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?

OP If you're happy with weekends like this then who cares?

I'd hate it but that's me and I have to get out and exercise every day or I'd go mad! The though of lying under a blanket watching Netflix for hours sounds awful but there are plenty of people who would think that is the perfect afternoon.

Ask me in the summer though and I could spend an hour or two on a sun lounger with my kindle 😉

'I dunno really, I just feel as if I'm being a slob. Like I should have all the windows sparkling or something!' (OP).

Do you do this under normal circumstances, and does doing this sort of thing make you happy?
If not, don't do it! No one is visiting to see your sparkly windows.

I completely get where you’re coming from. I feel like I should emerge from this pandemic, with a super body, able to speak a different language and have found my creative streak. But honestly I can’t be bothered! Homeschooling 2 kids is exhausting and trying not to worry about the state of the world right now, is all I can deal with.

Enjoy, your time on the sofa, it’s the safest place to be right now, for ourselves and others!!

I feel the same...lockdown or no lockdown. I’m just about keeping on top of things, but the house needs a good clean & tidy, but you know what, I just can’t be arsed. I don’t live in filth & dirt, but I’m doing the bare/bear (?) minimum when it comes to housework. The more I look at what needs doing, the less I want to tackle it.

I know what you mean OP. I am in a similar situation. I feel as though I completely wasted today, hardly did anything and I’m still tired. When I had the daily commute / rat race I made the most of weekends. Now I don’t because I guess I don’t need to. Part of my brain is telling me I’m gonna need to snap out of this at some point.

I would KILL for your life, but no judgement here because that’s exactly what I’d be doing! Enjoy it you may not get the chance again.

I'm the same. The busier I am, the more I achieve. The less I have to do, the more sloth like I become. You should never feel guilty about chilling out and relaxing though.

I'm the complete opposite. I never stop. I have a more than full time job running my business, I work 13 hours a day regularly (it was 15 before Christmas), my "spare" time I'm squeezing in doing things with ds and exercising. I have a cleaner but any time I take off work I do things constantly around the house at the moment. I normally sing in a choir and used to spend hours every week rehearsing or performing. When I do stop I tend to get poorly, so I just keep going. As long as I'm sleeping and eating well, I'm fine. I don't understand people who aren't like me 😂. I'm far more motivated when I'm doing things.

Not lazy or slobbish OP. Weekends are to relax. You have a full on job. Stop stressing and enjoy, sounds wonderful!

First lockdown I did big clear outs in the house, back garden was looking great. Out for walks, car picnics, creative at home cinema nights and other activities to keep the kids engaged and happy. All very jolly hockey sticks,
As the pandemic has gone on and we’ve gone in and out of lockdowns, tiers, blah blah blah I’ve gotten more and more slovenly. I just can’t be arsed. I’m not a very social person anyway so when lockdowns are bothering someone like me who would choose being home over being out, well you know it’s gotten bad!
We’re surviving. I’m making sure the kids are mentally ok. I think that’s enough. I don’t need to come out of this with a six pack, new hobby, skill or language. Just coming out alive is an achievement at this point

I could have written your post OP, though I'm not sure I can blame the lockdowns. I seem to feel that if I'm not at work, I deserve to be chilling out. However I also feel like that isn't making me happy and I'd like to be doing more...

I periodically go through the same thought process. We've definitely become homebodies since Covid. I used to need to get out every day but now I'm quite happy not to leave the house for up to about 36 hours at a time.

We used to be out and about every weekend - but then we had younger children, one of whom has ADHD, so from the moment they woke up it was "What are we doing today?!!!!!!" It was fun but exhausting.

It's quite nice to just stop now, and enjoy being home.

A lot of wise words on this thread about slowing down and refilling our reserves. I loved the story from the paper that someone posted up there. I actually read it to my kids, and my 17 year old said "You mean it's not just me?"

