to think some of us enjoyed lockdown because

[beatrixpotterspencil]

we realised there was more to life than social obligations and work?

for clarification, this isn't neccesarily how I see it, but I have been reading a discussion about it and wanted to hear what others thought. I'm on the fence, personally

less pollution, less commuting, bosses not hanging over your head, less exhaustion, less of the treadmill lifestyle, less social posturing, less consuming crap we don't need, etc.

and more time with loved ones (only for some though), more time to read, learn, explore, self improvement, choosing own hours, working to own rhythm, etc.

this is a theoretic question really, about what we really want, and what has lockdown done to change how you perceive your life?
would a life without work be better, more humane?
the dole sure isn't fun, nor should it be considered a choice, and there's no other way to survive unless very well off.

(wish to add here that I know millions have not had the luxury of enjoying the lockdown, many have not altered their working life, and many are ill, afraid of redundancy, homelessness, anxious... and worse, those who have passed away).

also if you earn double your husband's full time wage, your business isn't 'small'.

Its a bit of a double edged sword for me.

All the obligations that I have enjoyed being without (working out of home, school, clubs, activities, multitude of appointments for myself arthritis and disabled DC3) are also the things that underpin my daily life.

So whilst it has been nice to have a breather from it all, I realise we all function better with routine / being on a time schedule / having commitments on set days and times.

I feel more motivated when we are all up, dressed and out the door by 8.30am and I am certainly more productive !!

the only “sneering” I have seen on threads like this is from the extroverts towards introverts.

Really? All the sneering I’ve seen has been from introverts bashing those awful awful extroverts.

There’s so much virtue signalling online around introverts. It’s like if you aren’t happy to be locked in solitary confinement 24/7 (which the self-declared introverts rarely are, since most of them live with family - of course you don’t need other people if you’re already around people! Hardly introversion!) you’re a shallow, vapid bully who’s obsessed with being popular.

I am hugely grateful that we both have work that has (as yet) been largely unaffected by Covid, and a garden that my 2 year old can play in. It's been very stressful though both trying to WFH FT with no childcare. I realise that others have had much more to contend with, but I can't help but feel a bit jealous of people who were furloughed and have been able to kick back, embark on projects and really enjoy the time. For us, lockdown has been much busier and more challenging than "normal life". We would have loved a bit of furlough!

We would have loved a bit of furlough!

Be careful what you wish for as many people who have been furloughed will find themselves facing redundancy.

I do hear you though @brogueish

I have been WFH (albeit PT so 3 days per week) with 3 children. DP is a key worker so I have been going it alone for a 100+ days!!!

Very confused about speakout declaring that “shops are full of crap” and we don’t need to waste money yada yada, and then saying she has a “creative” business selling from home! Presumably you’re more than happy for people to buy your crap?

I went to a dastardly shop yesterday and bought a trivial plunger. Proof that I must be an extrovert...

@crunchymum of course, 100%. There was a point though when it got a bit much hearing how much free time "everyone" had, and the endless banana bread chat... I'm sure you felt the same at points! Your situation sounds really tough.

I've loved parts of it, the early bits, although I was anxious about the great changes and could not see how we would progress with the virus.
April was a really surreal time.....

although I work from home, I do need to find some part time employed work to supplement my income soon. I am a little concerned about 'stepping back out' into it all to be honest.
Im not pessimistic about the virus, but have enjoyed hiding away a bit.

but it it realistic?
even for us introverts, would it be healthy Lon-term to live this way?

I did it for years in my 30's, was lucky enough to earn a good amount, had parental help and a choice of two homes cos of DP.

now its more of a struggle as I pay higher rent at a distance from DP, my parents passed away many years ago, and I'm fussing now about public transport!

long-term I am typo-bitch!

Haha so true @IrmaFayLear

@IrmaFayLear

Very confused about speakout declaring that “shops are full of crap” and we don’t need to waste money yada yada, and then saying she has a “creative” business selling from home! Presumably you’re more than happy for people to buy your crap?

I went to a dastardly shop yesterday and bought a trivial plunger. Proof that I must be an extrovert...

I shop in trivial shops to buy trivial food, so that I don't take up a delivery slot a vulnerable person needs.

Iggi999

"It's not wrong to look at the positives of a bad situation".

It's not wrong. But when you're running to stand still, ts slightly irritating to have people piling on to virtue-signal about how much quality time you have with your kids/how good you've become at growing marrows and how much you appreciate the simple life.

Particularly this whole narrative which implies that those of us who have to work really hard to keep the lights on are choosing to do so because they haven't yet awoken to this wonderful new world of simplicity and are hamstrung by old-fashioned views of the world.

I'm sure its been great for some of you but it really hasn't for me, its almost pushed me and my DD to breaking point through exhaustion and it would just be nice to not have people keep rubbing my nose in it.

