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?

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

That I still hate myself. I think I fooled myself into believing therapy had worked but it was more wishful thinking and the ability to keep busy 100 percent of the time instead. Take away the busy and I'm right back where I was with the constant litany of stupid/worthless playing in my head.

[31133004Taff]

I will eventually get things done so don’t need to get stressed about chores.

Watching large amounts of tv is OK. I haven’t exploded yet.

I can stay in the house for a couple of days without seeing or speaking to anyone and I haven’t disappeared into a puff of smoke.

I may lose my house due to Covid so my most important task everyday is to appreciate what I have now.

[tunnocksreturns2019]

That the person I asked to be in a bubble with and who said yes straight away has gradually become my best friend without me realising it Our two families get on so well and the last week has possibly saved me

[Hublott]

That it doesn’t matter how much I thought I missed my children when working, the reality was I had missed them much much more. They are only small at 2&4 and I loved spending all my time with them. I went back to work 3 days in the office and two days WFH and on those 3 days I could hear my heart breaking all day. I loved every single day I spent with them during lockdown.

[Margotshypotheticaldog]

Like others, that I am an incredibly antisocial introvert.
That I was waaay more stressed out than I realised.
That I am not afraid of death.
The last one was surprising.....

[Home42]

Lockdown has made me realise I hate lockdown and I want my fucking life back! I miss it. I’m miserable and I want to go eat chips at the seaside on the weekend (in Wales so still on lockdown)

[sawyersfishbiscuits]

That I'm definitely not a social butterfly!

We don't miss socialising. We do miss family, although DH doesn't see his family much anyway so that part hasn't changed at all.

I've learned how differently my kids learn.

I've learned that I can put up with DH being around an awful lot and I still quite like him.

I've learned that I'm very very lucky. Lockdown has treated some of my friends and family so badly and we have been enormously lucky to just keep chugging along. At least so far. I'm very grateful.

[Immigrantsong]

That I love wearing pyjamas 24/7.
That I only put make up and do my hair for others, as when wfm I haven't bothered.
That i hate zoom/video calls ti the point that i refuse to do them and only join via call, not video.
That I have zero friends. Fuck them all.
That I love TV and can watch it all day. Amazon and Netflix rock.
That I felt happy knowing I didn't have to miss out of anything because of lockdown.

[hedwigismyowl]

That the nhs really doesn't give a shit about the staff that work in it.
That I don't want to work for an organisation that expects it staff to put their lives on the line for others.

I thought I loved my job and the NHS and would stay working for the nhs until retirement. Now, I realise I value my life and family much more and am taking steps to find a job outside healthcare, despite working in the nhs for over 20 years.

[BrunoMars]

I struggle to be in 'work mode' for 8 hours at home - even now the kids are in school I can find a million other things I could be doing & my focus is crap. But I am loving being able to walk my youngest to school and back, something I have rarely had the luxury of doing and I do not miss the stress of getting up & out of the door of a morning for breakfast club and traffic jams.
I miss the pub, parkrun, football & my friends - mooching round town on a Sunday afternoon. Going to gigs and planning holidays.
The slower pace has been nice but I am bored of it now

[bluerad]

That I miss the children at my school and don't want to retire in the summer as planned.

[Limeavocado]

Echoing many others here:

That despite everyone thinking I'm gregarious I'm actually a massive introvert who finds socialising a bit of an effort.

That I never have to worry about FOMO again because I know where I'm happiest (linked to the above).

That I love early mornings - waking and getting up at 6 means I can have a headstart on my work and feel less stressed about being distracted by the kids and DH later on. Resisting the snooze button is hard though...

That daily exercise is essential for my mental wellbeing, even if it's just an hours relaxed walk.

That I love DCs and DHs company over and above anyone else's.

That small gatherings with a friend or two make for a richer experience and I'll never feel the need to gather a group together again for a 'special' evening to feel like a 'success'.

That I have much to be thankful for, and that I must always remember that when I'm feeling tired/stressed etc.

[notacooldad]

Me and DS1 had drifted but we've come close again.
I've had loads of phone calls, face time and mire recently meet ups with him and his girlfriend than ever before and we are enjoying each others company again. Weve been on some big walks (15mile+ mountain days) like we used to when he was in his teens. It's been nice reconnecting.

[HateIsNotGood]

Immigrant - my people

[UnicornRainbow83]

I hate facetime!

[Time40]

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

[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.

[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.

[ToBBQorNotToBBQ]

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

[ToBBQorNotToBBQ]

Gardening even

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.