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 don't think I've been this tired since DS was born 7 years ago. Trying to work full time in a job that is twice as busy as normal because our company has switched from normal business to working to support businesses/charities due to the crisis so constantly on calls as we all try to wing it with new processes, legalities and customers.

Plus feeling shit because the calls are all video calls so I'm sitting in a different room to avoid noise and DS is left on his own so ends up watching tv.

Plus constantly stressed about shopping as DS has food allergies and there's no plant-based milk left on the shelves even though the majority of the bastards buying it could just buy fresh dairy...and no bread that he can eat either.

I'm hating it and we have both become more miserable and teary as the week has gone on. DH still going out to his work so can't help until he gets home just before bedtime.

I am on mat leave - before covid it was awful, me alone while DH travelled around the country for work. Now all three of us have gotten a chance to bond better as a family. It has definitely made me re-evaluate what is important.

@babdoc sorry to hear you're ill. Please check out the 'My lungs are on fire' threads. There are a lot of us in the same boat.

I'm torn. I don't miss the morning rush, the school run or my work (self employed within schools so not needed now) but am surprised at how busy I am trying to keep 3 children on task with their school work. Both schools have set lots of stuff to do at home which is taking the entire school day. Am having to do everything with the youngest (6) so actually falling behind on stuff I need to do round the house and admin for my job. But we are all exercising together in the morning and on the whole are less stressed as all the evening commitments and my home tuition are gone.

Thanks, Kayaking. I saw that thread. And yes, the “lungs on fire” is a good description- mine feel like Ive poured battery acid down there. And i have that weird metallic chemical taste too, that a lot of posters have described on that thread.
I an trying not to panic - the vast majority of patients will survive this, even in my age group (sixties) it’s 96.4%. Ive contacted my old hospital - I’m a retired anaesthetist - and offered my services for when I’m recovered. I’m hoping I will develop immunity so that I can be useful without risking needing a bed myself.
It’s just hard when living alone, not to feel scared at 3am with tight lungs, wondering how bad one needs to get to justify a call out!
Prayers and best wishes to everyone else going through this.

Yes! I really hope the rush, rush, rush doesn't reappear! Obviously I want people to be able to work and go about their normal daily lives but it's made me realise how much rushing around I do for no reason! How many pointless meetings I sit in for no reason!

Yes

No alarm in the morning
So many quiet places to walk nearby
No commute
Chance to do DIY
Many many more

Yes. This time with my kids are precious and priceless.

@newbingepisodes yes I am now constantly trying to think of ways to enable us to continue living the way we are!! But staying home with two full wages coming in for is not realistic unfortunately

I am 100% on board with this life, provided the weather holds out. If it doesn't, then count me out. Lovely sunshine, crisp mornings, and hot coffee are a treat to live. It's almost a contradiction that the such a great upheaval is being marked (at least in London) by such absolutely splendid weather.

If it turns to shit and starts raining then Corona life can bog off. Also I'm out of quarantine soon and back to keyworker work so it won't be two of us at home wrangling children, it will be a 1 man turn and turn about sort of job, with 2 children, which will suck absolute donkey nuts.

No, not really. I feel quite bored and aimless. I can’t work, I’ve been furloughed. Don’t know if I will have a job to go back to. DD is happy and enjoying doing school work at home etc. But each day already feels like Groundhog Day has its only day 4.

I am finding much less stressful. We have found a rhythm quite easily and are really benefiting from not having to be up and out the house. We do the Joe Wickes workout, followed by some school work. We take a break, do some more school work, then have lunch. Afternoons have been a mix of crafts, board games, gardening, playing, baking and generally doing as we please. The kids then have Tv, while I get dinner, and DH and I sit down for the evening much earlier than normal (he has a long commute otherwise).

I felt a bit bad about feeling personally ok at the moment! My parents are quite close but sensibly locked down about 3 weeks ago, one 12 yr old DD at home, who is quite a self starter. DH is an NHS manager so busy but not as at risk as some and we are not under eachothers feet 24 hrs a day. I already work from home and it's quite seasonal so its quiet but my job isn't at risk.
We are in a very rural area so can walk miles from home without seeing another soul.

We've had a rough few years when DH was seriously ill but his health is good. It affected us catastrophically financially but we are slowly recovering and for once, it feels like a change to be not the worst off.

So far, we've all been well but am very mindful of the challenges and loss that others face.

I'm also enjoying the fact that I am not allowed to go out in the evenings!

No, hating it. Working 40+ hours a week (NHS support), trying to help 2 DC keep up with school work while juggling online meetings. Weather is cold, wet and foggy (in Scotland) and missing my social life. End result = too much wine because I’m so stressed!

No clubs is a big one.

No rushing home from work to get the kids before their after-school club closes.

DP is home in time for dinner every day.

I’m working in my pyjamas

Things aren't slower here. I now not only have to work full time (albeit from home), but I also have three primary school children at home too, needing entertaining and watching. I'm run ragged, having to catch up on work in the evenings, my house is mess, and I'm eating crap because by the time I get to eat I'm shattered.
Id bloody love to be able to relax a bit, read, decorate, watch TV, do yoga, garden ,etc.

I said to many of my friends that it wouldn’t bother me to be at home and not go out for 2 weeks. In the depths of winter in a typical weekend when not much is on I get home late on Friday because I’ve been at a bell ringing practice. I’d see my girlfriend on Saturday afternoon, go food shopping and a bit of brief ding-donging on Sunday morning (I don’t attend the service). However, if I’ve got enough food in, I excuse myself from Sunday ringing and my girlfriend is away I’m just at home alone. If I’m not doing any gardening I could quite happily not leave the house until work on Monday. People who can’t cope are really saying they can’t stand 2 things they’ve chosen/have control over-their family and their home.

I was just thinking how much nicer it is. I've not changed my life too much as I work from home anyway, but it's lovely having my daughter home. We can play with the dogs in the garden, we've been for a walk every day. I still get my work done (although it's a lot quieter at the moment) I'm helping her with her work. But I just don't feel the need to go out and spend money, I love not having to see anyone and I've seen more families walking around the village and dogs I didn't know exist. I think it's lovely. Although I think the sunshine has a lot to do with it.

No - more stressful. At least at work I can concentrate on the job. Here it's two of us both trying to work busy jobs from home whilst also home schooling. No time for reading, music, cooking etc!

Mixed bag! I’ve been enjoying the extra time with DD and my partner but I’m stressed from worrying about family members and juggling my masters (research project up shit creek, placement cancelled, etc.)

Oh yes, plus I can't do my usual exercise out walking or running - ALL local parks and forest parks are closed here!

I think having a garden would help too, we’re in a flat with a small concrete yard.

Another introvert here loving many aspects but trying to work full time from home and the kids around 24/7 is frazzling my brain. I’m craving silence

I think the fact there is a global pandemic is probably not putting me into much of a relaxed holiday spirit tbh