The art of keeping yourself too busy to become down

This has been a tough week for us all. The announcement of the terrible milestone of over a hundred thousand lives lost to this pandemic, this insidious virus that has seemingly swept unchallenged through the world.
By Shaun Doane
Published 29th Jan 2021, 08:29 BST
Updated 29th Jan 2021, 10:01 BST
A runner is pictured in Norfolk Park, with Sheffield City Centre as a backdrop, as the Coronavirus outbreak continues. Picture by Simon HulmeA runner is pictured in Norfolk Park, with Sheffield City Centre as a backdrop, as the Coronavirus outbreak continues. Picture by Simon Hulme
A runner is pictured in Norfolk Park, with Sheffield City Centre as a backdrop, as the Coronavirus outbreak continues. Picture by Simon Hulme

I’m not going to make a comment about the response of our government, or

about the vaccine, or the relative rights and wrongs of following the scientific advice. Here is not the place and it’s not why I’m writing, I’ll keep my own counsel, and besides, if you really want to know what I think, there’s social media!

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We all need something to lift our spirits when things are so dreadful, some people are getting up in the morning and following an online or TV exercise class, it’s a great way to get the blood pumping and get those exercise endorphins going, it’s a bit too much like hard work for me though.

Some folks have become culinary masters in lockdown, creating classic new from scratch recipes, making ends meet, or meat, in ever more creative ways, and becoming artisan bakers, brewers and pastry chefs! I am just getting to the point, I must admit, where I have developed a nervous tic at the very thought of another banana bread. Add chocolate chips, blueberries, ANYTHING!

Getting out for a walk hasn’t been easy given the rough weather we have had but remember there’s no bad weather just the wrong clothes.

Any kind of creative pursuit can be a huge aid to maintaining an even keel and general sanity, poetry, painting, singing, dancing, quizzing and quaffing, over zoom, skype and others as well as in solitude.

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For me, music has always been my saviour, and in the absence of being able to go out and play live with the EPB, or Tiny Barbara’s Surf Club, and not being able to go out and DJ, I’ve got myself a gig on community radio station Rockingham Radio, based in the Dearne Valley but available globally. It’s really helped to keep me going and I hope listeners are enjoying it. Listen at www.rockinghamradio.co.uk or download the app. Thursday night 7pm till 9pm, Saturday 9pm till midnight. There are some great shows all day every day.

However you do it, keep yourself busy and stimulated, you’ll not have time to get down.

Related topics:Dearne Valley