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.

Yes absolutely loving it. Though I am eating about 4000 calories a day! If It goes on long enough I think it will change the way we live. Happy silver lining to all x

I'm a massive advocate for slow living and I often feel misplaced in this wildly immediate world. I'm relishing this time at home with my family because I'm lucky enough to be able to enjoy it. We have income worries but nothing that would mean we are entirely destitute for the coming months, enough food to last for a fortnight (at a stretch), and all of our essentials.

I know we are very privileged right now and I feel thankful every day.

Meant to say, that’s not to underplay the horrid bits and tremendous sacrifice people are making. It’s just to say that I’m enjoying the simplicity which I’m privileged to be able to have whilst on mat leave (otherwise I would be working in the NHS)

babdoc that sounds really awful, hope you feel better soon

No...

On social media there's an element of treating it like the period between Xmas and New Year – jokes about not getting out of PJs, standing in front of the fridge snacking etc – but I'm freelance and I'm crazily busy at the moment, while simultaneously terrified of the work drying up, which I think it probably will. It's stressful on both counts. Plus my DP's work HAS all dried up, so I'm sole earner.

I get a bit tired of seeing all the lists of recommended podcasts/telly series/books etc catering for those who are at home with nothing to do when I'm at home with too much to do AND the prospect of no work and money in the near future!

I finished work on friday and now WFH so maybe I can't comment too much but I am really enjoying it so far.
I am a single parent with a busy job, I am used to getting up at 5am and rushing around and being stressed all the time. And at the moment I have not been getting up until 7/8 and being able to do loads of work in the time it usually takes me to get ready and drive to work.
I am often worried about money and how I will pay the bills being a single parent so that side doesn't worry me as much as maybe some people who aren't used to that.
I do often envy the French and their slow-paced lives and I am hoping after this we as a country slow down a bit more - we don't need shops open 24 hours, sundays etc. Or use the car as much. Or pay for expensive days out.

I'd love it more if I was financially comfortable. We're skint anyway so the idea of the schools not going back potentially for 6 months, and therefore not getting any work for at least that, is really stressful.

NutFree.

What slower pace of life? I'm spending the morning home educating a clingy 7 year old and the afternoon and evening working from home. If I can't pull it off and the company contracts (highly likely, we were already shaky before this) I'm the team member performing worst in this new normal scenario and the logical one to go. 'D'P has a different excuse every day to fuck off somewhere and claim it's essential and unavoidable. I'm less than a week in and I'm exhausted.

I would love it if I weren't trapped at home alone with a three year old all the time as her sole carer. (Though it's nice to spend more time with her).

It's not massively different to my normal life tbh, except with harder-to-get shopping slots I work from home, DH works from home most of the time, we have toddler DD who I still look after during the day. I work evenings usually anyway once she's in bed so it's not changed my work schedule at all. We're using the garden a lot more as opposed to going out places but she's little enough that where we go doesn't really matter, it's just about getting some fresh air, and she's quite happy playing in her sandpit or her water table.

We're very fortunate though in that our income is unaffected, we have plenty of food and good local shops who are now delivering fresh baked goods, eggs, milk, etc. and a big enough house that we aren't on top of each other. And also we are both introverts and don't tend to be out that much, certainly not in the evenings. I can imagine that in different circumstances this would be hell and I really sympathise with anyone who is having to try to juggle work and childcare at the same time (I couldn't work with my DD awake to any great deal, so that's why I wait till she's asleep because I'm self-employed and can choose when I work. If I had to work during the day it would be a shitshow) or who is stuck in a tiny house with not much money and is stressing about food and income. Some people are really having a shit time just now and I'm just very grateful we are OK so far.

My day to day hasn't changed much - I'm not meeting anyone for coffee but I'm out for the usual dog walk. I'm doing my PT and exercise classes online. I work from home anyway.
But I've now got two teenagers in the house full time and the amount of food they go through and dishes! I thought I had enough for a good week but I'm about to go to the shop after five days. Milk gone, bread gone, the cheese for lasagna tonight used for a cheese omelette at midnight...

Yes Ive been enjoying the time at home, having DH wfh has been really nice, no rushing about. DC's are having fun in the garden in between home learning!

No. I hate it. I'm really social and love doing things out and about, I hate staying home for too long. I love DS but having no opportunity for other adult company (single parent) is really getting me down. I'm not working now either and I'm bored to tears. Plus we live in a flat so can't even sit out and enjoy the sunshine.

Nope, I work from home normally, but now because of the demand on our infrastructure I'm having to fit in scraps of work when I can get connected, so my work life balance has gone out the window. No work = no pay.

Meal planning is then taking up a load more headspace as can't just pop to the supermarket. I did drive there today, but turned straight round after seeing the queue.

I have an old injury as a result of a car accident that is normally kept in check by exercise which is reappearing and soon I won't be able to sleep at night because of the pain.

I am loving it!! Kids seem far happier and settled. Out playing in the garden for nearly the whole day, I'm receiving handwritten letters in the post from friends, daughter has been facetiming grandparents at bedtime and reading to them. It all just feels much easier and more focus on the things that matter.

Nope, I can't wait to get back to working in my actual workplace

It kind of reminds me of the 1970's, and I do think people were happier without all the rushing about to various activities.

I feel quite mixed about it. I’m loving the weather and having my older kids back home. However the whirlwind they create around my kitchen and lack of food I now have isnt fun.
Not loving the IT issues involved in me trying to continuing my work, along with the news DH is taking a 40% pay cut as from Friday for 3 months.
Love seeing Ddog playing with kids and having somebody different to walk her.
Still leaves me feeling I’m happy to do it and realise I am actually very fortunate.

I'm not loving it but the pace of life is a bit slower. I hope we all learn from this going forward and realise that human life is more important that gadgets and materialism. I've been cooking more nutritious meals and being creative. Just being grateful for each day as it comes and glad that I'm still alive.

Love it but slightly worried about next week when the boredom has set in and the weather may not be as nice. My dog has been happy having company all day!

It almost feels like we are suspended in time.

Yes I'm enjoying the slower pace for sure. I really hope that when this is all over, we don't all morph back into our crazy whirlwind lives.

This is a pace I can handle without day to day stress. I'm enjoying being off the hamster wheel for now.

The stresses caused by Covid is of course an entirely different thing...

I’m loving it. We’ve turned the third bedroom into an office with two desks. My work posted me an extra screen so I have that and a work laptop plus my SAD lamp
So i’m all set up. It’s a 5 second commute from bed to the office and a 15 second commute from the office to the living room. Watched Corrie and chilled out over lunchtime which was awesome. Might go and sit on the garden swingseat in a bit. We’re in a detached property so no neighbours, ideal!

Slower? Not noticed that so far...