Pause

Last updated on 29 December 2024

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Take this time to pause.

Tonight (Wednesday 25th March 2020) New Zealand goes into Level 4 lockdown for coronavirus (COVID-19). Last week our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, presented the country with a 4 Level COVID-19 plan, each with varying degrees of lockdown and self-isolation measures in place. Tonight we reach the highest level.

What this means for us here in New Zealand is that we are all now in isolation. We were given a few days at Level 3 to make sure that we had everything we needed, work-wise, to continue to work from home where possible. Midnight tonight is when we step up to Level 4, and we must stay at home for 4 weeks. At the end of those 4 weeks, they will reassess the situation. We may be in lockdown for longer, or the tight restrictions may be loosened somewhat. Supermarkets and essential services will remain open. For those around the world who have already been in this sort of isolation for a while now, we are joining you.

New Zealanders, whether you’re working from home, looking after children, living alone, living in a big flat, living with family … things are changing around here. They have changed. Life is going to look a little bit different for the foreseeable future. Whether we manage to contain the virus and are out of this isolation in a month’s time (the current lock-down phase) or if we still need more time, this is what is right now. It’s so important to listen to the right sources regarding what we need to be doing. There’s a lot of noise on the internet, and it’s hard to focus in on the things that we should be doing and avoid the things that will just bring more uncertainty and panic.

Having forced weeks of isolation means we are able to take a deep breath, pause, take stock of our current situations and slow down a bit. We live in a busy world; it’s go go go all the time and we barely have a moment to just pause and be. Yes, the current situation may mean that we’re pausing in the midst of a bit of anxiety and uncertainty, but that, perhaps, makes it all the more important to just slow down.

Remember that physical distancing isn’t social distancing: you can still call people, you can set up Google Hangouts and Zoom checks in with your friends. You can check in on your neighbours (at a safe distance, or over the fence) and make sure everyone’s alright. It’s important more than ever to make sure you connect with people.

During this time of isolation, I am with my family. I’m working from home for my usual Monday – Wednesday hours, and during my other days I will be getting stuck into all my hobbies, as well as going for walks (which is allowed – just stay away from others you find out walking too), and taking a moment to pause. I’m planning on taking it slow, not finding ways to schedule out every second of every day to be productive or feel like I’m making the most of my time. I’m still going to get up and at em in the mornings and establish some sort of routine, but it’ll be loose, it’ll be subject to change, it’ll be relaxed.

I hope that whatever your situation is at this dire time you are staying safe, you’re being smart, you’re being kind to one another in every way possible. May this time in isolation be a time where you do find a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and remember that this is not our forever.

Kia kaha, New Zealand. Kia kaha, world.