During the past two years, learning to be kind to one’s self has been the hardest and most important lesson of all.
It would be an understatement of the century to say that the past two years have been challenging. What has made them even more difficult is the constant pressure we put on ourselves, the guilt we’ve internalised and the tendency towards comparison with others. This started at the beginning, with the onset of the first lockdown in March 2020. Suddenly, with many of us working from home or furloughed, and without having lengthy commutes every day, we had a lot of time on our hands. What to fill that time with? Our social media feeds were filled with people’s newfound ways to occupy their time – baking sourdough or banana bread, gardening, doing yoga or learning a new language. Social media has infamously brewed a culture of comparison, but that became even more toxic during the course of the pandemic when we had even more time to spend doom scrolling on our feeds. And it inevitably led to many of us feeling guilt, if we weren’t spending our time on such creative pursuits. Or maybe it led to us putting pressure on ourselves to be constantly doing and achieving, leading to burnout and other negative impacts on our mental health.
I certainly wasn’t filling the days of the first lockdown with these new hobbies. Not only was I feeling guilty about my supposed lack of achievement, and comparing my lack of productivity with others around me, but I started feeling lonely and isolated and my mental health started to deteriorate. And I found myself feeling guilty. Why me? What have I got to be down about? I kept telling myself I was lucky. I hadn’t lost my job, so I had financial security, and in fact, I was saving money from not commuting and socialising. I was able to work from home, so my health wasn’t being put at risk by going to work each day. I was living with my family, unlike many who were separated from their loved ones. I hadn’t had a drastic change of circumstances, unlike the many others I was hearing about each day when anxiously checking the news.
Of course this wasn’t a healthy way to approach the situation. If one of your loved ones is going through a difficult time, you wouldn’t minimise the way they’re feeling, or encourage them to look for a silver lining. So why do we do this to ourselves? We need to show ourselves the same kindness and compassion that we show to our family, friends, colleagues and peers when they are struggling. For me, I needed to remember that whatever my circumstances, my feelings were valid. The pandemic represented a complete upheaval of our lives and what was normal for us. Yes, there may have been silver linings from spending more time at home, or even just the ability to work from home when this was previously not possible. But that didn’t diminish the inevitable negative impact this crisis was having on us, whether that was dealing with practical consequences, the impact on our physical and mental health, the loss of normal aspects of our lives, anxiety about the future, loneliness and isolation and so forth.
During the upheaval that has been the last two years, self-care has never been more important. That means different things to different people. Self-care has a reputation for involving fancy pampering sessions in the spa, but it really doesn’t have to be so financially and practically out of reach. It can simply involve going for a walk to clear your head, reading a book, turning your phone off, dancing to music in your kitchen or whatever else brings you joy. Prioritising yourself can often seem selfish, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can only be your best self to others if you are taking care of and prioritising yourself.
An important part of self-care is kindness and acceptance. I wish I’d known that from the beginning of the pandemic. Accepting the way I was feeling, and that my feelings were valid. Acknowledging the extremely challenging times we were living in, and that it was going to have inevitable consequences for my mental health. Not comparing myself to others, and instead focusing on myself and what I needed. Not putting pressure on myself to constantly be doing and overachieving, but instead to simply be. These were all extremely valuable lessons, and I’m grateful that I’ve had the time to reflect and learn them. As we transition to the ‘new normal’, accepting that life is unlikely to ever be the same as it was before the pandemic, these lessons remain so important. People will have unsettling feelings and anxiety about what is to come in the future as we continue to navigate this uncertain time. We will continue to face challenges throughout our lives, but what remains important is how we approach those difficulties and how we care for ourselves. That includes being kind, forgiving and accepting, which is something I hope you’ll prioritise above all else.
Written by Anjeli Shah
Having recently read Adam Kay’s book ‘This is Going to Hurt’ I attended his stand up comedy show live at the Garrick Theatre.