I'm with you OP. This weekend I have been so lazy. I managed a walk out for a few hours but otherwise mainly loafed around and achieved little.

Im feeling January blues. WFH and home schooling with swim baths closed so can't really exercise, fed up of ground hog day, years not got going yet (schooling shock compromised work), my diet is shit still and I don't feel like going for a run as it cold and slippy out.

I figure I will get more energy in February and hopefully we will be on the home straight to school going back so at least we can concerntrate between 9 and 3!

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.

Lol I like you a lot, you seem fun. I would say that I do same as you, but I study full time so I m in placement online. I can't say I m doing fuck all, but being on the laptop still lands me on a chair or sofa, sometimes bed lol. So don't he hard on yourself, the lockdown changed us a lot, I used to go outside daily before, now I can't imagine going for a walk...It's not laziness, maybe a bit of depression, at least this is how I feel. Enjoy the fact your children are older and get a well deserved chill out, you been raising kids all your life, so maybe this is the reward to just chill.

Yoga...nice walks...prepare dinners. That’s more than what I’m doing at the moment!

"Should be" is a nasty, nasty phrase. If the house isn't actually dirty, if everyone is fed and clothed, there is not one thing you should be doing to live up to someone else's ideals. Set your own.

Look, my house is neat. It is organized. The counters are wiped, and the floors are clean. It is also covered in dust. I HATE TO DUST! One of my friends had the effrontery to write "dust me" on a bookshelf, then laughed and said, "I guess you'll dust now!" I replied, "Why? It'll fill in eventually." I do dust, but when I feel like it, not when someone else thinks I should.

YOU DO YOU! Your circus, your monkeys, your decision.

So you work a FT busy job, have a teen at home, clean and cook and walk at the wknd and do yoga and knitting? Sounds like loads to me. What else do you think you 'should' be doing?

Don’t feel guilty. Life is rather difficult atm so you just need to go with what works for you.
I work Mon - Sat 1300 teaching live lessons (private school). It’s full on; I also worked from 12-2100 today, planning, marking and recording data etc.

"Grey tepid sludge life"
This is so true
Have lost all sparkle and my sludge is tinged with worry b/c dh has been out of work 6 months

I'm doing a lot of DIY during this time, but it's tiring! At least I'm gradually getting my house sorted out..

Unfortunately my gym is closed at the moment- it opened for one day on the 4th of January, but closed the following day following lockdown! I really miss my fellow gym bunnies, and getting some vigorous exercise in the morning, especially running! It's too cold to go jogging outside at the moment, but I'll really have to go back to doing this soon, or I'll turn into a vegetable..

I really wouldn’t worry about it but you obviously are concerned. No need. Have a strategy to deal with how you feel. For example, make a list of small jobs to do each day (one job a day is enough) then tick off as you do them: clean toaster and kettle, tidy cutlery drawer, throw out old magazines/papers.
When you have ticked your job for the day you will feel a sense of achievement which you clearly don’t feel atm.
But really, you are doing fine so don’t get too stressed about it.

Same same same
Although I can’t wait to get back into the garden.

Struggling with it terribly. Husband is a sofa slob 24/7and has been for 15 years. Does not do anything to the point I am involving Dr's now. Me not being able to go anywhere means I witness it which is making me feel ill. I usually stay out as much as possible and I usually see small granddaughter neither of those are happening. Only thing I can do is diy and I've gone into overdrive with it. But still depression has returned and I'm not sleeping this lock down was the last thing I needed on the pile of shit I have

@orchidsonabudget I'm really sorry to hear that about your DH, I hope the situation improves soon. It is so tough. And to @Dontknowanymore2 as well

@Mamanyt oh god the dust! I do a bit of desultory wiping of surfaces to keep things vaguely hygienic but I'm another one who loathes dusting. We have a table that's sort of in a corner behind the front door so I never really notice it...I wiped my finger across it this morning and it was thick with dust Maybe that will be my achievement for the day...