Is anyone else loving this slower pace of life?

[JMAngel1]

Just that really - silver linings anyone?
No commute, no racing around.
Easy structure to homeschooling is going well - kids are happy which is all I'm aiming for and feel like I'm teaching them good life skills too - housekeeping, baking etc
Decluttering is very cathartic for me and yesterday we made banana bread - I never get time to bake usually.
Lots of reading together and board games.
Trying to stay calm and take each day at a time.
Beautiful sunshine for our one walk a day.

I’m having a great time! Gave my last lecture yesterday and am starting my annual leave today. Over the past 2 weeks I have painted my kitchen and bathroom, sorted the garden, studied a new language, played my piano that has been untouched for 6 years, baked cakes and bread, had time to work out. Honestly thinking of binning off work and being a stay at home mum.

Apart from the mess and noise of everyone being in the house all the time Im loving the lack of visitors (our doorbell usually never stops) and no pressure to have the house visitor ready. No rushing about, no social meetings....I think the novelty might wear off once cabin fever sets in though!

In some ways. Financially it's a disaster, it has meant cancellation of some very important family events and has prevented a proper celebration of two big birthdays.
On the other hand, I am enjoying the peace and quiet, being able to get into my garden and look at the seasonal changes. I am working from home but am able to manage my own workload and am less stressed from that point of view.
Sometimes it's good but other times it's hard, I was over emotional this morning and had a little cry about how hard it is for some people known to me.

I'm loving it. I'm not rushing around gym, housework, extra curricular activities. I'm a frontline worker but it's so nice to spend time with my DCs just chilling and not shouting and rushing around.

No. I hate it. I feel trapped, I don’t enjoy WFH, I miss my old life, all my activities, stimulation and freedom. If I had wanted a slower life I would have lead one. I feel sorry for DD as she is missing out on the best bits of year 6.

Yes. So glad not to be rushing all the time. My 4 year old DDs behaviour is so much better than usual. We are all much more relaxed.
I think it helps that me and both my DDs are happy in our own company.

I’m sure people that are really social and extroverted are finding it more difficult.

More time to cook nice recipes, less laundry to do, reading books that I never had time for before.

I’m working 3 days per week in a care home now and I love my job. I’ll earn just enough money to pay the bills and a bit left over. So although it is a terrible situation, personally we are finding it ok for now.,

I’m enjoying mornings, I have to admit. Normally I’m rushing to get ready and in to the office as fast as possible. Now I get up at the same time, do an hour’s exercise, have a relaxed breakfast and then start work. It’s lovely and I’m going to try and work out how to keep that routine going.
I do find that my mood goes downhill through the day though, as “peaceful” slides into “cooped up”.

No. I'm in a country that is far more locked down than the UK, I can't even go for a walk. I'm self employed and have had €150 of work in 2 weeks. So, no.

Yeah mind of as a massively introverted homebody - I like the WFH. I have a 2 year old who is really easy going. I'm "lucky" in that my parents live next door and we're all in the high risk group so not going out at all so we're mixing with each other freely. We took the fence down between our gardens so we have one large open space and this sunny weather is beautiful. They're looking after my tot 9-12 so I can do some work then, I'm getting up at 5 to work 5-8 when he wakes up and then working evenings to get my hours in which is tiring but the afternoons in the garden with my tot are lovely 😍. My house is a tip too but 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don't really care. It's cleaned properly but always ends up messy.

Yes in a strange way, I think I'm loving it but struggling to admit that to myself. I work from home anyway so no difference there. I work for a charity whose activities have been curtailed so no income for them means I may not get paid but oddly that's not bothering me atm. DH works long hours and has a long commute and is normally v tired an pd stressed and I've noticed how it's been beneficial for his mental health as he's now wfh and has more leisure time or time to just kick back a bit as obvs he can't go anywhere with this extra time. He is less moody and snappy.,

I've noticed also the normally v busy road at the end of our garden is quieter, less junk emails flooding in, life is just less busy and less demanding in some ways...though we've struggled to get food in as the shops in our town were ransacked as though locusts had spread through them. So swings and roundabouts really, so I've just spent 15 mins sorting the store cupboards to see what we had in and what I could conjure up for tonight's dinner. Yes the weather is better too, colder granted but Feb and early March was just rain and wind. Am very much enjoying wrapping up and going for my daily walk with DD2, coming back and planning the rest of my day without the worry of having appointments or needing to be somewhere at a particular time. Every cloud and all that.... but my heart goes out to anyone struggling with this virus or juggling wfm and caring for children or worried about where money will come from to pay the bills. I do realise how lucky I am to be in the position I'm in. DD1 is stuck in London and I am v worried About her though,

Sorry for those of you who are ill or struggling. I didn't intend for this thread to be anything other than glass is half full - no intention at all to minimise the severity of the situation.

