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What I'm doing during the Coronavirus outbreak and how it's affecting me personally - Eriska blog post

While we're all in our homes staying safe from the Coronavirus, I thought I'd like to take a turn on updating you all on what I've been up to during this time of uncertainty.

The current pandemic that is sweeping the globe has really caused many of us to think differently about how we go about our daily business and and how we can act more safely to protect ourselves and those around us. Like all my musician friends and the rest of us in Eriska, I've found myself out of work and feeling like I'm hurtling at frightening speeds into the unknown. When will I work (and earn!) again? When will I play my next gig? Will my planned tours later this year go ahead?

“When will I work (and earn!) again? When will I play my next gig? Will my planned tours later this year go ahead?”

I am in a fortunate position where I do no rely wholly on self-employed income - I am employed by two separate employers and all three of these aspects come together for me to earn my living doing what I love in the arts. There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment surrounding how the self-employed will be supported by the government financially during this crisis, and it is certainly leaving me, and almost all of my friends, feeling pretty anxious.

What am I doing now?

For now, I am concerned about the mental health of the nation. In particular, I am concerned about those close to me in the music, arts and events industries. I know that the financial uncertainty, artistic pressure and isolation will be putting a lot of pressure on those I care about, so I invite you all to have a read at the things that I find are working to help keep me mentally and physically grounded at the moment.

- Learning a new skill: I recently bought a couple of items to allow me to record and create new music at home. At first I had absolutely no idea how any of the gear worked (software or hardware), and now only a few days in I am starting to write and record some new material which I hope to share with you all soon. Being able to do this at home is a useful skill I'm sure will stick with me for a long time!

- Started blogging on my newly created website: You are reading first first ever blog post just now! Building my personal online presence is also a new skill to me, and while people are spending more time than ever on social media, I feel like this is as good a time as ever to expand my use of social media professionally and build up this all-important online presence that plays such a huge role in the world today.

- Practiced(!!): Who can forget this?! I'm always looking to learn new tunes on pipes, whistles and guitar so if you have any suggestions let me know!

- Keep active/Have fun: I've found it's important to keep active outwith my musical career as well, so I have been running and dug my bike back out the shed and am loving it all so far (only once a day though!). Reading books (loving Billy Connolly at the moment!); washing my family's cars and gardening has also been a great way for me to keep my mind active and have an all important rest from all things musical.

This is a very quick insight into what's keeping me ticking during these tough times. Daily routines are hugely important at the moment as well, even when you've got nowhere to go! I'd love to hear what you are all keeping up to at the moment, and maybe we can share some tips on keeping healthy during the quarantine!

Hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings and my first ever blog post!