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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 15/04/2022 21:18

Been waiting 9 months for an urgent NHS referral

Lem1984 · 15/04/2022 21:19

I have changed absolutely nothing. It affected me at the time e.g. not being able to go where I wanted when I wanted but generally now I can do what I like it has not left me with any after-effects. Tbh I am fed up of hearing the word!

ohfook · 15/04/2022 21:20

We were exceptionally lucky during covid in that dh works in a pretty bombproof industry that thrived during covid and I continued getting paid as normal. We also didn't lose anybody close to us and didn't get particularly ill.

Obviously because we know people who have had real financial difficulties because of it and people who've had issues with medical care etc I would never say it out loud in real life, but I loved lockdown. Spending everyday with my kids going for walks and preparing meals. It's made me realise that all the shit that I was striving for career wise is not what I need to care about. Essentially that I work to buy myself time to spend with my family. And in order to be content I need balance in my life; I'm so firm about it now it's like all decisions I make at work are centred around the idea of getting the right balance between my work life and my home life. I need to earn a certain amount to pay the bills but I don't need to earn above and beyond that because buying things isn't what brings me happiness.

I'm also a full on national trust/activity mum. Every school holidays we we're always on the go and I also realised we don't need all of that. My kids are perfectly able to have fun playing in the garden or whatever.

So in short I'd say it's made me strive more for balance and simplicity in my life. And made me clearer on what brings our family happiness.

Crikeyalmighty · 15/04/2022 21:20

I have become far more political , I was partly so because of Brexit but covid piled it on because it was clear to me that the gvt were simply winging it— no plans had ever been followed through and acted on for pandemic control despite full reports in 2016. The clapping stuff incensed me— people don’t want clapping - they want enhanced pay for an extraordinarily tough job, proper PPE and not platitudes. Like others it killed my interest in other people’s trivial stuff or crappy petty stuff work wise— I feel harder and more cynical but also very conscious of how lucky we were to have work and space and kids still at home. We have been in Copenhagen for 18 months but coming back to UK next month — in somexways looking forward to it as missed my son and my friends and for long periods couldn’t see them— in other ways I know things are going to irritate me as I know they can be done better. I’ve also got 4 stone to lose. Far too little excercise , too much wine and nuts and biscuits etc (we had 4 months lockdown here too)

Sarah13xx · 15/04/2022 21:20

Hated my job before, still hate my job now but actually planning to quit it now. Working from home for the time during lockdown made me realise that I really really didn’t want to go back there

JamieNorthlife · 15/04/2022 21:23

I had Covid twice in 2020 and about a month ago. Still recovering, still no sense of taste, get breathless and tired very quickly.

I'm suffering from panic attacks. Never had this before. Its very debilitating.

Wavygravy1 · 15/04/2022 21:24

I changed my job last summer and I really love it, however the pay is crap (although not as crap as my last job 😂). I constantly feel like I’m fed up with not having much money to enjoy things like holidays now the restrictions have eased. I’m frustrating myself. I managed to dodgy covid until this January, and now have an underactive thyroid and possibly rheumatoid arthritis.

ToCaden · 15/04/2022 21:35

I have autism and dyspraxia. Every day life was overwhelming. The first lockdown affected trains and buses as I couldn't get to work on time given my round trip commute was 3-4 hours pre lockdown. So moved to work remotely at an office I could walk to.

Then finally finally I got permission to work from home, and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Haven't had a meltdown in ages. Get to meet with family and go out more now I'm not as drained. My mental health is so much better, and I'm even finally pregnant.

So for me life improved rather than the opposite.

FarFarFarAndAway · 15/04/2022 21:35

Not in a good way. My teens both struggled in different ways in lockdown, one hates her bedroom as it reminds her of isolating there with covid for ten days and being trapped in the house. I don't feel like myself, socially or otherwise. Maybe other things going on as well, the pandemic just added a sense of weirdness and isolation to it all. I felt we were coping well at the time with it but now I see that it was a really unhealthy time mentally for us, anyway.

