In this fifth instalment of our mid-week coronavirus specials, we are joined by Irish Times columnist Jennifer O'Connell.

Jennifer speaks about the unsettling side to the new Ireland that we have been seeing in recent weeks and, in light of the financial strain that everyone is experiencing, Jennifer also gives some great advice on controlling the controllable.

There's also a fascinating discussion on something a lot of us are struggling with. Jennifer has been involved in researching why a good nights sleep is just as important as washing your hands right now during the pandemic. Her refreshingly positive thoughts on surrendering to the simplicity of our lives at the minute and the insight she gives into how her young family are overcoming the challenges of home-schooling make this a must listen. 

To hear Jennifer's thoughts on the longer-term psychological effects of the pandemic on our children, become a patron of An Irishman Abroad for just the price of a pint on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad. You will also gain access to the entire back-catalogue of almost 250 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes. 

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Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation. For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on [email protected]. Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.