What has lockdown taught you about yourself?

[ssd]

I didn't realise what an introvert I am, I'm really not missing anyone. I'm glad of the peace. I now know why I get so antsy sometimes, I just need time alone. I like company when I choose it, I hate it forced on me.
And I don't need to shop every day, or every other day and I've saved a fortune. When everything gets on top of me I go to the shops, probably to be alone!!

What about you?

I love life has slowed down. You don’t have to rush anywhere. You can take all day to do the house work. I too have a horse, I can potter for hours at the field, I sit in the field and just watch nature, it is so beautiful this time of year.

Mostly it has just confirmed stuff like I’m ok in my own space more than most, that I’m lucky that ds and I rub along quite well together and are blessed with compatibility, that having pets is a pita but I love them dearly, that I have strengths that aren’t usually well appreciated that fare me well in a crisis, that being single works for me, Etc.

Trying to think if I’ve learned anything genuinely new. Have to say I’ve learned more about other people and maybe from that I’ve learned more respect and acceptance of myself and my own strengths

Like sitting back and observing wow these people I think cope better with day to day reality than me actually lose their shit if they have to spend a week in their own company

That I am less interested in what other people are doing (or not doing) than many others are.

That I am pretty good at cutting my own hair.

That I prefer deliveries where the parcel is left on the doorstep.

That I need much less company from other people than I thought.

That I really love driving and miss doing so when there's no need.

I sit in the field and just watch nature, it is so beautiful this time of year.

Totally agre. I often think that one of the better elements of this mess is that it happened at this time of year when the world is filled with so much beauty and life. Lockdown in the middle of winer would have been much harder, I think.

I don't miss my GC as much as i thought I would. I usually provide care/pick up etc at least four times a week and an overnight. But the dropping down to around once/twice a week has been great. The care is now shared because of forlough and wfh.

I was worried about when they are both in school full time, but now I'm looking forward to it.

Lockdown has taught me that I lack motivation when I don't have a deadline. I have always said how much I dislike routine and how it was boring. Turns out I fucking love it. So so many things need to be done round the house, and I can't be arsed to do any of them.
Lockdown has taught me how much I miss socialising. I do not however want to partake in any sort of Zoom crap. Got to be face to face for me.
It has taught me how much I like my job. It's minimum wage and can be fucking hard work, but I really miss it. My life is really sociable and I miss everyone in it.
Lockdown has also made me thankful for school, and very pleased that I never went down the homeschooling route with DS. I think it's amazing if you can do it, but I absolutely cannot be around DS all the time. Nope.

That I am definitely more of an introvert than I had previously thought.

That I enjoy going for a walk on my own more than I realised. I'm lucky to live right on a long scenic walk but am always moaning that no one will walk with me. I have walked 5-8 miles every day since lockdown and I am loving the escape. (The smaller arse doesn't hurt either )

That I enjoy silence more than I realised. DH often moans about my R4 habit - it's always burbling away somewhere. But I've mostly had it turned off, because so much content is about the virus and it was stressing me out. I'm sitting post-lunch on the sofa in the sun, with just the sound of birds and the sea outside - why did I need the radio?

I quite like queuing if it's needed to not have to go near people. I like the distance.

I don't think I've learned anything. I already knew that I can compartmentalise till the cows come home, that I can spend ages reading or crosswording or online, that I can ignore housework till even the kids start to notice, that I can go long periods of time without seeing many people, and that without external influence I will put off doing even things I enjoy.

I have learned that both my sons are much better than I am at self-discipline and self-directed learning, so that's good

I am enjoying the slower pace of life. I am cooking and baking more than ever.

It has made me appreciate the people in my life more.

I knew I enjoyed planning holidays, but didn't quite appreciate how much the anticipation of them carried me through a normal day. I am sociable and I miss seeing my workmates, but I can cope. I miss my friends, but I'd honestly rather just miss them, than have to endure stilted chat on zoom. I realised that I am old and ugly from aforementioned zoom calls and that I have a large double chin - having to endure a conversation whilst looking at myself is almost intolerable.
On the upside I am getting on well with DH - even if he is slightly relentlessly cheery - and I'm glad I married him.

That my life is quite boring usually because for me lockdown has mainly meant no going to costa and having to be order gardening stuff instead of going to garden centers.

I miss DD2 (24, doing lockdown at her BFs), but it's DD4 (6) i'm actually concerned about. Her education and what her schooling is going to be like for her when they do go back.

Although the baking will have to stop as no flour anywhere!

Yes I must add , I have one teen Dd and a husband working and a warm home with a garden. We have had conversations when it has been 'gosh imagine if this was 10 years ago' when we were poor in a draughty, mouldy Victorian rented. Or imagining if we had more than one child.

I get that it is very difficult for some. But I am learning lots about my own strength, priorities etc

I’ve learned that I am in no hurry to retire .... just as well as my pension Investments have taken a big dive. I miss my work & my colleagues, I find it tough being with DH all the time (he is WFH & I am furloughed). We are both over 60 so we’re planning to retire in the next 5 years ... I will be rethinking that.

I miss going out ... not particularly exciting stuff but I did a lot of volunteering, book club, meeting friends for coffee etc

That I would not cope well in prison. Seriously, I am like a caged beast in a zoo until I can get outside and walk for blood miles.
That despite having more time I am utterly crap at domestic chores.

It’s taught me I’m definitely a people person. I’m happy to have a balance of rushing around at work then chilling at home. I hate working from home. Really hate it.

That I enjoy my job and miss it (self employed and out of work currently).

I didn’t realise how risk averse I am

Its made me realise the opposite, that life is for living to the fullest you want it to be along with all the risks that might contain. You never know what's around the corner so enjoy it while you can.

I am a natural born hermit; I could happily live like this for years!

I have always known I was an introvert but have always made myself socialise and go out at least once a week with friends plus one outing with my adult DC. I am not missing the outings at all, in fact I am relieved.

I love WFH.

As a pp said, I much prefer parcels being left on the doorstep.

I need to go and buy a hut on top of a mountain don't I?

@GettingUntrapped 100% this, this is how I feel.

Wanting some space doesn't mean I don't love my DS - I just need some space to to clear my head and do the job I love.

That I really like working from home and don't especially want to go back to an office.

That my relationship with my DD is stronger than I'd realised and there's nobody I'd rather be doing this shit with.

That I don't miss shopping, socialising or any of that and actually really like being in my own space doing my own stuff.

That I miss my OH so much but am actually coping with that better than I'd have thought (mostly).

That I'm a much better teacher and have far greater reserves of patience than I thought I had. I'd always been quite an impatient, short-tempered mum, and assumed that homeschooling would be a disaster as a result. Yet here we are, several weeks in, and I've stayed calm and patient on the whole, and they're actually learning stuff! It probably helps that I recognise when one or all of us is reaching our limit, and do something else when that happens!

DH and I really, really like each other's company. He's more introverted than me, so is missing alone time more, but on the whole we are getting on really well, supporting each other, and not rowing.

I'm also not really missing anyone. Have DH and the DC here with me, FaceTime my DM daily, and Zoom with my friends once a week. I'm missing non-family hugs - really want to give my mum a cuddle, get a big bear hug off my male friends, and nice squishy ones of my female friends - but on the whole I'm not lonely.

This isn't to say I'm enjoying lockdown. I'd like to get back to normality ASA it's safe. But I'm coping better than I'd expected to.