Am I just really... lazy?

[HensInTheSkirtingBoard]

OK, so obviously it's lockdown so we're not really going anywhere or doing anything. And I have older teen dc who are self-sufficient. And it's winter so it's cold and dark and meh.

But all the same, I can't shake the feeling that I am just becoming a bit of a lazy slob!

I WFH in a fairly full-on job, but at the weekends DH and I spend a lot of time on the sofa, doing pretty much fuck all. I read, knit, MN, doom-scroll Twitter, watch box-sets or films eat chocolate. I do a bit of yoga most days but sometimes that's not much more than just 15 minutes breathing slowly

Either DH or I cook every evening and we go for a long walk every weekend and I do a bit of vague cleaning / tidying but apart from that...not much. And during the warmer months we did more or less the same but just outside and with a bit of herb-growing thrown in.

And I'm not sure whether I'm ok with this, or not, really? I'm not bored, exactly, but it does feel a bit as if I'm wasting time when I could (should?) be doing...more? I can't get over the idea that everyone else is busy and productive and Doing Stuff all the time and I'm just sat on my arse under a blanket all day.

And yes, I know some people are working ridiculous hours and juggling childcare and home-schooling and barely have time to think - I'm not trying to be insensitive to that. But I can't be the only one stapled to the sofa and feeling odd about it, can I?

I like the idea that this responsible citizenship though

The description of your day reminded me of this wonderful, funny German government video about staying at home.

www.joe.co.uk/coronavirus/german-coronavirus-ad-lockdown-256326

(video is in twitter thread half way down the page)

There isn't much else to do at the moment apart of the odd freezing park walk.

Yes, and nothing wrong with that in winter / in stressful times. Me too!

Same here OP 😁

You could pick a subject and educate yourself on it by watching youtube videos about it until you know it backwards. I'm on Alexander the Great at the moment. It's a great way to sit on your arse watching telly eating chocolate, AND feel like you've done something worthwhile.

The longer this goes on the less I do when I'm not working.See little point cleaning all the time when no one visits.We make nice meals,walk the dog but today Ive read and watched TV the rest of the time.

You could pick a subject and educate yourself on it by watching youtube videos about it until you know it backwards. I'm on Alexander the Great at the moment. It's a great way to sit on your arse watching telly eating chocolate, AND feel like you've done something worthwhile.

I'm watching travel and science documentaries with my children, they seem to like them and I get some Peppa Pig free viewing.

You've got to do what works for you.

For me it's exercising like mad and I know it's too much but it (sort of) keeps me sane.

It's going to be probably the only time in our lives / careers that we can do this.
WFH and slob around, give yourself a break, use your down time to recharge your batteries, relax, work on your mh.
When we beat coronavirus / get back to some normality we are going to hit the floor running straight back into the rat race, make the most of it.

I reckon as a parent of older, relatively self sufficient teens thats a pretty average weekend OP..
We're having a cold spell of 20'and its raining and completely overcast too so really enjoying it! Managed to do 6 hours of netflix and britbox on sat, made some veggieburgers for the DC, hoovered out the car and had a long luxuriant bath as normally its a cool shower in QLD this time of year!

I'm doing this and feel guilty and agitated about it.
I am a musician and music teacher. I'm normally out all the time all over the place performing. I've still got my pupils online but obviously we've just had the Christmas holidays so I have done absolutely fucking nothing.
I'm in another country. In the first lockdown I completed sorted through absolutely everything in the house. I got to grips with online lessons and I spent a lot of time making something particular (a craft item).
The second lockdown I spent painting and rearranging my bedroom and also sorting out some other household jobs. I worked on another project - learning something specific.
This lockdown started a few weeks after the last one ended and I've just lost the plot. I couldn't be arsed to think of a project let alone do one.
I get up late. I make lunch. I go out for a walk. I come back. I practise music. I do a jigsaw while watching shit on Netflix. I compulsively check news sites for the next bit of hell our government comes up with (not UK and the government comes up with utter shit every two or three weeks which doesn't work and has to be changed or is ruled to be unconstitutional by the consitutional court).
I go on Mumsnet and that's about it.

And I've had enough. I really can't be arsed.

It’s the middle of winter. It’s dark for long periods of time. It’s wet, cold ( especially in north west🤣) That also impacts mood and just practicality of enjoying much outside or being more upbeat.
Don’t underestimate that.
But..the days are now getting longer...
Hunker down in hibernation mode in the meantime and be realistic about what you can do and want to do.

