costs going forward.
In a world becoming ever more materialistic, more than anything what I have taken from this experience is that it really is the little things in life that matter most.
Whether that be a morning run in the woods, having lunch in the garden with my wife or just taking the time to make a meal from scratch during the week, there are so many experiences that can be overshadowed in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Once life returns to normal, I'll be sure to take the time to really appreciate these things.
This is the big unknown, but my hope is that in years to come we will all look back on this time and reflect on the positive changes we have made to our lifestyles. Whether that be embracing a more flexible work life balance or realising that those things we once held of upmost important may really not be important after all. What do you think will be your biggest change when it's time to hit play?
Tommy is a Client Manager at Paradigm Norton's London office, becoming part of the PN team in 2017 following the merger with The Red House.
A Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the PFS, Tommy is responsible for delivering a highly personalised, holistic, financial planning service to a select group of clients. Tommy co-leads Paradigm Norton's London office, is a Trustee of the Paradigm Norton Employee Ownership Trust and a member of the firms Culture and Values committee. A Business Finance graduate from Durham University, Tommy has over 10 years' experience working in financial services, both in the UK and Singapore before joining The Red House in 2014.
Outside of work, Tommy is a fan of most sports and enjoys following his beloved Everton around the UK. Always keen for a physical challenge, he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, cycled the length of the UK and completed a number of marathons, triathlons and open water swims.
