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).

I've loved it. Having someone to share it with would be even better though. So that's my goal.

I feel envious as I was still working solidly and haven't had chance to deal with stuff I really needed to.

Not me! And I'm lucky in many ways: I can work from home, so not the same job and financial worries as for some; I live near local shops that will deliver to locals; no one whom I know died of it. But I spent many years as a child and young adult with severe health anxieties and restrictions, due first to an undiagnosed health problem of my own; then to having to be on immunosuppressants for a while (fortunately not currently or recently); then due to my father being on chemo, and therefore as we would now say 'vulnerable'. And the current situation was like going back to the worst times of my life -not so much 'Apocalypse Now' as 'Apocalypse Again' - and brought back something like PTSD.

I think it's been fine, enjoyable even, but for a time. And that time is finishing.

I see this most with one of my children. Initially she loved being off school, long lazy days, stepping off the exam treadmill, spending more time with family. Great for a couple of months. But now she's a bit listless, not really having any purpose, having to invent things to do, socializing in parks but with nowhere to go on rainy days.

It's nice, but for a 16 year old, it's not enough of a life. Perhaps it's different if you've already lived an interesting life and are happy to take a step back.

I like it as I can work from home, but without my work I know I'd find the days slightly empty. I don't love gardening that much!

I have liked the extra sleep.

Lockdown has shown us what life would be like if introverts got to make the rules.

Working from home wherever possible.
Strictly limited social contact.
More time at home with immediate family.
Less need for external validation based on consumerism & status symbols.
Much less pressure to conform to social ‘norms’ dictated by extroverts.

Many extroverts have apparently hated lockdown. Good. Now they have an understanding of how introverts feel the rest of the time, because society forces us to conform to their rules.

It's fucking awful.

My life was lovely before after some horrible years and is shit now

It's been utterly mind numbing and will continue to be until my DCs get back into school, DH gets back into his office and I can resume volunteering. I'm barely over halfway to any meaningful change in my existence. When I left my busy job, I filled my life in many other ways and it's all been stripped away.

I hit a pit about a month ago of desperate loneliness and simultaneously over-peopled by my immediate family. My friends and family have other priorities. They've either been over worked with little energy too spare or value arbitary roolz over human contact.
I've not had my own home to myself for more than an hour in nearly 4 months.

DS1 finally spoke to a child that is not DS2 for the first time in nearly 3 months the other day. We've not been able to start his EHCP. He's at risk of losing his hard-won physical skills at things like swimming through lack of practice. It's going to be a shock to remember how to function in the real world after 5.5 months of exclusion from normality.

I know I'm whinging and I'm grateful that we are secure in the big things in life, but it's a bloody long way to even halfway normal and having a reason to wake up promptly in the morning. The DCs and I get most of our social contact through organised activities and that's still ripped apart and will be for some time to come.

I already knew that I get cabin fever easily from SPD pregnancies and heavy recovery births. Thank goodness we were allowed out to exercise or my mental health would have been broken.
And we're coming out of this relatively unscathed long term compared to many.

Admittedly: I live within walkable distance of work (as a non-driver I have always sacrificed quite a lot career-wise just to be able to live somewhat that's easy from that point of view). I can see that people who usually have long commutes may find some advantages in lockdown. But for those who are at risk of redundancy or have already lost their jobs; overworked 'key workers'; those trapped in unsatisfactory or even violent domestic situations; and those (like me) who suffer from health anxiety at the best of times, or who have actually been seriously ill with Covid, it hasn't been good at all.

I have worked throughout and luckily currently have a job. That may change soon.

My DH is furloughed, my DC is at home.

It’s made me grateful for the lifestyle changes we made a few years ago, by moving out to our rural area and buying land.

It’s made me bloody miserable, and like all the joy has been sucked out of life.

We are competitive in two hobbies as a family- there’s no competitions, there’s no proper training, there’s been no eating out, no supper parties with friends, no fun spur of the moment afternoons in the city in a museum, no random hotel stays exploring new places, no after school trips for the DC, no friends dropping in for any of us.

I've enjoyed it. The first few weeks were tough, but I'm kind of used to it now. My husband is working from home instead of being in Georgia for 3 months. I don't have to run the kids around to school and after school clubs, looking after them on my own. I have enjoyed having company. I have enjoyed home schooling. My kids seem happy and relaxed. We have enjoyed walking as a family. I am a sahm though as have a decent garden,surrounded by countryside. If I had to work from home whilst looking after the kids, it would be a nightmare!

Loved it! I used to eat out 4+ nights a week because I was knackered and hated shopping.. so I've learnt how to cook and enjoy it.

I've been seeing family and friends throughout lockdown. I'm my parents carers but I'm also on the shielding list.. so friends have been popping past often with food and medication .. and i still get to see my parents.

I've been working from home too.

I have certainly not hated this time, but I do understand this comes from a situation of privilege.

