To ask for what you're going to do through this new lockdown to survive - or even thrive?

[loveyouradvice]

I'm keen to hear what's helped you, and thought I'd share what helped me, especially when it surprised me how much it helped.

And I'm aware this is in the context for me at the moment of not having lost anyone - though several relatives are very vulnerable - and being okay financially (yes huge dip in income but have some savings which are enabling us to be okay). I know many others are not so fortunate.

What’s helped me is realising that it’s not much of a hardship avoiding pubs and shops for another 3.5 weeks so other people don’t get sick and die. Don’t really see what all the fuss is about tbh.

Here goes....

Definitely a daily walk whenever possible... and surprised how much I enjoyed "walk and talk" with friends from around the country, to the extent that I wondered why I hadn't done it before. So two or three times a week I have a "walk and talk" date with a mate: both of us head off at 5pm after work, whether in Newcastle or London, and chat away for an hour or so on the phone

Walking "with awe" ... something I picked up from a TV programme. Literally going somewhere beautiful in nature and walking quietly through eyes that marvel at what we see... often looking up or out... looking with curiosity and wonder

A gratitude journal ... there's a brilliant one I got online, for just over £6, with three or four line entries for each day, and ideas for things to reflect on... such as what music you enjoyed listening to or things you want to do again tomorrow

Dancing - every day when I can! Great music, dancing in the kitchen, even if only for ten minutes. And three or four dance classes online a week. A huge energy and wellbeing boost

Small treats. Thinking about what these are for me and doing them. Whether a beautiful bubble bath or a bar of chocolate, five minutes looking through a photo album or wearing a onesie in the evening

Connecting with those I love... by text or phone... just reaching out more than before

That's for starters ... there are more... I'll post later

Get out house each day, exercise, cook healthy meals in week, make weekends a bit different nicer food glass of gin etc. Board game nights, zoom with family

@MolotovMocktail

maybe the fuss is that people are losing their livilhoods.

I rarely go to the pub, I’m not a great shopper, but my autism support group can no longer meet, (some of the mum’s have very challenging children and rely on its support) its now 11 months since I’ve seen most of my family, I’ve seen my mum once this year and my previously happy, gregarious outgoing teenager is wilting on the vine.

Yes I’m going to find this hard.

@loveyouradvice

on the positive side, I am grateful I have a secure job and my family are all healthy.
I will go down to my allotment at the weekends and commune with the frogs and the robin

Lovely ideas OP.

I am a massive believer in the therapeutic effects of being outside in nature with the wildlife. Well it's not even a belief - the evidence is incontrovertible!

I plan to do the walking - getting outside for an hour or so each day no matter what the weather. I also want to get a bird table in the front garden and try and get some decent close range photos of garden birds. Photography is very absorbing.

Tbh lockdown hasn't affected me much.Hate shopping, can't afford to eat out much anyway and rarely go to the pub.Im lucky that my job is secure even though its nmw. I also don't mind staying at home as long as I get out for a daily walk.I also have a garden that I'm extremely grateful for.But I realise I'm one of the lucky ones and I know lockdown has affected some ppl badly. I think being on antidepressants (I've always been on them not just because of lockdown) has helped keep my mood stable.

[quote Ted27]@MolotovMocktail

maybe the fuss is that people are losing their livilhoods.

I rarely go to the pub, I’m not a great shopper, but my autism support group can no longer meet, (some of the mum’s have very challenging children and rely on its support) its now 11 months since I’ve seen most of my family, I’ve seen my mum once this year and my previously happy, gregarious outgoing teenager is wilting on the vine.

Yes I’m going to find this hard.[/quote]
Support groups are still able to meet i think if you can find a venue to hire to you. That's my understanding anyway.

Personally, I'm writing quite a lot of slash fanfic.

I'm writing one right now where handsome actor 1 is having quite a hard time experiencing some heavy character bleed (he's a Method actor) and his crush, handsome actor 2, has noticed and is about to knock on his hotel room door to see if he's okay. (He's not.) Some quite wonderful cuddling and maybe a shower together is on the cards. (Oh and next morning, when handsome actor 1 is a bit more his usual self, well - I'll leave it there.)

shrug I'm having fun!

On a more serious note, writing in general is a great pastime - can't go to Budapest? Have your character go to Budapest. There's a world in your head you can explore too.

I think the same goes for all creative activities - painting, drawing, crafts, baking... make something, whatever is in you to make! It feels great, and what's better is when it gives pleasure to others too.

I’m in Wales so we only have today and tomorrow left of our firebreak.

