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).

[ssd]

I agree with you op. I've enjoyed being at home. If I wasn't so worried about the future and my dcs futures, I would have loved it.

[ssd]

I'm an introvert though

[Ilovelblue]

@BillywilliamV

I think the people who enjoy this most are exactly the people it will damage most long term! Its too easy to lock yourself away and disengage..and not ultimately terribly healthy!

Can think of an acquaintance of mine where this would apply. She has actually said "I will miss lockdown. I have enjoyed the social distancing".

I think it's made a lot of us reassess or learn things about ourselves about which we weren't aware. However, I am pleased some things are getting back to some sort of normality.

[snappycamper]

I think the bottom line is that people have really enjoyed being paid not to work. And who can blame them, it’s a good life. But it isn’t sustainable unfortunately.

This. I've worked full time throughout with primary school aged children at home. It's been absolutely shit. I have enjoyed not having to commute and not having to spend my evenings and weekends ferrying kids to sport, but not enough to offset the misery that has been trying to home school them combined with working full time.

[snappycamper]

I think the bottom line is that people have really enjoyed being paid not to work. And who can blame them, it’s a good life. But it isn’t sustainable unfortunately.

This. I've worked full time throughout with primary school aged children at home. It's been absolutely shit. I have enjoyed not having to commute and not having to spend my evenings and weekends ferrying kids to sport, but not enough to offset the misery that has been trying to home school them combined with working full time.

[beatrixpotterspencil]

@SepticTankYank What was that again

it definitely is about privilege.
I don't have kids but I think it has been the shittiest blow for young people. just horrible. they will also be the group most likely to suffer for it going forward.

it won't be fun if you become unemployed, homeless, need medical care that has been postponed, live in an abusive situation or have bad neighbours.

to be honest I am certain that some have only been able to enjoy it because either. their situation hasn't changed, or they are financially very safe. so many face uncertainty in the near future .

[bitofasleuth]

I've carried on going to work all the way through, and I have to say that my commute is sheer bliss.

[SepticTankYank]

To be clear tho, I have worked all the way through with a significant paycut and now they are making me redundant and using me to do a lot of things that prove my role isn't redundant. I haven't enjoyed not working and being paid as mentioned previously. I have even had to deal with furloughed colleagues telling me how bored they are and how unfair it is while I cry into my laptop at 8pm.

Homeschooling has also been an absolute shit show. Stig of the dump lives in my house and sometimes I feed her.

[SepticTankYank]

To be clear tho, I have worked all the way through with a significant paycut and now they are making me redundant and using me to do a lot of things that prove my role isn't redundant. I haven't enjoyed not working and being paid as mentioned previously. I have even had to deal with furloughed colleagues telling me how bored they are and how unfair it is while I cry into my laptop at 8pm.

Homeschooling has also been an absolute shit show. Stig of the dump lives in my house and sometimes I feed her.

[Clappuccino]

For me, I think the joy of lockdown was spending so much time with DS. He has really blossomed over these weeks and I have loved every second of home schooling him. He seems to have grown up so much into a properly articulate and funny little person. (grin)

Our house has been pretty calm and with DH working from home we have enjoyed more family time than we've probably had in the past ten years! I know this isn't the case for everyone and we are incredibly fortunate, but I do think we will look back on this time fondly. It does make you realise how much of what you did before was pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things. It's brought us closer as a family and I've remembered just how much fun it is hanging out with DH.

I've also rediscovered my passion for teaching! Even the geeky stuff like making resources and timetabling lessons has been fun. I don't know how easily we will readjust to the old normal. I'd like to hope we are in a better place now to cope with whatever gets thrown at us than we were before this started. I no longer feel like we're running just to catch up and that's something really positive.

[user1965785412]

people who've enjoyed lockdown probably need to examine why they were living the wrong life before

Because society is not set up in a way that is normally accessible for me without causing me harm. Suddenly that changed and I was able to experience what life is like when you're not continually being beaten down and harmed by systems and processes and ignorant people who don't value you enough to meet your needs as someone with a disability.

So actually I would say you're the privileged one if life was better and easy for you before. Rather than blaming others how about you keep your resentment about the tables being turned to yourself eh.

[bakereld]

I have loved it. It's given me time to reassess my lifestyle completely. I feel very lucky to be in the situation I am in.

[GreenCoxing]

I am absolutely exhausted. Worked through out lockdown. Travelling hundreds of miles. My DH is also a keyworker. We have 3 small children. It has been really tough.

Enjoying lockdown is predominantly the preserve of the well off and for those not in frontline roles.