Upon reading the book, I was struck by how funny and witty Kay comes across. It made me appreciate the difficulty of working in such an intensive environment (Kay previously worked in obstetrics and gynaecology), regularly dealing with emergencies and life-threatening situations, and how humour is a necessary survival tool for healthcare professionals. His stand up did not disappoint, with numerous laugh out loud moments, and creative medical inspired remakes of popular anthems and audience participation. The great thing about the show was that you don’t have to have read the book beforehand. Although if you did, you’d definitely recognise some of the diaries which he read aloud to the audience, you’d still be laughing throughout the show. If you hadn’t, you definitely had a lot to gain from his funny and thought-provoking insight into the life of a junior doctor.
Thought-provoking it is, as Kay, through his diaries, takes you on a journey throughout his career as a junior doctor, from joining the wards as a House Officer, to accomplish the achievement of gaining the title of Registrar. Whilst the majority of the live show was humorous and focused on the comical moments in his career, there were a number of heartbreaking diary entries that reveal the fragility, not only of life when it comes to treating patients, but also of a system in which the professionals are overworked and under-rewarded. Yes we hear constantly of staff shortages in the NHS, and perhaps it’s taken a global pandemic to realise the true urgency of the situation, but Kay’s portrayal reveals just how much it impacts the lives of doctors.
From rarely leaving work on time, to missing birthdays, anniversaries, having your holidays cancelled at short notice or having to come back early from your trip abroad, or just having to keep calm and carry on after a traumatic experience, never have I seen a more honest encapsulation of a career which simply does not allow for a work life balance. For the doctors there is no choice – the patient must always come first.
The most heartbreaking part of Kay’s story is towards the end of his career in medicine. Being the most senior clinician overseeing a traumatic birthing experience, something which after the event he can’t bury and carry on, as he and other doctors do day in day out, and with a lack of support whilst facing such a tough time, he is forced to leave medicine. It isn’t a decision that comes lightly. His passion for his patients, the NHS and the profession is reflected throughout his book and his presence on stage. What is the medical profession’s loss is the comedy circuit’s gain. What was truly joyful at the end of Kay’s show is how he used his time on stage to give a genuine heartfelt thank you to all the staff who keep the NHS running, to highlight how amazing this institution is (which despite its fractures and flaws there no institution comparable in the world) and to pay his respects to the frontline professionals who we have sadly lost during the pandemic.
I would strongly encourage you to read This is Going to Hurt and if you want to see Adam Kay live, his tour remains ongoing across the UK until December 2021. If you’re interested in medicine and healthcare, the book gives an insight into some of the technical and clinical aspects of life on hospital wards and in the specialism of obstetrics and gynaecology. Kay is careful not to assume his audience understand all the nuances and jargon in medicine, so it’s not an overly complex read. It is a delight to read, with the wit and humour Kay displays throughout the book, and which is ever more apparent during his live show. And perhaps most importantly, in the wake of the current crisis in the NHS, with backlogs of patient care, ever-growing waiting lists and staffing shortages, hopefully, Kay’s diary entries are something politicians will pay attention to when addressing these problems and prioritising the NHS in the future.
Written by Anjeli Shah
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For the first time, we are able to offer local businesses and charities a chance to purchase radio advertisements on Radio Harrow. As a radio station and a charity, we rely on the support of donations and grants to help us continue to provide our unique brand of award-winning Hospital Radio and community broadcasting.
We have TWO Advertising Options which we will provide the best coverage across our schedule at a competitive price.
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Find out more about Radio Harrow, our reach and our listeners with the 2021 Media Kit. Please read our Terms and Condition PDF to see if advertising is right for your business.
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Radio Harrow has won GOLD at The HBA Awards 2021 for Station of the Year. We are incredibly proud of all our volunteers and contributors to the station, especially during the pandemic as we’ve all had a tough year.
The awards were held remotely on Saturday 20th March during the Hospital Broadcasting Association conference and broadcasted to over one hundred people. Normally the ceremony is held in different parts of the UK such as Bristol and nominated stations are encouraged to attend. However, as this year’s ceremony was streamed attendees had online access and we await for more highlights from the HBA YouTube channel.
The Management Board gave “a special thanks to all the volunteers and presenters who have been working hard over the last year, keeping Radio Harrow on the air through a difficult time. The past 12 months have seen live shows made at home, interviews conducted over Zoom and even programs being recorded in bedrooms & cars during the UK lockdown.”