LadyCatStark · 15/04/2022 21:35

@5128gap

My theory about the feelings of boredom and dissatisfaction which I have too, is that I got through the last two years marking time, counting the days through the LDs, waiting for the big moment when it would all be great again. Life was rubbish, everyone knew it, nothing we could do, but it was temporary and we could keep our eyes on the prize. Unfortunately I think for a lot of people the prize couldn't possibly live up to the build up. Life post covid is pretty much as it was pre covid, but a bit more rubbish. And after waiting so long, I'm feeling a bit let down.
I think your theory is correct actually. I’ve ended up on anti depressants. We’re more skint than ever and we seem to have forgotten how to go out and enjoy ourselves and we can’t afford it anyway…
FlibbertyGibbitt · 15/04/2022 21:36

My relationship is over.

FarFarFarAndAway · 15/04/2022 21:38

My doctor told me this week half the population are on anti-depressants after covid.

Original poster
oldandscunnered · 15/04/2022 21:39

I think this pandemic has changed us all forever. I want to travel the world but really can't be arsed working or cleaning the house. Used to clean all the time. Now, I don't have the energy. It seems like a bad dream. I know I'm lucky. I had long covid for about 6 months, really breathless and couldn't walk very far. Feel much better now but it has taken its toll.

OP posts:
robocracker · 15/04/2022 21:40

I'm poor and depressed. Not really sure how to sort it out 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
oldandscunnered · 15/04/2022 21:42

I also think I've become less sociable with the people at work. No tea breaks together or lunches. I just want to be on my own - never felt like that before and sometimes if I go out the noise just feels too much.

OP posts:
Chickychickydodah · 15/04/2022 21:46

I don’t tolerate people any more , I’m more angry at things now and find it hard To go in busy shops .

ScrubUpWellInMySundayBest · 15/04/2022 21:48

I have a low level of anger and resentment constantly now. Just always there, fight to keep it down. I have such a low tolerance level now, people just irritate me. I can’t stand busy places, I just get angry.

Gilesgoesformiles · 15/04/2022 21:49

I think I found myself during the first lockdown. Coming out of a long marriage it gave me time to be by myself (with my child!) and I realised that, although I’m super sociable and love to go out, I also love being home and being by myself. Honestly that was a revelation for me. Now I feel more confident, I feel stronger, like nothing scares me. And I ate lots and drank too much wine

Porcupineintherough · 15/04/2022 21:50

I used to be healthy. Well, coeliac, bit if asthma and some allergies but basically fine. Not any more.

JungleBungles · 15/04/2022 21:52

I was antisocial before Covid and lockdown kicked off so not much changed for me. I was glad
of a reason not to see people…

I worked through it all (not as one as the beloved NHS) and never got one fucking thanks or clap yet was expected to carry one and smile!

Covid itself nearly killed my dad and he now has one covid, my grannie died alone cause of this inept shit storm of a government…I’ve become even more cynical of the powers we give the absolute fucking idiots in charge of this country, and I will now be forever paying it off via higher tax.

Oh and I still haven’t had it…

JungleBungles · 15/04/2022 21:54

Wish there was an edit button

my grannie died alone because of this shit storm of a government and completely inept nhs system

IDidntKnowItWasAParty · 15/04/2022 21:55

I feel like I'm going through a long, drawn-out, permanent, slow-motion mental breakdown. Real struggle to hold it together on a daily basis, the basics of life feel like an overwhelming/insurmountable effort.

H1Drangea · 15/04/2022 21:55

Well ,we’re financially ruined as we are self employed and couldn’t work / earn anything during lockdown ,
However it did give us time to think about what we wanted to do in the future , so plans have been made and are being actioned
It also made me less empathetic , I no longer watch the news with all the doom and gloom and almost gloating in peoples misery

Cotherstone · 15/04/2022 21:55

@ 5128gap, you’re probably right. I’ve been immensely fortunate that nothing bad has happened to us over the past two years - we haven’t even knowingly had Covid! But that has possibly - wrongly - meant that the past two years have passed in a blah of nothingness. Same old same old, just at home and juggling kids.

What I’ve learnt is that lockdown has been horrific for so many peoples mental health.

Fairislefandango · 15/04/2022 21:56

I don't think it's changed me at all really tbh.