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

[TakeMe2Insanity]

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?

That I need to improve my work/life balance.

I have started exercising in lockdown and eating much better. As a result, I have lost just over a stone in weight and feel much better. I am determined to keep the exercise up when I return to work in September.

I want to try to have weekends free of work (I'm a teacher) so that we can do more as a family -even if it's just taking DS to the park.

I've given up drinking alcohol as well that's definitely staying!

@PumpkinPie2016 yes I think the main thing I've managed to make time for with the savings from travel time, is exercise. It was so hard to slot in with a busy day doing school runs, work etc, being tired, now it's what invigorates me to get working if that makes sense.

That I really dislike my job, and I'm only doing it until Ds is driving.

I need to put my health first, thankyou coronavirus, you have left me like an old woman at 44.

That all my hard work for years did not matter a jot, the biggest majority dropped me like a stone. I used to think a lot of my clients, all this has shown me what people really thought.

@Fruityb

I left wired bras about a year ago and feel so much happier! I just bought a lovely two pack of smooth bras from Sainsbury’s and they’re so comfortable.

Lockdown made you realise you didn't like underwired bras?

I have enjoyed exercising at home and watching the online performances - this shouldn't really be a surprise to me as I used to do a lot of exercising and going to the theatre, but I'd stopped when we moved (lack of childcare really) so I've signed up to an online dance class which I'm loving! It's given me a chance to rediscover some favourite activities.

DH is now thinking of retiring next year and maybe working part-time. He's been thinking about it for ages but kept putting it off as he didn't think he'd enjoy being at home all the time. Turns out he loves it! He is going back to work part-time so he's having a very useful trial run with that as well.

Been a bit uncertain about my career path for a while. I'm a scientist and progressing means leaving the lab which I felt sad about. However a more management role let's me work at home more. I feel so much happier WFH with one day a week on site. So the two months I spent working and looking after 3 year old, nothing work can throw at me will ever be as challenging!

WFH also gives me time for exercise, just so many lifestyle bonuses

I have started prioritising my time a lot more. So wasting less time on my phone, spending more time enjoying the garden, spending time with family, going for walks etc.

I have got rid of my social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram). I feel so much lighter and happier now I'm no longer spending huge proportions of the day starting at other people's BS on social media. It's lovely and I'm not missing it at all.

I've started sorting out all our "stuff". Im sick of "stuff" and lockdown made me realise how much we own and how we only use a small proportion of this "stuff". So I'm getting rid of every item of clothing that I haven't worn in the last year, getting rid of 70% of the kids' toys. Going through every cupboard or storage area in the house/garage and getting rid of anything that hasn't been used in the last year etc etc. It's really freeing.

We live in a large 4 bedroom house and for the last three years my dh has wanted to convert our house into two smaller houses. His plan was to rent them both out and us move to a bigger property. I've always been against this because I love our house. However, lockdown has made me realise how little we use the space in our home. As a family we only really use about 1/4 of the house on a regular basis. As a result I'm now fully on board with his plan and we've decided to continue living in one of the two conversions for the foreseeable future as we love our neighbours, we're close to the dc school, close to town, parks etc.

I've also developed an absolute love of gardening, as well as starting to grow my own fruit and vegetables. Tending to my garden and vegetable plot has been a huge eye opener when it comes to my mental health. I've always suffered badly from anxiety, sometimes bordering on depression. Being out in the garden tending to my plants has completely turned my anxiety around and I've been completely happy and stable during this time. Every time I feel even slightly stressed or worried I go outside and I feel so much more relaxed almost immediately.

I honestly feel like this whole experience has opened my eyes to what is important, and accumulating bigger and better things is not what is important at all.

@hellomissus
Absolutely! Not work-related for me - but I have realised that I am not cut out for domesticity. (Not that I was under any illusions before!) I HATE the slow life. It feels like a preview of god's waiting room. I'm grabbing everything as soon as it reopens - and stuff bloody walks in the park, and may I never darken its gates again!

Vanillafrais

I agree about prioritizing time and realizing what's important. I was spending far too much time and energy on things that I didn't really enjoy that much because I felt like I should be doing stuff with my life.

I'm much more relaxed now and I've realized that it's fine to have no weekend plans!

To go out more. I am very very active and need to not be confined to the house and garden all the time. DH and children love staying home. I just love the freedom of being out. Lockdown has taught me that there is more to life out there and because they are all happy rarely leaving the house I have gone along with it. Kids have become exceptionally reliant on me and hate me being out of sight they are 14 and 13 so capable to be left alone for a short space of time. There is so much natural beauty out and about in my local area and beyond and I want to enjoy it. I am going to join the natural trust and go solo husband and kids think I have lost the plot!!!

Almost exactly what @Pepperwand said, except maybe the going to the gym in the morning bit

@Tootsey11 hope an upturn is coming for you.

Never to take my freedom and friends for granted again. I never dreamt that in ky lifetime we would lose the rights to see loved ones and go out and about as we wanted. I also took it for granted that the cinemas, theatres and pubs would be there but so may of them are going out of business. That the UK is divided into the haves and have not. The haves getting the opportunity to work from home,spend time in their garden whilet the have not seen have been working their butts off in shops and care homes and going back to pokey flats.