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?

[Teawaster]

I realised that I missed very little and very few. I realise that if my children didn't live with me I would miss them.
I didn't miss colleagues, friends or extended family . Although I'm thrilled for lots of obvious reasons that lockdown is lifting , I'm not looking forward at all to things going back to normal

[Zeusthemoose]

I really haven't missed seeing friends at all and I've enjoyed not feeling any pressure to be social. I've kept in occasional contact but haven't joined on Zoom etc. Tbh I'm slightly perturbed by how much I haven't missed seeing them but I've always but pressure on myself to be seen to be more social. I just don't seem to care anymore. Not sure that's s good thing.
Also I'm incredibly lazy. I always knew this but there's been no chance hiding it from DH in lockdown

[letmethinkaboutitfornow]

That I have more friends I thought I had
And there are people who actually care about me - it genuinely came as a surprise 😂

[Thisisworsethananticpated]

That weight loss IS also about exercise
That I really really love my kids
That I love being a single parent
That I can effectively WFH
That I really work in a quite toxic workplace
That I need a dishwasher

[Ireolu]

That I am quite antisocial and fine with that.

[areyoubeingserviced]

-I love my own company

• realised that I have been exhausted for so long

[SisterAgatha]

That I need people far less than I thought I did. And that I am actually far more introverted than I realised. I don’t miss anyone particularly and I have been invited to zoom parties but they make me cringe. People have asked to meet up and I’ve avoided them and the lockdown was a convenient excuse. I honestly feel free of social commitments and that I don’t have to find a way to avoid them, which I don’t think I even realised I was doing before. So I’ve just read books and painted and done lots of crafts and I’ve not felt lonely once.

Also, that i am quite lazy. I don’t lack the time, I lack the inclination.

[CoRhona]

That I really enjoy being with three teenagers who have to stay in most of the time. Which really did surprise me

[SuperMumTum]

That although they drive me mad, being a single parent to my kids is the best thing in the world. I get them all to myself which I love. We are a solid team and have had some amazing times during lockdown (and some not so amazing too but we're still a team).
That we don't need to race about going to clubs, activities and playdates and we can keep ourselves going.
That I'm no teacher.
I'm incredibly grateful to have a job that I enjoy, that is purposeful and useful and that pays enough for me to work flexibly and pt.
That I don't need to socialise at all to be happy. That I don't need alcohol. That I definitely never want to live with a partner again.
That my natural state is very fat and I need to work hard to sort my health out.
That I'm very worried about the health of one of my close family members but I can't do anything about it. Which is not a nice feeling.

[CostaCosta]

That I am a loner! I've had a wonderful time with dh and 2 ds but I keep seeing on fbook about people meeting up with friends for social-distanced reunions and feel a bit sad that no one will be wanting to meet with me.

[AnnaNimmity]

That I love being with my children who are amazing human beings
That I love my house (now I've decorated)
That I'm shallow and I miss restaurants, bars, shops
That I miss my friends
That I'm a bit rubbish at doing nothing
That I prefer being single. (although I miss sex).
That I'm strong and resilient and quite amazing

[GalactiCat]

That I worked far to much .
After being furloughed I'm going back on reduced hours and it suits me just fine.

[Splodge1506]

Caplin I'm so sorry, that sounds incredibly hard. 💐

[wherestheotherone]

That my DM and DMIL drain the life out of us. That I like a quiet life, I need silence and time alone. Our biggest stresses are the time dh is away from home and fitting in the needs of our parents. We had no time as a couple and we've loved being at home together albeit working full time, schooling kids etc.

[Splodge1506]

Just how much I only really want to see my (adult) children and my cats 😼😼 and wouldn't mind if there was no socialising at all ever again!

Of course I couldn't wish lockdown (still less the pandemic) on the country again, but in so many ways, purely from a personal point of view, I've absolutely loved this time. So much peace, no obligations to meet people. I've been working throughout,but my job has been quieter and I've been physically on my own at work. I really am an incurable introvert it seems.

[NellePorter]

That I really needed more sleep.
That I'm way behind the times with technology.
That, although I have friends, I am not as important to them as they are to me. I always initiate contact, and no-one wants to meet up. Unfortunately I think the same is happening for my DC. I have spent a lot of time wondering what to do differently.
That I do not enjoy working from home, and I miss the social aspect of working on a large campus.

[aquashiv]

I always knew that I'm an introvert in an extroverts body. Though the tiredness and insomnia has gone I am so much more relaxed and happy. I like gardening pottering and staring into space.

[hammeringinmyhead]

That I always thought I'd be unhappy as a SAHM to a toddler and I was absolutely correct. I feel awful, because DS has had a lovely time, but man do I need those 2 or 3 days in the office.

DS goes back to nursery next week so I can continue the job hunt in earnest.

Also, I learned I don't miss specific people but I do miss generally being around others in cafés, in shops, in the park. It's been so reassuring seeing our town start to come alive again.

[ToBBQorNotToBBQ]

Gardening even

[ToBBQorNotToBBQ]

I've realised I'm quite good at garden. My forest is now a pretty garden.

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

@Caplin

Turns out I’m pretty resilient. I guess I knew it, but didn’t realise just how strong.

Got furloughed from a job that was killing my mental health, told I would probably be restrucured, found another (better) job, negotiated a quick exit and payment, started new job.

Then on day 1 of new job my dad called as my brother wouldn’t wake up, had to do CPR along with my sister, three days later he died in ICU. I had to organise his funeral in lockdown and become primary carer to my disabled dad, arranging his care package and supporting my mum (not married to my dad).

I am the person in my family who does the sensible stuff, the legal stuff, the organising. I guess in a way I am now the ‘head’ of the family in a way.

It has been tumultuous, but I’m more than surviving. Turns out I’m stronger than I imagined.

I'm so sorry. I hope life improves for you and your family. This sounds an incredibly tough year.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

That I really miss being able to do what I want, when I want, even if that’s just nipping into Tesco without having to fanny about with a mask and hand gel.

That my natural day is getting up at 8.30, going to bed about 1am - usually I get up at 6.30 for work but am now working at the kitchen table.

That if I am to do this much longer, I need a proper office chair and not a kitchen table chair.

That DP and I are very well suited - things are difficult in that he was made redundant before the pandemic, so money is tight, but we are making each other laugh every single day.

That I really, really want my hair cut. I usually go every five weeks and feel so unkempt. I’m in Scotland and thus far there is no privy signal date for re-opening.

[Time40]

That I really wouldn't mind if I didn't see anyone (apart from my DP) for about the next three years.

[UnicornRainbow83]

I hate facetime!

[HateIsNotGood]

Immigrant - my people