Thepeople it was clear in the thread title this would involve positive comments on lock down. Unless you think the title alone rubs your nose in it? I've had good days and horrendous days. In normal life people will have different experiences of the same circumstances. If someone was telling you you should be enjoying it, counting your blessings etc, then that's out of order, but I can't see how it's wrong for others to reflect on their experience and see some of it as positive. (Unless it's on Facebook - they should keep their #blessed stuff to themselves!)

Iggi999

I'm sorry I'm really quite chippy and resentful on this subject and probably not very rational.

I do get that its reasonable for people to extol what's been positive for them about it.

But I have noticed this narrative creeping into discussion about this which uses phrases like "taking the time to evaluate what's important in life". Which, to me, implies that those people who have not had the luxury of spending days playing with their kids don't value life properly and are putting their money-grubbing ways ahead of these true values.

The reason it annoys me so much is that this crisis and lockdown has massively disadvantaged women, who are often burning the candle at both ends doing work (from home and out of home) and then childcare and schooling. It's having a very negative effect both on our career prospects and our family relationships, not to mention our children's education.

And its happened in part because the government has not really built in any planning for education beyond "the women can do it from home".

So when people who obviously don't need to work to keep the lights on come on and maunder on about their lovely allotments and all the crafting their kids are doing as I jump on my 12th conference call of the day it does get my goat a bit.

But yeah, I'm a bit chippy on this subject.

can't we create our own old fashioned Sunday? You can if it fits in with your family and you don't expect all the shops etc to close, people doing shift work need them open and the employees need the hours. Our weekends are still juggling work and the 3 under 5s we've got due to both working in the health and care sectors.

Many on here are unemployed with their husbands earning big salaries and on furlough with safe jobs so I do think that's a big difference between the attitude on here and the attitude in real life.

people take pride in working themselves to death. ive seen threads I the past where people appear to compete for how many days work they've done whilst unwell, as if taking time to recuperate is tantamount to becoming a 'scrounger'. I think a lot of those going to work when ill do it out of fear for losing their jobs and losing wages rather than out of pride tbh.

its dreadful, our work ethic has gone too far. It depends who you look at though doesn't it. Money has to stretch further now. Rent is very high in many areas. Costs such as internet etc which you'll probably say isn't a necessity but my partner and I work in different jobs for different companies and have had to do online training at home. My company expected me to work 40hrs a week from home requiring the internet for SSP (under 100 quid a week) for 2 weeks whilst isolating due to the household having temperatures of 40 degrees C. My partner was told to complete the online training from home or no more shifts.

id say we need a shorter working week. more quality time for mental health. I agree but we'll now have to work even harder to pay back the furlough etc. And probably for less wages since many have lost their jobs - there will be more people competing for jobs and some people will work for so little because they're desperate for a job.

I think a lot of those going to work when ill do it out of fear for losing their jobs and losing wages rather than out of pride tbh.

and this is the problem. its awful.

there will be more people competing for jobs and some people will work for so little because they're desperate for a job.

I know.

Can't say I'd prefer it but the upside for me is not having to be social, which works for me! Now hoping that people won't hug and kiss me when this is all over, I quite like not being touched (apart from by DH of course).

@thepeopleversuswork
I'm sorry I'm really quite chippy and resentful on this subject and probably not very rational.

this is understandable.

I did laugh at 'growing marrows' though.
so blessed :)

I find it sad that so many posters have so little family time under normal circumstances.

DH and I both WFH, and DD has been home from university since March. We are bored with each other's company TBH.

Given more opportunity to work from home is a massive plus.
I can't think of any else positive from the lockdown.

Even more pressure at work with the threat of economy collapsing - and Brexit still looming which was enough for business.
Flexible hours only as much as business hours can be flexible.
I have always been strong minded enough to decline social aspects I couldn't or didn't want to join in, so the lockdown has

Good for people who made the most of a forced holiday at home. I do get a tad jealous when I see people boasting about home projects/improvement and so on. I have absolutely no free time nowadays, I have to homeschool on top of working full time.

I just want the damn thing to be over, and finally go on holiday, I need a break!

I absolutely vote for a 4-days week!

Business/ bank days not clashing with shops days, it would be amazing. It's not going to happen, but it would be wonderful.

Self-employed or small businesses who already have to work 7 days a week anyway wouldn't lose that "right" they have.

It’s not wrong to look at the positives of a bad situation

it was clear in the thread title this would involve positive comments on lock down

There’s quite a big difference between “The benefits of lockdown for me personally have been...” or “I’m lucky because my experience has been...” and extremely privileged people making sneery comments looking down their noses at the rest of us for not spending lockdown in our lovely gardens doing yoga and growing roses and hust being.

I’ve definitely enjoyed it. Much happier working from home & we’ve all been so much more relaxed. I don’t really miss social gatherings either. Very happy at home, gardening, reading, walking etc.

I do miss holidays abroad though.