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

St Johns Wort

I hate that I've now been WFH for 11 months, I hate that my teenagers are drifting through their teens, I hate that I barely see my friends or family.

So...

I go out for a 5km power walk every day, I see one friend every weekend for a long walk, I FaceTime my parents every week and make sure I have things planned for the weekend. Even if it's just a trip to the local shops or baking something new.

Oh, and I get dressed up every Friday & Saturday night, drink far too many cocktails and dance around the house (we even have a on!)

Eating loads

Work until 7 or 8. Tea. Eat chocolate. Read. Bed.
Run 3x a week.
Go for dreary walks at weekends.
Make like the macbeths and think not so deeply on't.

Just putting one foot in front of the other and thinking we are on the home straight , even if it is a bit long and winding road.
Grateful for the small things.
Letting go a bit of standards (house like Armageddon..)

Thanks @lockdownalli. You can stay in one of the luxury hires if you like

• music
• nice shower gel
• good books
• keeping it lite for the kids

-walking -laughing

• a dog

-chatting online -work

• trying to enjoy the new 'experience'

I’m struggling but DC and Dcats keep me going
Little treats like a takeaway coffee
Slightly more luxurious meal options
Long baths with deep conditioning hair treatment and face pack
Online shopping from style and beauty
Far too much gin

Therapy.

Looking forward to a lie every weekend, and a few days off next week, even if we can't do much.

Looking forward to days getting lighter and warmer

Treating myself to things I can afford because I'm not commuting or going out much, like nice moisturiser

Getting front room, which has been a dump for nearly 6 years since we moved in here, redecorated end of this month

Locked away for a year, I hear you!
Vaccine. In 6 months, things will feel very different. The sun shone here today, reminded me we have a garden. Will get out there ASAP and make it the best ever for this spring/summer
The thought of seeing our first grandchild in a few months keeps me going above all else.

Eat too much.
Drink too much.
Walk the dog.
Watching Midsomer Murders.
Crochet.

I have days where I really struggle and fall into a pit of despair thinking when will this bloody torture end. But I try and focus on the following in the short term:

• Giving myself regular ‘treats’ to look forward to and break up the week. For example a long bath Friday night, sweets and a film Saturday, takeaway pizza or

Roast dinner etc etc

• Planning walks with friends even though it’s freezing I force myself. I love DH but sometimes I think you just need to chat to a good friend!

• Planning for the mythical ‘better’ summer! I haven’t actually booked anything but researching camping resorts in the Uk, weekends away with friends and planning my currently imaginary 30th all give me something to keep busy and think positive.

Hope you’re ok OP

Lovely thread OP, I was thinking today about writing something similar.
I feel fortunate that I'm doing ok at the moment but there are times when things feel very tough. Work (NHS mental health) is full on, I've got a DH who is struggling with this whole thing and two DC who are missing out on swathes of life.
But, with a different perspective, I've got a job, two DC and a DH and feel grateful for much in my life.
It doesn't always help but I think trying to hold this perspective (along with drinking wine) helps.
I also bought myself some verrrrr nice soap today (following a recommendation on the S&B board) so am looking forward to using that. If it cheers me up then it'll be £3 well spent!
to everyone having a tough time

Out for a walk everyday whether I feel like it or not
A treat at the weekend - we walk to the cafe and get a takeaway drink and a brownie, then takeaway on Saturday evening
Putting the nice candles and fire on every evening
Meeting someone to swim in the river on a Saturday (highlight of my week)
Getting dressed in proper clothes (rather than leggings) once a week
Celebrating everything! We don't normally do Valentines, but will be going for that and shrove Tuesday this year - and anything else I can think of :-)

Thankyou all for the ideas . Some comfort to know How I’m feeling is normal . Bit frustrated with myself as my coping mechanisms aren’t great - but maybe I need to accept that

Getting up early every single day for exercise;
Sitting down with everyone in the house once a day to share a cup of coffee;
Small projects, as others have said - a pile of three light and easy books you’ve meant to read, a film series, cleaning a room, making a new recipe;
Celebrating every possible occasion, throughout each month;
£1 bunches of daffodils;
Small pleasures in things - a bath, a free subscription online to magazines, a WhatsApp out of the blue from someone thinking of you;
Putting on music from a while ago, and thinking about how much I look forward to dancing with friends again in the future;
Listening to podcasts that are informative and interesting, looking at solutions for the future;
Sending letters and cards to friends and receiving them in return;
Trying to have fresh fruit & veg every day.

I still get cross and frustrated sometimes, but these things all stop it ever getting worse than just a normal January/February.

Daily walk , meditation and keeping perspective. The last six weeks I have been gritting my teeth through it though and I understand why many are unraveling

I’m always okay. Have always managed long periods of being alone and stuck indoors after lots of major surgery, but this is a whole new level. My children are so needy and clingy, I feel just so depleted. Every day is a slog walking through treacle. I want to shout at the government and cabinet. Have you any idea what you are putting us all through?
Then I think of the suffering and carnage on the covid wards. The terror of dying alone being unable to breathe, and I cry for those poor souls. And wonder who the fuck is responsible for all of this suffering? It’s unforgivable that we still don’t know.
I’m not okay with this. The fury I feel, the loss is of such magnitude now we can barely acknowledge it. It’s just a number ticking up or down.
We are disoriented, angry and numb all at once.

But I am grateful I am still here ( I nearly died last year) I enjoy my bird feeder. I make a point Of eating and sourcing the most beautiful food. I spend every day taking care of my broken and tired body. I hold my children close to me and listen to their heartbeat next to mine. I change my bed sheets more often just for the the joy of fresh bed sheets. Breakfast in bed is free. We have days out at the garden centre. An afternoon out is now a trip to the baker. It’s not easy - it’s so hard on some days just to find the energy to do that. Feeding the ducks, birds and a night walk kept me going last week. This week it’s a Chinese and a fortune cookies. What can I say. Bless you all comrades - when we are in hell. We need to keep going

I’m coping by just living from day to day. I have work FT and go into my office at least 3 days a week. I’m lucky my kids are older so they sort themselves out ( youngest is 6th form) I worry endlessly about their future.
I feel like a robot.
Try to factor in a takeaway or nice meal for the weekend but am bored of that now and so over zoom parties etc,
I do keep fit and run 3 x a week which keeps me ticking over

Lighter nights. It wasn't dark until almost 6 tonight. That's so much better.

Keeping going by taking it a day/week at a time. I'm fortunate to have friends who can meet for dog walks, so I see them outdoors (one at a time). I plan my week around seeing them. I've got some good tv series on the go (loving "this is us" on Amazon prime, it's American cheesy feel good tv) at the end of each week I tick it off as another week closer to A. Freedom. And B. Spring/Better weather. I'm not thinking ahead or planning any further than the coming weekend.

I get up, I go to work, I tidy up, I feed the kids, I do more tidying up, I go to bed. Every day! Sometimes I kid myself I am doing ok but scratch ever so slightly below the surface and Im not so great
Yesterday I actually punched my printer because it wouldnt work.

@Tal45

We are literally celebrating every single thing that comes along - mainly with the appropriate food and drink! Burns night, Chinese new year, valentines day, pancake day, days from any religion we're celebrating them all!

Us too! I told my 4 year old that we are celebrating Chinese New Year and asked if we have another giant sausage. She meant haggis.