The much hyped Freedom Day has arrived but what does that mean, what does it look like? For many, it’s a day of uncertainty and anxiety as cases are still rising, a wish but genuine fear of normal.

For businesses, it’s a mixed bag and most seem to fear a lack of guidance from the government on quite what is expected of them. In Friday’s Guardian, Jeremy Joseph, the owner of G-A-Y Group and Heaven, says the moment will be a leap into the unknown. “I don’t know how people are going to react,” he says. “We have no idea.” Nightclubs in the UK have been particularly hard hit in the pandemic. Closed since March 2020, many have not been able to reopen at all.

For SME’s their hopes for Freedom Day are at risk of turning to fears as reported in Business Leader A new poll from small business insurance provider, Simply Business, reveals the mixed feelings Freedom Day is creating for SMEs and the self-employed. Over half (53%) of those polled believe social distancing restrictions are being lifted too soon and we risk another lockdown. The concern is so great that almost 1 in 3 (30%) small business owners will retain social distancing and reduced capacity within their businesses.

Lifting Covid restrictions also poses a tricky dilemma for bosses with many staff uneasy about returning to work and many businesses finding themselves continuing to agree to flexible working hours.

Investors also seem nervous with their confidence in the UK reported to have dropped by 5% in July. Worries are mounting about what the lifting of social distancing rules will mean for our economic recovery, particularly as many industries are reporting high levels of absence as staff get pinged by the test and trace app.The need to self isolate remains in place but will come to an end on 16 August for those who are under-18 or who have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks before but it is a real worry for businesses with many factories already concerned that they will need to shut causing an impact to both food production and manufacturing in the UK.

Schools have been advised that bubbles can come to an end, ironically this comes at the end of a school year that has seen parents juggling going to work, working from home and childcare and an almost constant request to self isolate as schools strive to keep their pupils safe. It has been undeniably tough for parents and teachers and of course, our NHS is never far from our minds as they battle on the frontline in a very modern day war.

On a personal level so many of us look forward to a break from work and a holiday, the uncertainty around travel abroad has brought both complexity, uncertainty and disappointment. The Summer Staycation looks likely to be a boom for our seaside resorts in particular and there are many articles to help you decide where to explore, including this one in GoodHouseKeeping who advise that “A far-flung adventure might feel like the ultimate wishlist trip but, if you know where to go, a UK staycation can offer just as much beauty, adventure and luxury” The Pocket Rocket Team look after a number of Home & Garden clients so they chose number 17, Barnsley House in the Cotswolds - stylish interiors, good food and famous grounds, devised by gardening legend Rosemary Verey, who lived here from 1951 until her death in 2001.

Life seems so unpredictable, so uncertain and so complex, many of us are so exhausted by the pandemic and there has been huge uptake in prioritising our own wellbeing. One of our clients launched her business WorryTree after being diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and being referred for a series of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions. Louise says “I found plenty of apps that would help me schedule 'worry time' for later on, but nothing that quite fit the bill in terms of recording and problem solving worries there and then so I built one and WorryTree was born” Working with clients like Louise has certainly helped us keep perspective during the pandemic and reminded us that whilst the world might seem crazy right now, there are some great things happening if we look to support each other and look after ourselves.

Many of us seem to be taking the approach that it is for us to decide what we do. There is guidance but it's just that, ultimately if we don’t feel comfortable we shouldn’t feel we have to do something. What’s important is to keep moving forward at whatever pace works for you as an individual or in business.

Our clients are great at sharing their ideas and thoughts with us and despite a tough year we have seen growth for both them and us. So many responded by getting their business more online and we have enjoyed helping them. If you’re interested to find out more about how we can help you get in touch and book a discovery call today.