AIBU to try and cheer up by trying to look for any bright sides to shielding? Light fucking hearted

[LetMeJustLookAtTheFuckingHam]

I'm in the clinically extremely vulnerable/shielded group and live in a local lockdown area too. Obviously it's been shit (not just CV related here, a really very shit year in general in our house) and continues to be shit but I am trying to have a positive mental attitude. Anyone else fancy trying to look on the shielding bright side with me? (This is meant to be lighthearted and tongue in cheek to cheer us up, so no snippy comments please )

Prompted by threads about classrooms and ventilation in winter, it cheered me to think I have finally won The Window Wars with DH. I used to go around opening windows (especially at nighttime) and DH would follow me round closing them. My shielding letter advised us to always have windows open for ventilation. I win. Sorry DH.

This doesn't actually apply to me (as DH and I have a successful marriage through the specific policy of Never Being Obliged To See Each Other's Family ™️) but my shielding best friend has been happy to have an officially sanctioned get out clause to avoid her MIL with no feelings of guilt or recrimination from her DH. Win for my friend. And everyone who doesn't like their in-laws basically the whole of Mumsnet

"Take your meals back to your room to eat where possible" = it's OK to eat in bed, don't even feel guilty. Win.

Also, jumping the queue at Aldi (who in this area still reserve first half hour for elderly and vulnerable). Win.

An official letter to wave around from the actual government telling you to clean your bathroom after you use it - and teenagers in the house. Big fucking win.

I'm trying desperately to think of others.

We couldn't live separately in our house for various reasons but I imagine if I had toddlers again and a large house with spare bedrooms and bathrooms, being officially advised to avoid them and eat in bed would have definitely been a Win.

Have I missed anything?

You can watch whatever shit you want on TV without feeling guilty.
Don't have to get dressed some days.
Don't have to tip the Just Eat delivery driver.

You don’t get massive spots caused by sweating in a mask.

You’re not likely to get colds or norovirus either.

If you put weight on you don't have to face it til summer 😂

I've managed to get through treatment for breast cancer without anyone (other than my immediate team at work) knowing. I was able to have a bald head without people staring

I'm just self isolating for ten days before having surgery, and I can't say I've enjoyed it, but one plus is not having to bother at all about what I'm wearing. And our cleaner can't come in, so we don't have to tidy up before her arrival (the downside of that, obviously, is having to do the cleaning ourselves).

Oh dear it's probably a bit of a drip feed to say I've actually failed at shielding and have been having to get dressed to go buy bread etc 

Liking all these though - if you want even more bright side @barberousbarbara we are approaching the season for hats, and it's much more comfortable wearing wigs in Winter than Summer (I myself have embraced the bald (although not chemo baldness) although my ears are a bit cold.

Bright side. Bright side. My ears are pretty so it's good to have them on display.

Oooh another bright side. I have lost nearly two stone over the last few months (not deliberately but could have done with it anyway) as I've been so fucking fed up. Although my neck looks old and like a chicken and none of my clothes fit.

Bright side. Bright side. I don't go out so much so can wear the same one outfit that does fit over and over! And I can wear my DDs clothes.

@LetMeJustLookAtTheFuckingHam I wore hats through the first part of my chemo (started in January). I wore a wig to work and hats the rest of the time. I now have crazy chemo curls

I like your thread title op

I have an excuse to dye my own hair and avoid paying £££ at hairdressers.

Limited need for bras and uncomfortable work clothes.

Saving money due to not going out and not doing anything.

Less food waste as you're actually home to eat leftovers and stuff going out of date. Being able to cook from scratch and therefore food more healthy.

Time to do a bit of a clear out and DIY

Not having to talk about what you did on the weekend, when you’re a homebody.

I’m on maternity leave now and I really wanted to spend more time with my eldest kid. However being in nursery you have to pay for the place regardless and as they have a wait list I couldn’t take them out of nursery as I needed their space once I go back to work.

However along comes Covid and I got to spend all of the lock down with them and it was amazing. I loved being around my kids all the time doing all the things I feel I missed out on. It’s been epic. I honestly can complain

It does sound as shielding was easier (well not easier, but I can't think of the word, perhaps easier to adjust to?) for those of us that are introverts naturally. My friend sent me this at the beginning that really made me laugh as he was so right

I’m not shielding but am still working from home and fuck me - I love wearing pyjamas all day. It’s the best. I’ve had to buy 2 more pairs to make sure I have enough for the working week

Brights sides ... um ... forced to get to grips with technology

More boredom snacking offset by less chance to buy snacks

No more corns and blisters from shoes

Not having to face the rain

@LetMeJustLookAtTheFuckingHam

It does sound as shielding was easier (well not easier, but I can't think of the word, perhaps easier to adjust to?) for those of us that are introverts naturally. My friend sent me this at the beginning that really made me laugh as he was so right

So true. 😀

Everyone’s been talking about how much they miss seeing family and friends and I’m thinking my siblings are distant anyway. 😂

Fave shoes won't wear out so fast?

Great attitude OP
It’s made it really easy to hide early pregnancy from work and avoid all those social events where I wouldn’t have been able to drink

I second the lack of blisters!

Thinking, thinking....

Well, I have let my tash grow out. It is luxuriant, and I am rather proud of it.

I have been told that it is Very Important that I find ways to relax, so I spend a lot of time watching YouTube in my pants. In bed.

The garden actually looks alright now.

I love your username OP. It genuinely made me lol when I opened the thread.

Ha miles I changed to this name to start a thread about a woman being fucking rude to me (in Waitrose!) so definitely a bright side of shielding is interactions like that were limited...

Also. Not for shielding, but when I was really poorly last year, I bought a vintage velvet dressing gown which is possibly the best item of clothing ever. And it has pockets. I am about to don it for the day ahead which will start by watching The Secret Life Of Cats in bed and eating lemon cake

I used to have a busy life with a good job and was one of those people who had to fill every minute. I genuinely feel like a different person these days...

PS hazarding a guess here, that a few of us really like Autumn/Winter? I really think we should have followed Ireland and called shielding "cocooning".