Has anyone managed to be extra productive/achieve during the lockdown period?

[howow]

Thought it would be nice to have a positive thread about lockdown :)
My achievements are:

1. Getting a bit more familiar with longer (e.g. 16 mile) driving journeys whilst the roads are clearer (I'm a new-ish driver so lower traffic is easing my worries a bit) (p.s I'm not actually "going" anywhere - merely planning out routes and driving back without getting out anywhere.

2. Finished the couch to 5k 9-week running program this week (started it in January so pre-lockdown).

3. I'm kinda considering trying to remedy some of my skin issues (potentially trying out newer ways that advise not going out in the sun for a few days after - but as salons and dermatalogists etc are closed, not sure how far I'll get with that one (using just the internet).

What about you?

My house has never been cleaner, and after this may never be as clean again so I'm enjoying it. I've been redecorating and I'm so glad I have time to do it, I stocked up on paint just before lockdown. I've been gardening, planting up all my summer pots, and DH and I have been getting various DIY bits done that have been annoying us for months. I've also been cooking from scratch most days, it's so nice to have the time for once.

I have knitted 4 rows of a scarf and done about 1/50th of a jigsaw puzzle.

I have also been working and trying to home school two children.

I have baked some new things and also cooked some new recipes which I am pleased about.

We are all managing pretty well too so I’m pleased with that and lot putting any pressure on myself to achieve anything beyond that.

Oh I’m studying too! And am up to date with my course work and attendance.

I brought a tiny human into the world!

Congratulations @Whatelsecouldibecalled!

My house had never been cleaner or more organised.. and I've caught up on some stitching projects.. I have been baking... and gained quite a few pounds so I need to sort that out 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sorry I only just read the responses on this thread - all sounds great :) More replies welcome now we're deeper into lockdown!

I knit a lovely cover for one of the cushions on our sofa and I’m starting on another! I’ve also started reading books more in the evening. I fixed the broken arm on my beloved rocking chair and I’ve been baking with the DC each weekend.

But here’s the weird thing- I’m a HCW and still working the same hours as before. Plus I now do an hour or so of homeschool with 6 yo DD1 each day. I have no idea where all this cosy home-makeriness has come from. Maybe it’s a comfort blanket for me.

Mind you I’ve stolen the time for all this Women’s Instituting from actual housework time. The carpets are on the brink of walking away in disgust if I don’t vacuum them soon and I’m bribing my 3 year old to empty the dishwasher. Risky game.

I bet that the naysayers on this thread have done loads more than they think. When lockdown started, I started keeping a list of everything I was doing each week* and when I look back now it's surprising how much I've done that I probably wouldn't have remembered if someone had just asked me!

*Started for work as I was worried that I might need to 'prove' I'd been working hard but I also listed personal stuff like exercise, recipes I'd tried and little jobs I'd done around the house etc.

I've been working full time, with my just turned 6 year old, threw a successful lockdown birthday for her!

When time has allowed I've sewn scrub caps and uniform bags for my local hospital, have made masks for friends and family and have started growing veg in a multitude of pots in the back garden.

I’ve redecorated the hallway and currently ripping the kitchen out!

I have cleaned my house thoroughly, cleared out lots of cupboards, started to learn Portuguese, worked on the rota at school and completed more than full time hours of CPD to justify being paid when not on the rota and gained weight. New diet starts again tomorrow.

@Zaphodsotherhead I have struggled to write 10,000 words of my novel during lockdown - every one of them has been a battle! My writing rate has slowed down to a trickle. It isn’t due to my publisher until February but I had intended to have it to my agent before the summer. Lockdown has left me mentally drained and feeling like I’ll never be able to summon up my creativity again. I wish I could borrow some of your drive!

Despite having gynae troubles so bad the doc's had to come out twice with pain relief, I've redecorated the flat and repainted and replanted the balcony garden.

I like codeine now.

And my house is far messier and dirtier than it was before lockdown. This thread is not the thread for me - I feel like such a failure reading all these posts!

Yes we've been super productive, but then we don't have kids which helps.
We've redecorated a bedroom, we've built a ladder garden planter from scratch, we've built 3 bookcases, pressure cleaned the patio, lots of lovely BBQs, books read, walks enjoyed, new recipes experimented and favourites discovered, reupholstered some furniture, gardening, refurbished a thrown away piece of garden furniture, painted and mended our fence, befriended our neighbours.

I have:

• Started cooking us all a proper meal daily (DH was doing this pre-lockdown: he started when I had HG in pregnancy and never stopped. I lost confidence in my abilities as a result 😂)
• Run 125k in April, and 100k in May so far- from a baseline of maybe 10k a month before lockdown.
• Learned how to do my own waxing and tint my own eyebrows.
• Tried our some new hair stuff I’ve been meaning to give a go.

@CaptainBrickbeard my house is also messier and dirtier- I think it’s the nature of this situation, more people in the house for longer, more cooking being done, etc. You’re not a failure!

I have:

Shaved a bald patch into the back of DS8's head.
Fallen in a river trying to rescue Ddog (who fell in the river).
Made a decent dent in the wine backlog.
Still not watched The Irishman.

@patchworkelmer - 125k is crazy..! Are you running every other day to achieve that or really lengthy runs once in a while? Have you lost weight from it? Or seen any other benefits?

I can just about run 5.5k 3 times a week

Yes

I've watched a decades worth of tv and I'm
properly rested and very relaxed

@CaptainBrickbeard

Having wi fi that only works sporadically has been a great help. No noodling about on the internet when I'm supposed to be writing!

Started a new novel now. 20,000 words in so far...

@howow I haven’t weighed myself to be honest! Will do so over the next few days. I don’t think I’ve changed dramatically in shape as I was doing lots of other exercise before lockdown (just not running). However, I do think that my legs are more toned, and my stomach also feels slimmer for some reason. The other benefit is definitely for my mental health- I’ve always used exercise as a bit of a mental crutch, was worried when lockdown kicked in about how I would replace what I was doing, and am so relieved to have sorted something out as an alternative. It’s also really satisfying to see the miles racking up.

I’m running every other day, and using the rest days between to do pilates and weights to hopefully protect against injury 😬😬 Hopefully I’m getting the balance right.

Doing 5.5k 3 times a week sounds quite challenging to me!

I’ve made it through two of those big tubs of moisturiser that come in gift sets!

Started and halfway through c25k.

Garden looks good.

I was productive in the Easter holidays and did s big clean but house is a heap now. Too busy with work etc sadly.

Half term coming, I have a week to blitz it again....