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Original poster

What has lockdown made you want to change in your life?

62 replies

TakeMe2Insanity · 01/08/2020 22:36

I live in London with a garden and a park at the end of my road but lockdown has meant I want easy access to the countryside. Just curious if other people have realised they want different things?

OP posts:
SomewhereEast · 02/08/2020 08:26

I actually just want my old life back! I don't think I appreciated it nearly enough. We'd already thought consciously about the kind of life we wanted & made most of the necessary choices, so mostly lockdown's just been a boring frustrating interruption of a life we're already fine with.

VerbenaGirl · 02/08/2020 08:29

Not wanting different things as such, but there has been a shift in focus and pace and more appreciation of little things - e.g. making the house and garden as nice as possible to spend more time in, taking time to cook a nice meal and enjoy it with the family, deeper conversations with friends about how they are doing. I hope that I will carry on prioritising these into the future - rather than losing them in a blur of busy.

MsTSwift · 02/08/2020 08:38

That although I have lovely house garden and family I crave travel and different scenery. Hadn’t realised I had such itchy feet.

BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum · 02/08/2020 08:39

It made me want to change myself, physically.

For the first few weeks, we were slobbing about eating shite, watching tv etc. Then I started exercising, lost some weight. Start weight lifting, built myself a proper butt and legs. Then last week I took full advantage of furlough and had a breast reduction (something I’d wanted for at least 13 years, I went from a 34jj to a 34c/d and wish I’d done it years ago)

We’re getting married next year and I want to look and feel the best version of myself. Can’t wait to heal so I can lift weights again! I’m coming into myself in my 30s and it feels fabulous.

My job has just been made permanent wfh when I start back fully, dd starts school next week (Scotland) and I’ll be able to pick her up and drop her off everyday.

DP and I have had a few in depth chats over the past year or so and our relationship is at the absolute best it has ever been. We’ve fallen in love all over again, it feels incredible. The butterflies are back after 10 years together!

Considering we’re mid pandemic, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been right now and life is amazing!

Mintjulia · 02/08/2020 08:43

Realising that my job was stressing me out and I don’t want to do it any more.

I’ve got a few years to retirement and am wondering if I could temp for the remainder, or take a lower paid job with a bit of variety. I’m being made redundant anyway so now is my chance to try Smile

HandsOffMyRights · 02/08/2020 08:47

My work is stressful, I'd like to change jobs.

Want to get fit and lose weight.

Want to move out of a built up area to a scenic place where I can reach the sea in under 3 hours!

Dozer · 02/08/2020 08:48

As regards your desire to live nearer countryside OP, much IMO depends on your work situations and opportunities, also what employers do in the medium term. We moved out of central London some years ago but still work there. two people with DC commuting has been v hard IME. Knew it would be, and has been worse than expected. Eats time and energy. By far the thing about all this for us as been no commute.

BrandNewShinyThings · 02/08/2020 08:49

It sounds like a cliche but just to appreciate what I have and count my blessings. I've wasted too much time worrying that my life isn't good enough, when in fact I have so much to be grateful for.

MaryBerrysBomberJacket · 02/08/2020 08:52

I took the plunge and applied for another teaching job at a very different school and actually got it. I spent March and April detailing with the most demanding SLT expecting us to respond to parents no matter what time they emailed me, asking me to take a school phone so they could call me whenever when I refused to give parents my mobile number and being pressurised to collect work from student homes. I literally didn't stop working and having my own kids working at home just made me stop. New school is smaller, SLT are amazing and I am so excited to work somewhere where I will be appreciated.

HelloMissus · 02/08/2020 08:52

That I love my work and my business and being a very successful woman isn’t something I’m ever going to apologise for again.

I’m not going to ever again to pretend it’s all very hard and I’m sacrificing things. That really I just want to slow down just to make other less successful people feel better.

When this is over, I’m taking the works by it’s neck.

Mikethenight2good · 02/08/2020 08:52

I want a new job. Actually I want a sabbatical for a couple of months and then start a new job. But financially this isn't viable. With the economy like it is I will be lucky to find one.
I want to step down a rank. I find the pressure and responsibility too much.

I want to enjoy life!

