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Original poster

Can I ask how Covid has changed you

220 replies

oldandscunnered · 15/04/2022 19:54

I do conveyancing and since the pandemic the property market has gone through the roof. Lots of people moving to surrounding islands (on the West coast of Scotland). They are mostly southerners who do not want to live in crowded places. People also want a garden. For me it's made me realise life is short and I want to see as much of the world as I can while I can. I am going three holidays this year to different places abroad. They are not that expensive but I'm doing it now in case I can't in the future. What have you all changed?

OP posts:
Badoukas · 15/04/2022 20:41

I cant be arsed to socialise as much. I'm less tolerant and find people more irritating.

Mol1628 · 15/04/2022 20:44

I’ve really changed too. Similar to what a lot of people on here are saying. Thought jt was just me!

Fed up of people. I’ve dropped some friends who were just draining and irritating to me.

I’m so cynical and easily irritated.

I’m bored but can’t find motivation to do anything to not be bored.

QuebecBagnet · 15/04/2022 20:44

And I’m another one who’s given up with doctors. My gp surgery have stopped their walk in clinic, stopped booking appts online and dont answer the phone for ages.

Mol1628 · 15/04/2022 20:45

Oh I’m definitely more selfish too and more willing to say no that doesn’t benefit me or my family so I’m not doing it :/

MajorCarolDanvers · 15/04/2022 20:45

I now wfh permanently.

I got a massive promotion because location in an office in the city is no longer a requirement

I'm fitter and healthier

I've saved a lot of money.

I have learned to really know myself.

LouLou198 · 15/04/2022 20:46

I think I just appreciate things more, being able to do take my dc to the park, sitting in the house of a friend or family member and having a coffee, having a night away or a meal out for a special occasion. I think it's been a wake up call over how short life is, not to save anything for best, generally less tolerant of putting up with shit and saying no to things I don't want to do! As a nurse it was devastating to hear there were nurses a similar age to me who sadly died during the peak of the first wave. I feel very lucky, that could have been me.

NothingIsWrong · 15/04/2022 20:46

Oh and as a result I no longer give much of a shit about people I don't know. You can call me selfish for not caring about "killing grannies" and CEV people but I just don't really care any more. I followed the rules, and I still got called selfish for not being resilient enough. Fuck it now.

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/04/2022 20:47

It hasn’t really. I try to enjoy each day a bit more but that’s about it.

TheKeatingFive · 15/04/2022 20:51

I know now that I'm on my own, no one gives a flying.

Fine, I can live with that. I'll prioritise the needs of my immediate family and do what's right for us, to hell with the rest. There is a freedom in that.

It's been positive work wise actually. I've grown in confidence due to opportunities I got during the lockdowns.

Itsbackagain · 15/04/2022 20:51

Was meant to replovate somewhere nice in Scotland but because of all the southerners.moving up and DP losing his job we haven't been able to. Became suicidal, my DM has become anorexic, I'm ill and can't get a major operation any time soon due to NHS backlog and in general life is the shittest it's ever been.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 15/04/2022 20:51

It made me appreciate what I have. I couldn’t imagine being stuck home with a better person than dh and I really like our house - it’s practical rather than my dream cottage but actually, practical can be lovely too so we’ve started investing it to truly make it our style.

Also identified who my true friends are and those who are acquaintances or actually not even very nice.

I knew travel was important but that’s been confirmed.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 15/04/2022 20:54

I've thrown myself into work (infant school teacher) although it's been incredibly hard.

Become more social and got involved with nights out when they were allowed.

Hit the gym and now spin twice a week and do bodypump twice a week. Feeling stronger and fitter after a shitty sedentary lockdown. I cam do so much more than when I joined the gym a year ago and could only swim 20 lengths (outside in the outdoor pool in the snow in March 2021 as that was all that was allowed). I can spin for 45 mins, lift reasonable weights, swim 60 lengths now without stopping.

Returned to listening to the music I love and having no shame around it. I give no fucks what other people think.

My parents have also commented that DH and I have a tighter family bond with the DCs which was lovely to hear.

It's been a tough time but I'm lucky in lots of ways.

Hm2020 · 15/04/2022 20:54

I loved going out to pubs and adult socialising. Now I just want to be in parks and nature anywhere packed gives me anxiety and my friends irritate me I’m trying to embrace my new normal Grin

Flyonawalk · 15/04/2022 20:55

I have realised how little our society cares about children, teens and young adults.