No, I have a just turned 4 year old and an 18 month old and there is nothing ‘slow paced’ about keeping them occupied the whole day with nowhere to go outside the house (apart from the days themselves, they are very slooooow!) They are both normally at nursery 3 days a week while I work which I find is a perfect balance. Luckily I’ve just been out on furlough leave so not trying to fit those hours in too but 24/7 parenting to toddlers confined to the house is HARD!

Babdoc I wish you a speedy recovery

I'm loving it, it all feels very self indulgent though. A couple hours wfh, enough time to read, cook, bake and take the dog out for long lazy walks in the sun. Sitting down in the evening with a glass of red and a movie, not having to worry about getting up at 6 the next day.

I do miss seeing friends and extended family, but i certainly don't miss the 'rat race', if this goes on for months I don't know how i'm going to go back fo 14 hour days, and feeling constantly rushed off my feet.

No,not really,we have done 2 weeks self isolation, my teenagers and I ,I'm a lone parent. We have managed,some bits have been fine,we have had lots of meals together,watched movies ,I tidied lots of drawers.The kids have even studied at home.But its something to get through,I've had enough now. I really miss people,doing things. My job,my family and friends,adults !!

NO! Also ruining my maternity leave. I'm stuck at home with a toddler bouncing off the walls of a small flat and a newborn with a cold and not sleeping. My flat is an absolute mess and im failing at every educational attempt i try. I want to send my toddler to nursery to play with her friends and I want to enjoy some time with my baby! I want to sit in this sunshine with my friends drinking coffee and I want a night out drinking!!!

But if I didn't have kids.. Yes I'd be loving it!

We are enjoying it in a weird way. DH is terminally ill (although feeling quite well) & this is forcing us to spend time together without someone rushing around. I’m hoping that we are cementing some lovely memories together.
We have all of the worries around treatment for him etc & the kids do drive me mad sometimes but we are having lots of laughs.
Ask me again in a week when the weather isn’t as glorious & it may be a different answer .

I do actually!
Weather gets better spending loads of time gardening and catching up the on diy projects.
Kids are more relaxed and me too although I thought it'll be more stressful.🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes and no. I am loving not having to commute and very much enjoying having time to go for a run everyday. But working from home in a busy role and home schooling my daughter at the same time is tough. It's hard to do both effectively. If I had one or the other, it would be easier. We are all adapting. Pluses and minuses!

I'm torn.

On one hand I love not rushing both children to separate places (childminder and school) and then racing to work stressed... followed by rushing after work to get homework done, dinner, baths, etc

On the other hand this would work "in real life" if I had someone to help with the children whilst I'm working. I'm also really struggling to homeschool the eldest with work going on and caring for the toddler. It's too much to expect really.

But yes, I do like the lack of morning rush and slower pace

I like how quiet the streets are, especially with the sun out. I am sick of doing dishes though, the kids are bickering constantly, I'm eating out of boredom and I am being challenged everytime I try to approach school work.

I'm enjoying it. I'm a bit of an introvert, as is DP, so we're quite happy not to have to make excuses not to see people. The DC are loving having us both at home and we're lucky that DP's salary is safe so we don't have any financial worries. This could change but for the time being we are grateful not to have that burden. My house is a tip though. Swings and roundabouts.

I would be but I'm worried about losing my home, so no

I feel bad saying I’m enjoying it because I know so many people are having a horrible time... but it has made me seriously question what’s important, and it’s not foreign holidays, shopping, or saying yes to every invitation.

The parts I’m enjoying are reading, crafts, cooking and baking, planting veg, games we are making up, walks (away from other people), and not feeling under pressure.

I’m not enjoying not being able to see my dad, or DH’s mum though.