CynsterBitch · 02/08/2020 08:53

I want to be able to work from home going forward, and I want to get into shape. Start my sessions with a PT on Monday, so fingers crossed.
DH & I have a better relationship, there was a lot of ridiculous bickering before lockdown, but it feels like we appreciate each other more now

notheragain4 · 02/08/2020 08:54

Embracing WFH. To make sure work doesn't dominate elements of my life it doesn't need to. I am very career orientated, worked full time most of my kids lives, which I don't regret BUT experiencing WFH full time (usually only do 1-2 days a week) and seeing how effective I can be in my job, and at home not having to run around to get there and to ge able to dove tail the two roles throughout the day has made me realise I can be better all around and be happier. So WFH will not be a "nice to have" it's going to be essential in my jobs going forward, at least whilst I have kids at home.

SnuggyBuggy · 02/08/2020 08:57

I wish I could say I've learned something positive from all this but I haven't. I've just hated every aspect of it and miss my old life. I think I will continue the millman subscription but that's about it.

Newjez · 02/08/2020 09:02

@Chitlin

I really, really want to retire. Sad
Me too!!!

I had six months off between jobs in lockdown and I loved it. I have managed to get the perfect job, great people, interesting work, working from home, no rush to get back to the office, but I'm struggling to get back into it. I just want to play in the garden, and go for long walks with my wife, and start doing some serious miles on my mountain bike. Maybe do the south downs way. I think I've just had enough work.

Pepperwand · 02/08/2020 09:03

I want to continue working from home part of the week once we actually can go back to the office (luckily, this looks reasonably likely.) I loved this week being able to go to the gym at lunchtime or even just go for a walk before work in the morning during lockdown as I didn't have a commute to deal with.

Fritter less money on stuff I don't need. Prior to this we'd often go to a big shopping centre or IKEA at the weekend just for something to do and inevitably spend money we didn't really need to. We're not hard up but that money could be spent so much better on the house or savings.

Just appreciate chilling out more and not always feeling like I have to be somewhere or doing something.

See friends and family more often!

ByTheSea · 02/08/2020 09:04

I don't want to be with my husband anymore 😢

Oblomov20 · 02/08/2020 09:19

I took on a 2nd part time job the week before lockdown. The woman is nasty. I resent the fact I have given so much of myself to her for the last 4 months. That's my own fault. I will try to never do that again.

I wish I'd been furloughed and lounged in the garden sunbathing.

MotherWol · 02/08/2020 09:22

I really, really want a second child. It’s breaking my heart watching DD on her own every day.

Charleyhorses · 02/08/2020 09:23

Mine is to build my career back up. I have also lost a stone in a month and am determined for once and all to lose another stone and a half and stick to it.

DipSwimSwoosh · 02/08/2020 09:32

Stop putting in so much effort for extended family. I have tried countless times to get together with them over the past year and there is always an excuse for them to make no effort. They are all waiting to see me in a few weeks, but if lockdowns stop it I am giving up. I'll focus on my own kids.

SnuggyBuggy · 02/08/2020 09:50

@MotherWol

I really, really want a second child. It’s breaking my heart watching DD on her own every day.
Similar. I always thought it wouldn't be so bad if FF was an only because we'd make the effort to keep up with friends and family and she'd see plenty of other children but with all these restrictions I'm not so sure.
zingally · 02/08/2020 09:56

I realised how much money I spent on unnecessary crap I didn't need.

Going forward, I intend to continue keeping my spending at a minimum, so that I have more money for holidays and experiences. Which are the things that really bring me the most joy.

Rainbow12e · 02/08/2020 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

User4638 · 02/08/2020 10:12

Teaching full time. Leaving the house at 7:30am to drop the kids to breakfast club, picking the kids (4 and 5) up from wraparound care at 5:30pm, home for 6. Rush dinner, rush bath time and bedtime so that I can work again from 8-9:30. Weekends spent doing the errands and housework that we were too busy to do in the week.

It's been so nice to have time with my family, time to cook healthy meals, keep the house tidy and get some exercise each day. We are much calmer and happier at the moment. I'm not willing to go full 1950s housewife (and I need some income to pay the bills) but I'm not prepared to run myself into the ground and sacrifice my homelife for the sake of a job.