How are you “keeping going “

[Sunnydays999]

I’m struggling . A lot .
I’m trying to make sure I keep on top of the basics and get out for a walk every day . Dreading half term as nothing to do .
I feel flat

@SpnBaby1967

Drinking too much Eating too much Crying Shouting Working full time

Just hoping I can keep myself together long enough to make it out the other side

Painfully accurate

I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster.

Some days I can focus on what I do have around me and I'm so happy. Other days I just lie in bed and wonder why I should get up.

Because I have to. Suicide isn't an option. I don't know how to cope with all the shit though - none of it's covid related.

It's the fact that there's no end. I'm slowly going mad now I think, struggling to remember who I am, be the things that made me, me are gone.

*because

My faith, Snacks, Netflix, bath soaks, secret sweet stash, family video calls and school parent WhatsApp group.

Throwing myself into work (infant school teacher). Enjoying planning, displays, being creative. Enjoying the teaching and trying to ignore the risks.

At home, decluttering, decorating (or directing DH to decorate), cooking new meals. At the weekend, spending time doing art, cuddling pets. Reading.

Couch to 5k.
Honestly it can give endorphins, I've started chasing the dragon!

@clockstopper

Because I have to. Suicide isn't an option. I don't know how to cope with all the shit though - none of it's covid related.

the lockdown amplifies everything else that's wrong. Hoping you'll feel better soon.

For me it's internet addiction and out of control shopaholic, although I'm trying to get the last one back under control again. I'm in survival mode, waiting for the end of lockdown to resume sorting out all the shit that needed sorting out pre lockdown which got put on hold, and generally not giving any fucks about anything. I'm emotionally exhausted.

Because I have a 14 year old who needs me. That keeps me going all day. Lessons, meals, routine , support

My DS10 had to take over home schooling of DS8 on Monday as I was breaking.

He just had this can do, patient, methodical attitude that put me to fucking shame.

I was about to descend into self loathing when I thought no, this is a lovely moment. You have two lovely boys and each and every one of us has each others back.

I guess for me it's about allowing those feelings of despair. We are human. But trying to take the positive and being thankful for the good people in our lives.

for you OP. Hope things look up for you.

I feel ok at the moment, I think I've got a lot on to distract me:

• Yoga 3 times per week (massive help from a well-being POV)
• Weekly zoom dance class
• Goodreads challenge encouraging me to read each day
• Writing in a journal (a new thing for me)
• Crocheting a blanket
• Teaching kids programming course

I do a weekly plan and schedule when to do many of these things to make them happen.

Are there a couple of enjoyable things you could build into a routine?

There is a fabulous thread on here where we celebrate the vaccination of every single person who has received a jab. Each day I wait for 4pm so we can look at the numbers and cheer the wonderful job our NHS, our armed forces and our volunteers are doing for us all.

Come and join us! (Unless you have a weird Pavlovian need to point out that most people have only received one jab - in which case it really isn’t the thread for you.)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4155962-10-million-people-vaccinated-already-brilliant

@SummerHouse

My DS10 had to take over home schooling of DS8 on Monday as I was breaking.

He just had this can do, patient, methodical attitude that put me to fucking shame.

I was about to descend into self loathing when I thought no, this is a lovely moment. You have two lovely boys and each and every one of us has each others back.

I guess for me it's about allowing those feelings of despair. We are human. But trying to take the positive and being thankful for the good people in our lives.

for you OP. Hope things look up for you.

to you - well done on raising wonderful kids who have enough empathy and awareness to cope when you can't - don't beat yourself up about it, you're human and your DS stepped in when he needed to. Hope you are feeling better. Your post made me feel good - family is so very important, and it sounds like you have a good one there.

I’ve become obsessed with the Duolingo language learning app. If ever we’re allowed to leave these shores again, I’m planning to be fluent.

I’m also really enjoying the Readly magazine app - unlimited magazines including back issues for £10 a month.

I spend a lot of time on the John Lewis website planning an upgrade of everything in the house, but after seeing lots of complaints on recent threads, about customer service, won’t be buying online.

I’m probably luckier that most as dc at school part time (sen) so when she’s gone I go for a run then wfh but some days only a couple of hours .
I’ve been trying to declutter and I’ve done a bit of decorating so keeping busy .

Coping by trying to focus on the little things that are positive. Like, really little things - I've been buying a fresh bunch of daffodils with the supermarket shop each week and just seeing their cheery yellow blooms is kind of helping.

@SummerHouse your post made me smile. My 11yo has far more patience with his 8yo brother than I do, too. I quite often go off to work (school based so have to go in, rather than wfh) and leave DS2 to finish off some of the home learning with DS3 whilst DH works upstairs. We should be proud of our boys....

This lockdown is so much harder. I feel bored and anxious in equal measures. I know how lucky I am I can WFH but the mundane day to day is tough.
I just try and make sure I go out for a walk everyday and check in with friends and family who are having a tough time just to be more involved with others.
Hopefully the weather will get better and restrictions ease soon

@littlelove84 well that's it, I am crying now. What a kind thing to say to some random on the internet! It's these little things that keep me going. for you (what an appropriate username!) and bloody all round. We all deserve them!

And for you too @flyingpandas I am massively proud as you should be of your lovely boys. Mine are getting a non essential prize this half term.

By building a new fantasy life where I move to France - the family do feature - and opens boutique hotel in a run down chateau that I do up, single handedly.
I've surfed french property sites and have a dedicated Pinterest page with decorating ideas.
In real life I know it's never going happen so at the moment its a 20 bedroom chateau costing £200,0000 but who cares it's my fantasy and my escape.

Something else that’s helping me is actually talking to friends and zooming them, not just sending memes to each other. I didn’t do any zoom socials to begin with because I spent every working day doing it, but zooming your buddies is nothing like zooming your colleagues.

I told myself at the start that it would be just like Spanish Flu and would last for two years - obviously I could have been stupidly mistaken, but as it turns out, I think I randomly hitched onto the correct mindset to enable me to endure and survive everything we have all been going through.

I am not clever - just interested in history rather than scientifically minded. This mindset has meant that I have had that two year end date in view throughout, so the short term "normality" that others have been expecting were not on my radar. So I haven't been disappointed or let down yet. Just quietly waiting for the two years to be up.

Obviously if it turns out to be much longer than that as some people predict, I will have to recalibrate my expectations. I haven't found it that hard though really. Just take each day one at a time.

@rbmilliner Chateau Life sounds amazing!!

Things are improving here but it had got worse than just lockdown. DH was in ITU at the beginning of the year after a major operation. He then contracted COVID in hospital. His recovery has been slow and sometimes we have taken steps back.
I was having some very odd and quite disturbing thoughts (I think this was shock) and I was crying regularly everyday.
We are now walking for an hour everyday. We don't go far and it's slow but DH is getting stronger every day. We have both stopped crying all the time. It's been a difficult six weeks.
I am still off work but I have some organised in a couple of weeks time. By that time I hope DH is a bit less wobbly.