to ask what lockdown has helped you realise about yourself?

[justonemoresliceplease]

Lockdown has made me realise how much FOMO 'fear of missing out' really ruled over my life.

I'm on a much lower salary than most of my friends due to running my own business, and I would want to join them at expensive restaurants but turned down so many invitations. I always thought there was something better I could be doing each day, even if I was having a great day, it would be at the back of my head. I felt I should be socializing, playing a game of football with my nephews in the park, working from a coffee shop.

But now the world has paused I feel so much more control over my life and I think as everything picks up again I will have more awareness to not worry anymore about what I'm missing out on. What has lockdown made you realise about yourself?

Similar here. Am trying to get my head around everyone socialising again with family and me feeling like I'm the odd one out with no extended family. I enjoyed the first part of lockdown as there was no FOMO, as everyone was at home and missing out together!!

I've realised I'm a massive introvert who is very low maintenance and could live on fresh air if I had to.

I have had positive out of the situation. I realised how abusive my ex was. The distance has helped so much. We have a 3 year old who I still have to supervise visiting. So can't normally get away from him but as I'm shielding I've had a big break. Really helped . I also realised how lucky I am to have the most supportive parents . To top otips of it realised how much weight I gained and have lost 10ib and plan on losing a lot more.

Mainly that I have not one fear about catching a deadly virus. (Quite surprised)

That thank god I have a bullet proofjob (recession fears)

That after being a huge huggy/kissy person of EVERYONE that who knew I love the fact that everyone knows that you just don’t.

That I love my own company and just being at home with DH and DS even more than I thought I did. I've really enjoyed not having to force myself to be sociable.

That i am really anti social. More than I thought! My street has been rife with clapping/VE parties/singalongs and I haven't attended a single thing. And what's more, I don't care. This is really part of a bigger shift in me at age 44 to stop being a people pleaser though.

I've also realised that me and dh get on so much better when we're not as stressed at work. Wfh has been less stressful than normal working and dh has chilled out massively which has been a bit of a revelation. He's realised it too.

That I’m quite lazy. I had all these things I said I was too busy to do, turns out I just didn’t want to do them. I’m very happy pottering and have no desire to learn new skills/exercise more etc

Tbh it just confirmed what I already knew which is that I hate being stuck at home, I'm a sociable person and I love going out and about, visiting places and seeing people.

I also never wanted to be a SAHM and working part time suits me just fine, so I don't enjoy having DS at home full time (even though DH and I are sharing parenting duties). I appreciate time with him more when he also has time at nursery getting interaction with others, when I have the mental break of knowing that someone else is responsible for worrying about keeping him safe and occupied for a bit.

No surprises tbh, I knew it would be shit and it has been.

Those jobs I thought I hadn’t done because I didn’t have time? Turns out I just couldn’t be arsed.

That I enjoy my own company and that of my family. That without work stresses we get along well - domestic chores are shared equally as we aren’t time poor.

Oh yes those jobs that need doing can fuck off regardless of how much time I have.

I am still passionate about my DH, we’ve been together for 28 years and the last few have been stressful and we have drifted a little. We are both now semi retired and I was dreading the 24/7 but have been surprised how well we have coped. We had lots of plans this year for spending time together but will have to wait until DS is back at school and lockdown is over. Roll on September.

That I do far more for others than I should and when I need the support they dont care.
I hate zoom/video calls.
I'm more anti social than I thought.

That I hate our kitchen.
That we are really bad at tidying up.
That school is a blessing!
That I'm glad I'm with my DH and not many other women's DH who seem to have no idea what being an adult is.

That I really have very little self control over food. I used to fantasise three months on a desert island and I'd return all svelte - but unfortunately there's a Tesco here and I'm eating more than ever!

Its made me really appreciate my normal pre-lockdown life. I didn't realise how lucky I was! I just want it all back ASAP to be honest. If anything its made me more determined to get out & live life. I was joking today that I never want to spend another day sat at home as long as I live after this. Its also made me appreciate DH. I've really struggled in lockdown & he's been absolutely fab.
Also I always thought of myself as a bit of an introvert and I'm actually not, or not as much as I thought I was anyway. I even miss things which used to annoy me like crowds

I thought I was interested in clothes, shoes, jewellery, accessories - that whole personal style thing.

Turns out I don't GAF. It was all about others' perceptions of me. The real me wears a dressing gown 24/7.

That I am quite happy in my little bubble, and can live without and not miss most things from before lockdown

I've realised just how stressed my job was making me and now looking for a new one.

I've also realised how much I worry about what other people think of me a lot. Since I've been home most of the time, I'm happy to dress and look the way I want to.

I like being at home. I also like to be alone and I don't do too well if I don't get sometime to myself week to just sit on my own at home with no one else bothering me. Usually, I can have an hour to myself every day between dropping the kids off at school and going into work.

That I’m much more of an introvert than I thought.
That I like being alone.
That I’m incredibly lazy.
That I really don’t give a fig about my appearance.
That I don’t need much to be happy.

I really like going on holiday!

That I don't miss my sister and her total arse of a husband. I am determined to go very low contact forever now. That will piss them off, they love lording it over me and showing me their latest purchases.

It's made me a bit more aware of our mortality and fragility, which in its way has brought a bit of calm and acceptance of the good things that exist now, whatever they may be. I've also realised I'm not as madly sociable as I thought I was, and that I really enjoy meeting a friend just to go for a walk.

That tidying and cleaning is actually good for me. I've found myself doing it whenever I'm stressed or angry or worried (or all three) and it makes me feel a lot better. It's taken me 35 years to realise that! I'm still not sure that I actually ENJOY it, but it gives me a real sense of satisfaction and wellbeing when it's done.

That I like being in the office and I miss social contact more than I thought I would. However, less travel time means a better work life balance and I'll WFH more in the future combined with a couple of days in the building.

That my mental health is far more fragile than I thought.
That I need some type of routine and structure .
That I need casual social contact and chats with people
That I have really disliked the last four months and have found nothing pleasurable at all.
That I don’t need any more clothes.