I have loved working from home, no commute and more time at home

I have discovered that I am more of an introvert than I would previously have thought

I am also amazed that DH and I have spent this many weeks at home together without killing each other, or even wanting to kill each other.

I think for anyone living in a flat with young DC, trying to homeschool and work at the same time, being furloughed from an already low paying job , and for all those who have lost someone this must be a living nightmare

def enjoyed it, so relaxing, so yes, it was like a staycation

Hated it.

Started working at 7 am this morning and just finished. Have an under two as well.

Spent 16 weeks living at work with no break. My sanity is gone, my marriage is pushed to breaking point, no support system and a toddler that deserves better.

I will take my commute and all the other crap back cause frankly I don't want to live another day like this.

Fundamentally I think it was nice because the sun shone for most of the time and those of us with gardens and outdoor space had some respite.

I think it was nice for people with partners and children but hard for people who live alone and wish they didn't.

I think it was nice for people to be paid most or all of their normal wage. It was hard for people who have lost most or all of their income.

I think MN represents a fairly rose tinted reality of what it was actually like for many people.

Very interesting reading all these views.
I live alone, 5DC all flown the nest. At first I was worried how I would cope, and what I would do with my day, as I was usually rarely in the house.
I very quickly began to enjoy the peaceful, unstressed days and evenings. Having whole stretches of time to do as I pleased. I did DIY, sorted the garden, bought plants and shrubs, started cooking from scratch, took long walks with my dogs and did drawings to post to my grandchildren.
I missed my children, but we facetimed twice a week.
I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time in my adult life when I have felt happier or less stressed - nowhere to be and nobody to entertain.
I've decided to continue living this way as much as is possible for now.

Does anyone else feel like doing this?

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

This. As far as the personal benefits you listed, OP (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) I didn't do any of that stuff anyway. I'm glad other people may have had their eyes opened to it, but unfortunately I don't see it having any lasting impact. I imagine 99% of people will go back to exactly how they lived before. We've all seen the pictures of huge queues outside Louis Vuitton/Zara/Niketown/Primark/Ikea/etc. etc. on the very day they reopened.

So the only major impacts of lockdown for me really have been: not able to take kids to parks/playgrounds, not able to go out to many places, not able to see friends/extended family. So nothing good at all.

@furrybutts I feel the same as you.

I've been wfh throughout but I've loved homeschooling (mostly!) and DS is so much happier. No stressful commute, time to clean my own house, no annoying noisy office colleagues. More time for close family, even if we can't hug. I've loved this life but appreciate I'm lucky to not have any major financial worries.

@furrybutts Yes, completely

I don't want all of that stress and rushing around back. We have simplified and as far as we can, we will keep the changes going.

I have loved us all being at home together. DH and I have gotten on well. The kids have seen more of him than ever before, as he been working at home throughout - normally he does long days in the city, and they only see him at weekends. We are both calmer and more relaxed thanks to not having to rush from obligation to another.

I feel the kids and I have gotten closer and even got to know each other better. I feel I've grabbed back a bit of extra time with them, now they're both growing so fast.

It'll be nice to see family and friends again, and get to go places other than for walks round our little town. DD's little face lit up today when we went to the park and she realised she was allowed back in the playground. But I'm not looking forward to having to get back on the rollercoaster of everyday life again. And I'll miss them all once we're all back at school and work.

ive loved it... i always work from home so no change there. ive realised that i pretend to be more sociable than i actually am.

awareness is power

Sorry to sound bitter but no. I'm glad you've all enjoyed your idyllic downtime with your children.

Lockdown has been absolute shit for people desperate to hang onto their jobs with kids they are supposed to homeschool and no support.

I don't blame people for enjoying being on furlough but I bloody wish some of you would exercise a bit of respectful silence for those of us run ragged.

It's bloody awful. DH is a key worker so been out working throughout. I'm WFH in a stressful role made worse by having to homeschool, work, and manage childcare. Despite not having a commute or having to ferry kids about to sports and activities I've had less time to do anything and virtually no child free time. We're surviving but no-one is thriving. I've had to take unpaid leave to get an extended break just to try and get some rest and quality time with my family.

I started to enjoy lockdown once I went back to work albeit part-time. (Kids stayed at home with their dad). I've realised most of my stress comes from managing school run/school work/ferrying kids to after school activities alongside getting myself to work, getting home, cooking dinner to this rigid schedule dictated by school start/end time/bedtime.

I've always thought of myself as introvert but quickly realised with only OH & 2 kids to talk to I was getting depressed & noticed an immediate positive change in mood once I went back to work. My eldest is a teenager who just cannot work at home & absolutely needs face to face input for education so I would give up it all to get full time education back again. Even my youngest who is in year 3 is flagging now & doesn't want to engage with online school work so she's also looking forward to more socialising & face to face input from school.

If we had to go into total lockdown again during winter I think it would be extremely hard to cope with - gardening was my big escape & the sunshine felt like medicine. The worry for me now is the future - are we going to slide into a Great Depression, are my children going to get an education & will there be a job for them at the end of it.