I am equal parts angry and sad about this.

Mol1628 · 15/04/2022 20:56

I hear of so many people saying they no longer give as much of a shit about things and not being a people pleaser so much , where does that come from?!

Yutes · 15/04/2022 20:58

I have lost a lot of joy. I lost some friends, realised how taken for granted I am in my job and how much i despise it. And then I lost a baby.
We used to be fairly social, and now we rarely go out. We get takeaways a lot more though.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 15/04/2022 20:59

@Mol1628 to be honest realising that life is short. Knowing that as long as I don't hurt anyone, enjoying my interests is just fine even though they aren't mainstream. Having confidence to be myself .

SugarMiceInTheRain · 15/04/2022 20:59

I'm more restless than ever. Desperate for some excitement in my life now that we are allowed to do things, however the rest of my family have gone the other way and realised they are quite happy to stay home and not bother. DH more sedentary than ever - used to cycle to work, and started piling on weight, which hasn't helped his knee problems. We were quite crowded so moved house a year ago. Couldn't cope without the extra space we have now.

I have realised how much I enjoy walking. Started with a friend who lives on his own during lockdown as soon as we were allowed to meet one other person. Now we go on long rambles/ hikes at weekends and thoroughly enjoy that - a lovely supportive friendship has grown out of that. I also did a lot of painting in lockdown and realised I enjoy that and am better at it than I ever thought I'd be. It's quite therapeutic.

All my work disappeared overnight due to Covid (peripatetic music teacher) so I got an admin job in a large college and have been promoted twice since - really enjoying it and still doing some music teaching on the side at home.

So I guess a lot has changed. The positive changes have been outside my family life, and more negative ones within it, but I'm trying to focus on the positive.

Lindy2 · 15/04/2022 20:59

I started cycling in lockdown and I still enjoy going out on my bike, although I get less time now.

I'm struggling not to have a constant underlying worry about catching Covid again though (caught it in January 2021 before being vaccinated and it was grim). I worry about how many people the DC and DH have to mix with at school and work. I worry when we plan anything or book tickets that they'll need to be cancelled. Although we're mostly getting on as normal now, I just can't really relax and enjoy myself. I'm definitely not ready to travel abroad yet.

I miss 2019.

NothingIsWrong · 15/04/2022 21:01

@Mol1628

I hear of so many people saying they no longer give as much of a shit about things and not being a people pleaser so much , where does that come from?!
I spent hours of my life trying to help others. Preschool committee, PTA, governors, volunteering. Around 3 children and a full on public sector job. When the chips were down no one cared about me. So I'm done.
Flyonawalk · 15/04/2022 21:02

@Mol1628 Actually I identify with that.

I feel I have watched society unravel, the youngest scorned and the poorest ignored. I imagine many people have stopped wanting to be cooperative members of our so-called society.

SingToTheSky · 15/04/2022 21:02

For the most part it has been positive changes for me. We were lucky though as not much big stuff had to change in terms of school/jobs.

I’ve grown a lot in confidence and since the first lockdown started I have started volunteering, then found a job that has been made much more family friendly due to the pandemic (flexible, WFH), restarted tutoring on the side (including online which I never thought I’d manage) and finally returned to studying. My life before the pandemic, who I was, is utterly unrecognisable. I feel like I have a future.

It hasn’t all been good though, I have had low points for sure, was suicidal at times and felt incredibly lonely. I’m less tolerant - in some ways that’s a good thing as I put up with less (I was such a doormat) but I feel it’s also made me quite cynical, resentful and grumpy.

The main thing I’ve realised though is how little fun we have as a family. I wanted to do so much when lockdowns ended but we are still really struggling TBH, we just survive every day. We have a good bond but I feel like life is passing us by somewhat. And now I have so much going on with work etc I’m struggling to juggle it all.

Flyonawalk · 15/04/2022 21:04

@NothingIsWrong That is sad but relatable Flowers

NothingIsWrong · 15/04/2022 21:10

[quote Flyonawalk]@NothingIsWrong That is sad but relatable Flowers[/quote]
I am determined not to give so much of my energy ever again. Never again. I'm angry and sad and cynical and selfish now.

IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 15/04/2022 21:17

I lost my smell and havent got it back 19 months later

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