This last 2 weeks have been very different to the first lockdown which I wasn’t expecting.

Having a half term where it was constantly wet and windy (torrential - not just a bit of drizzle!) was a real challenge and we’ve all found that the dark nights are hard going.

Trying to get some fresh air every day, even if it is a walk after work in the dark seems key to keeping my spirits up. Upping the ante a bit to do a work out also really helps but I prefer to do this outdoors rather than in the house so that’s been a bit hit and miss due to the weather!

Cooking something different gives me a sense of achievement - especially if all 4 of us enjoy it!

I also baked our Christmas cake and decorated the bathrooms during my week off at half term.

I think trying to have a structure to your days and weeks helps, as well as having some achieve able goals.

Good luck!

My notice period ended yesterday so I am now out of work til I get a start date for my new job, so financially we are up the creek. DH has picked up an extra day at work to try and help. But I plan to enjoy time with DS (normally I work very long hours, early starts late finishes) and finish a course I've been doing. And then enjoy the one day DS and DH are both here. And enjoy the day I get with DH when DS is at school. I'm actually looking forward to it

i feel more for people who are losing / lost their employment due to the lock downs.

I found during the first lockdown that I absolutely have to exercise. On the days I didn't bother I felt much worse about everything.

This time round I have got one of the trainers at the gym to do me a lockdown programme and we're in touch by WhatsApp. Although I am self-motived and can perfectly well design my own programme I am finding that keeping in touch with him about the exercise gives me an added boost. Plus it puts a few extra quid in his pocket at a time when many in his sector are fearful for their livelihoods.

dd is in town and just text me to say it's really busy, the video she has sent shows vert few masks, very little sd and people loaded with shopping.
i reckon we are going to have another 'lock down' in the new year, when the peasants have had christmas and new year blow outs to soften them up for the next onslaught.

@romeolovedjulliet who are the peasants?

I went tee total in the first lockdown and that was totally life changing and made me feel like I had really achieved something when things opened back up (I was a heavy drinker, though!).

This time I don’t have any survival projects or plans as I don’t really feel like it’s a lockdown. I’m still working, kids are at school, I am in a number of Zoom groups and have friends I talk to on the phone on the social side of things, so I feel pretty ‘normal’.

Getting out in nature as much as possible generally helps me stay positive and grateful.

I am doing just 10 mins daily of yoga on my yoga mat. Keeps me nimble.

I was furloughed through the last one but working through this. I am glad because it concentrates the mind and is a good escape. Plus I get to see real life other people (although from a distance). Being furloughed sounds amazing but was actually depressing and sad.

Been into town this morning, it was dead, free car parking and no queues. loo roll on the shelves and everything.

I don't think I will be learning a new language or macrame or anything!

[quote Yippeeforme]@romeolovedjulliet who are the peasants?[/quote]
the great british public, do you really believe any government thinks of people in this country any other way ?

Running or garden HIIT session every day.
Weeding my garden.

I'm trying to clear a bag of clutter/ charity stuff every day too. The house has been trashed this year.

I'm lazy as a sloth. So I used never go for a walk despite promising myself I would. Then I read an article that said if you're relying on will power alone to exercise, it won't happen. You need to get actual enjoyment from it. That gave me an idea - download audio books of writers I love and only listen while out walking. Between my young kids and demands of work I never got to read fiction anymore until I started doing this. Now I do and love it, plus I walk at least 40 mins a day and love that too. Wanting to find out what happens next gets me out the door regardless of the weather or what level of bedlam is taking place at home

Sorry, that took ages to explain

I’m still WFH, and DD’s school is still open (touch wood), so my weekdays have some structure.

I gained a stone in the first lockdown, and I’ve not been able to shift it by myself, so I’ve been seeing a trainer. I’m really enjoying it! We exercise in the park, I’m getting my fitness back, and it gives me something to look forward to.

Weekends are going to be tough, aside from the playground I don’t really know how I’m going to keep DD going through all of this!

This lockdown is very different as the children are still at school so it shouldn't be a lot different to normal life for me. I'm still working every day, I've been avoiding town anyway as I dislike having to wear a mask so don't shop for fun now. I'm in a bubble with my mum and brother as I'm a single parent and I can still see my friend to go for a walk.

My plan is to do boring things (clean the oven/sort the airing cupboard, move the furniture general cleaning that someone less slovenly than me would probably normally do) every boring thing I do i will think about the time I am saving for when spring comes and I can do all the normal lovely things again.
Plus I've recently given up drinking, I was a seriously heavy drinker, so I'm trying to feel the joy of sleeping well and waking up feeling good.