[miafeta]

Because for me it eliminated the commute and the office noise
I finally got to spend some sunny days in the garden
And finally got to do some cooking! (Pre lockdown this was my H job as he didn’t have a commute)

[VeniceQueen2004]

If I was on furlough I'd fucking love it (although I miss my family). As it is my life is now reduced entirely to work and childcare. Neither of which I'm able to do properly because of the other one. Don't even have the walk to work or the walk to nursery to just be me. I'm in Leicester so still fully locked down and likely to be so for the foreseeable. It bloody sucks.

[Ugzbugz]

In an office so WFH no probs, will miss out on learning things as new in the job but can wait but for the first time I dont have to worry about childcare, DC is back at school, year 6, I hated home schooling I admit it and single parent so went to way side but come 5.30 we are home together, I do have another job that cant be done from home and miss football.

Those furloughed with a safe job might feel okay but my friend is so bored and fed up.

Also slot of key workers their lives probs arent much different except working even more with no social reward.

I think the mad commuting for many people should stop and change, would save rush hour panics, costs, driving accidents, traffic, etc but the reality is at some point we will probs all return to normal even if it's a year or so away.....

[LemonadeAndDaisyChains]

I've really liked it.
No school run
No stress as eldest not doing work and stress that comes with that and all on your case/meetings
As much as MIL is nice, I really haven't missed the overbearing undermining parenting/ house choices that comes with three or four week visits
Less money worries as school trip completely refunded which was going to go on just before lockdown
Just "being" and chilling
I'm starting to feel my stress levels rise as we start to slowly come out!

[VeniceQueen2004]

But to be fair my normal life was pretty good - no commute as work walkable distance for both of us, partner and self working part time so lots of time with child, good group of local friends, very low need in terms of expensive stuff/hard to access now activities (except swimming and the playground!). I'd arranged my life that way so I could enjoy it properly. If I was one of the people who usually worked long hours with a 2 hour commute, without small children in the offing, I can see lockdown being a pleasant change.

[Love51]

Like most people I enjoyed lockdown at the start. But, work stress has got worse (for me, and my immediate team) and the things I do to relieve stress (yoga class, swim, get a massage) are no longer available to me. Home life isn't stressful, but a game of kerplunk and a bath (tonight's chilled evening) don't hit the spot in the same way.

Btw, I do online yoga, but it isn't the same as a class with other people in a building that doesn't have my family in it.

[Didiusfalco]

I enjoyed it for a while, as it put a pause on life at an incredibly stressful point, and because I've been going into work throughout, admittedly to a reduced amount of pressure, I haven't felt totally cut off. However my 10 year old has struggled terribly and has missed friends and school so much, his mental health is not good and he is emotional and angry in a way he wasn't in March - I'm not sure how we're going to manage a whole 6 weeks holiday on top of this.

[bellbaeu]

I enjoyed it because I had a baby in the 2nd week of lockdown. My partner got to spend 7 weeks with us, which was a real help and great bonding.
Also didn't have to deal with all the visitors you get when baby arrives

[Crinkle77]

I struggled at first but love parts of it now especially working from home. I don't sleep well so appreciate the extra lie in and I get near two hours of my life back due to no commute time. I love the fact that I can just roll out of bed, switch the laptop and kettle on. It's just so easy and hassle free. I can slob out in my pj's, relax on the couch and even get my washing done. I have more control over my hours so I might nip up to the shops in the morning but then work a bit later in the evening. I'm dreading going back to work in some ways cos I don't know how the he'll I'm going to get up the first morning back.

[Ariela]

Not a lot changed for us as we still had to work.

But I REALLY dislike all the public strolling up and down our lane like they own the place, and letting their dog crap on our lawn. It used to be quiet, about 2 dog walkers all day and a couple of runners, and the odd rambling group. It's an incessant stream of people not socially distancing very well.

[Leflic]

Loved it.
Paid to be off work.
My family I phone at least once a week anyway Abdul only see each other a few times s year, No change there.
Friends I just saw as normally but 2m start on our daily walk.
Shoppings a pain but I used ( expensive) local butchers and veg people with the money saved on the drive to work. Eaten like kings.

I don’t think I’m deficient because I don’t miss the pub or shopping for fun. . Certainly not missing wasting an hour or more shiwering, getting dressed up and sorting hair just to go and spend a fortune on food I can happily do myself for half the price,

[LemonadeAndDaisyChains]

3 or 4 weekly visits that should read (as in coming round 3 or 4 times a week, not every 3 to 4 weeks!)