I had the week off work between Christmas and new year. Like you, I felt guilty for doing ‘nothing’.

Truth is at the end of last year I was burnt out. No furlough for me and still going into work every day. I could barely do the simplest of tasks at work. I was mentally exhausted.

After my break the difference in energy levels is noticeable. It was obviously what my body and mind needed

@HappyWinter

I like the idea that this responsible citizenship though

The description of your day reminded me of this wonderful, funny German government video about staying at home.

www.joe.co.uk/coronavirus/german-coronavirus-ad-lockdown-256326

(video is in twitter thread half way down the page)

There isn't much else to do at the moment apart of the odd freezing park walk.

Thank you those were hilarious! Needed this tonight x

@HappyWinter

I like the idea that this responsible citizenship though

The description of your day reminded me of this wonderful, funny German government video about staying at home.

www.joe.co.uk/coronavirus/german-coronavirus-ad-lockdown-256326

(video is in twitter thread half way down the page)

There isn't much else to do at the moment apart of the odd freezing park walk.

Yes, that's great. Surprising that fashions don't change in 35 years though:)

"See little point cleaning all the time when no one visits."

I can't even be bothered to get dressed :(

Just enjoy the slower pace of life op, it’s probably really good for you to be allowed to be lazy for a change so just luxuriate. I’m the same as you, always feel like I should be doing something productive but over Christmas I just fully relaxed and it was lovely.

Today we stayed in bed until after lunch, electric blanket on, cat snuggled at our feet, just taking turns to get cups of tea and snacks! I then had a really long bath with my Kindle, DP cooked dinner, and we have watched junk telly. I have not got properly dressed, just loungewear.

Through the week I work in a stressful job, made far more stressful by being at home. I feel like this is fine at the weekend tbh, given the situation - we can’t do the things we would usually be doing.

Feck it as long as you're happy enjoy it. A lot of us are just floating along I'd a thought today of when life is normal again it'll take readjustment it seems so alien and distant

I feel the same OP. Really struggling this winter for motivation, I know I should get up and out for a walk or do some yoga but don't. Its cold and dark and it's much easier to stay on the sofa. I know this isn't healthy.

I actually love a lazy weekend but I think working from home here all week and then sitting on the sofa all weekend is just too much of the same. I've walked my local area to death and now everywhere is muddy.

In the first lockdown DH and I would go for a nice walk somewhere, do DIY, jobs you put off like cleaning the windows, fridge, debobbling the sofa, steam cleaning the carpets.

This weekend all I've done is the washing & cooking. The floors could do with a hoover, the bathroom hasn't been cleaned this week. And as bored as I am doom scrolling and watching TV I just can't be bothered.

Also feel I've lost a bit of motivation for work since coming back after Xmas...not much in the near horizon to look forward to. Been so busy at work and now I'm just done?

We've been following the rules and not seen anyone but my dad and DH's partents since March, except over Zoom.

I've got a sewing machine I said I was going to learn on and a pile of books to read which I got for Xmas so why I am on MN?

About the same here ! What else should /could you do in January /Pandemic thrown in as well? Surely at the moment we are model citizens! I sometimes feel that I should be cleverer ,more hard working running my own business and so on ,but managing day to day life ATM is fine .

@HensInTheSkirtingBoard

That’s what every one is doing.
Just turn up the yoga and relax

That’s the hard bit. I was planning on chilling all day this weekend. Ended up doing all the windows and things like that.

You are lucky. Don’t feel guilty. I am jealous!!

Your life sounds like mine. We're strictly observing the rules.

Once we come out the other side life will be different. Right now we're surviving as best we can x

Productivity is the curse of the poor. If you earn a life with your current productivity, why would you bother to do more?

The only opinion that truly matters is yours.

You work. You work hard by the sounds of it.

Perhaps introduce a midweek walk and walk to local shops for food instead of driving etc.

But, everyone’s priorities right now should be about maintaining physical and mental health. The world is an abstract place.

But, ultimately- your opinion is the only one that truly matters.

Have done absolutely nothing all day but doomscroll on Twitter, nap, eat chocolate and make a v basic lunch. Ordering a takeaway now. I think the current situation makes for complete lethargy.