Loughgiel Shamrocks and Antrim camogie star Maeve Connolly
Up and at it – what is your new morning routine? How has it changed?
I'm a morning person, so wouldn't normally lie in too late. During the week, I would be up around seven o'clock. This hasn't changed due to Covid – being a teacher, my work routine is still fairly similar, despite the teaching being delivered digitally/virtually.
What might you eat in a typical working day for…Breakfast?
I couldn't leave the house without breakfast, but it would be something simple like a bowl of cereal – usually Weetabix.
Lunch?
This varies with the season – lunch could be tuna pasta, chicken/salmon salad or omelette.
Evening meal?
We eat a wide variety of dinners, ranging from traditional meat, spuds and veg, to curries, burritos or maybe a fish pie.
Have you been able to work from home – if so, how have you found it?
As a teacher, it has been a very challenging time and we've really had to reconstruct and adapt our entire profession to cater for the closure of schools. For the past two months I have been teaching from home, completing online, live lessons for every one of my classes throughout the day. This has definitely required more preparation time and a new- found skill set, but I am very lucky to be in a position to still be working and also to still provide pupils some form of normality.
Best/easiest lockdown meal?
Six by Nico's Mexican box – pre-made and amazing.
Weekend treat?
A take-away is a must at the weekend – especially in lockdown. Chinese food is my favourite.
How have you kept physically and mentally fit during lockdown?
During the first lockdown, my mum and I really got into walking and would walk between five and 10km most days, so it became part of our daily routine and we loved just getting out to get some fresh air. This time it has been very different, the weather proving extremely difficult to get outdoors. I'm lucky that we have a lot of gym equipment in our house, so I have been able to get on with my own stuff. Probably the best thing I've had during both lockdowns was the fact that my club and county camogie teams have been training together, doing circuits via zoom. Not only does this get your exercise in, it also keeps up the social side of things and you get to see and chat to people. I think keeping physically active definitely leads to positive mental benefits, so both are linked strongly together in my eyes.
What has been your daily outdoor exercise?
I usually go for walks but the weather recently has prevented that. For club/county training, we are given individual running programmes that would be completed two or three times a week. Going for a run is also such a good way to just clear your head, no matter what distance you travel or the pace you travel at.
How do you relax?
Going for a run – the run itself may be brutal, but it leaves you feeling great afterwards.
Teetotal or tipple?
Occasional tipple.
What book are you currently reading?
Awful to say, but none – reading tends to be a summer hobby for me when the weather is good.
Best Netflix?
Mainly crime series – The Sinner, Line of Duty, Mindhunter...
Most surprising thing you've learned about yourself?
How quickly you can adapt. Over the past year there have been so many changes in my life – personal changes, changes to work, changes to social life, changes to sport – my days used to be filled from Monday through to Sunday with lots of different things going on, so I've surprised myself with how well I've managed to cope with that and adjust to it again.
On a scale of one to 10, where have you been in relation to cabin fever and where are you now?
I think, like everybody else, it's been very up and down. I try not to think negatively too much and always resort back to thinking that everyone close to me is safe and well, so there could be worse things than a lockdown happening. This puts things in perspective for me.
What are the three things you missed most during the beginning of lockdown?
Being able to see family and friends, going out for nice meals and playing camogie on a normal basis.
Where will you go and what will you do when restrictions are fully lifted?
I would like to hope I will be able to get married this year, so between planning for it, building a house and – hopefully – having a honeymoon, that will keep me busy enough.
Biggest gripe?
I'm pretty laid back, so I can't think of anything that stands out, but listening to people who have big gripes would annoy me.
Have your priorities in life or perspectives changed?
Yes, I think I've learnt more about my own priorities and I will be more thankful/appreciative when some simple parts of normal life resume.
Any new skills or hobbies?
Cooking! I am trying out new things that I would never have attempted to make before – some more successfully than others – so it's definitely more a hobby than a skill.
What would you like to see change for good when this is all over?
Life being lived at a slower pace. I think before Covid my own time was very hectic and I found myself wishing days away. I hope that living at a slower pace and not feeling obliged to do as much while appreciating more will stay with me.
Has coronavirus changed your attitude towards your own mortality?
No, although it has definitely made me more appreciative of the simple things in life.