Chairman David Reece said: “I am so pleased with what we have been able to accomplish as a station and as a charity. It is an amazing feeling to know that we have been able to do something so positive during such a controversial time.”
Radio Harrow Secretary, Ben Punter added: “I’m massively proud of what our team has achieved these past twelve months, managing to create some amazing, touching, and unique radio.”
Communications Manager, Sneha Mervana: “It’s great to see all the talent we have behind the scenes in and out of the studio. There are some incredibly talented individuals who continue to support and help the station grow.”
Radio Harrow continues to provide patients & those in the community with an amazing selection of shows, interviews and a great selection of music. Recently Podcasts have been launched for Sports and Ed Talks. Check it out on Spotify.
If you would like to get involved remotely email us at liaison@radioharrow.org or comms@radioharrow.org
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Radio Harrow has been shortlisted for four awards at the Hospital Broadcasting Association Awards 2021. The award nominations were announced on Monday 1st March, and the awards set to take place remotely on Saturday 20th March.
Radio Harrow programme ‘The Shuffle’ has been nominated for ‘Best Station Promotion’, while daily segment ‘The Wall of Sound’ secured a nod in the ‘Specialist Music’ category.
‘The Shuffle’ airs weekdays at 10am and ‘The Wall of Sound’ at 4:30pm.
The station has also earned a nomination in the ‘Special Event’ category for Radio Harrow’s coverage of the Duck Pond Market, from last September in Gunnersbury Park.
Presenter Lydia June Meredith said: “We wanted to create something a bit different for our listeners and to showcase positivity and normality at a time of such uncertainty, even if we had to interview using selfie sticks to distance ourselves”.
Presenter Natascia Bernardi added “Being able to interview stalls owners and interact with the public after so much time in isolation made Live at The Duckpond Market so special for all of us involved”.
Radio Harrow are up against nine other stations to claim the highly coveted ‘Station Of The Year’ award.
Programme Manager Andrew Bottcher said: “I’m delighted that Radio Harrow has been nominated for four Hospital Broadcasting Awards! It’s a fantastic achievement for all volunteers at the station and I’m really proud that even during these difficult times, we can still produce top quality content for Harrow”.
The Duck Pond Market has been running since its creation in 2008 at the manor farm site in Ruislip, and specialises in interesting, local, ethical and sustainable shopping
This year the event expanded into Gunnersbury Park in Ealing.
Radio Harrow presenters Ben Punter, Natascia B and Lydia Meredith went along over the August Bank Holliday weekend to speak to the visitors and vendors at the market, to find out more about our local businesses and how they coped during Coronavirus.
Radio Harrow Podcasts are also available on Apple Podcasts
Hear how the Coronavirus restrictions have affected their daily lives,
the ways they’ve had to reinvent their business model to run effectively
and how they are supporting staff and key workers at Northwick Park Hospital.
This interview is also available on Apple Podcasts
Last night the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) live streamed the 2020 National Hospital Radio Awards.
The awards are held every year as part of the HBA Conference, which this year were due to be in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Due to Coronavirus the gala dinner and award ceremony were cancelled.
So member radio stations could still be recognised for the work they do, the organisers decided instead to stream the awards via YouTube and Facebook on Easter Monday.
Anandi Shah, from Saturday Brunch, won Bronze for Best Newcomer. The judges said Anandi was “a really promising presenter, with much to offer. She displays her intelligence engagingly in her content and questioning”.
Hansa Varsani, from the Mixed Masala Show came away with Bronze for Female Presenter of the Year. One of the judges said of Hansa, “Wow! What an incredibly positive and fun entry this was…Hansa has also mastered that one-to-one skill”
Here Chris talks about his journey from Radio Harrow (then Radio Northwick Park) to national radio, developing ideas, presenting, podcasting and the radio industry.
Chris Stark co-hosts with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 1 & BBC 5 Live and appears on ‘That Peter Crouch’ Podcast.
During this difficult time, Radio Harrow would like to highlight all the community support services still active in and around Harrow & Brent.
If you are any of the following:
Please get in touch via studio@radioharrow.org, and we’ll see if we can help.
A reminder, you can find the latest information regarding Coronavirus via gov.uk/coronavirus
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