Have you been "using your time constructively" during the pandemic?

[Eastie77]

A colleague shared on LinkedIn "If you don't come out of the pandemic with a new skill, a new income or a new expertise you didn't lack time, you lacked discipline". Made me laugh I have to say.

What is the most useful thing you have learned in the last 4 months? Thanks to DS and a rather unfortunate increase in his screentime I can now correctly name all of the characters in PJ Masks.

I have achieved 'keeping my head just about above the water'. This is a super win, I'm happy with my success.

I've learnt I can bake a mean lemon drizzle cake, a new way to add different fractions and that Scots came over from Ireland 🤔..

Other than that I've learnt that juggling full time work, that's really busy, while home schooling/childcare at very different stages is really hard work...

I have painted the kitchen cabinets, kitchen ceiling and a feature wall, sewed some chair cushions and made a little sitting area in the kitchen.
I've also painted the hallway,bathroom and the stairs. I am an expert at painting 😂 it's my new skill!1

I've bought a truck load of yarn, crocheted lots of items, hardly any of which are finished, worked too many hours and came closer than I ever have at telling my NHS employer to fuck off😳🤣

I've used the time to improve my health, as I'm quite fearful of getting ill. Growing my own vegetables, exercising 6 times a week and eating proper, healthy meals.

This has led to my almost having a healthy BMI (6 more lbs to lose).

While keeping a toddler entertained I learned to play the harp, taught myself Japanese and became a marathon runner

I have worked, worked and worked some more 😫

I have worked throughout.

New skill; don't make me laugh

I worked for all of lockdown and then learned what it is like to be made redundant. Does that count?

You have to laugh at the smug git who made that tweet originally. Good thing he isn't someone anywhere near me.

Such a smug wankerish comment.

I’ve learnt working from home is hell, that trying to come off medication during a pandemic is a terrible idea, that I still need more counselling, oh and randomly how to ride a motorcycle.

Jealous of those of you who've upped your baking skills. I only got as far as Fairy Cakes during lockdown.

Drank plenty of wine, am now not quite such a shit cook as I was, and have painted two spare bedrooms 3 years after moving in

All enthusiasm for said DIY has now wained and I have yet more painting to do.

I have been fucking useless in lockdown. And managed to develop raving paranoia that everyone hates me and all the bad things will happen to me.
Too much working in the room where I sleep, I think.

Ooh- actually I learned to cut hair! Did DH’s and DS’ and it actually looks pretty good!
So not totally suicidal.

I have learnt I have very little patience with my children when they are around ALL THE TIME and that there is a reason why I liked going to work.

I also learn that going on the internet while "working" on my laptop and hiding in another room means I can leave childcare duties to my husband.

I have also learnt that my children's school leadership, previously respected, is a pile of 💩

I've developed an amazing ability to tell my children off without moving my lips, while on work video calls.

Meanwhile my children have learned the Netflix password and how to get Alexa to fart

Nope. Nothing too radical. Continued working for NHS. Learned a whole load of new video conferencing platforms. Read more books than normal. Made some fabric masks. Spoke to neighbours a bit more. Bought clothes online for the first time ( dinosaur). Had a good clear out.

Lost a parent, worked as a key worker, completed an occupational course is that enough for the smug twonk? Probably not.

I have learnt loads. 1. I am an utterly shite teacher. 2. That my DC love not being at school. But I do not love them being here when I have to work 30 hours a week. 3. That if you hide snacks in the dirty washing basket that no one else touches that you will get to eat them all. 4 . That FB has a snooze button to hide twats who believe conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and cocid not existing.

I saw that same thing shared at the start of lockdown. It’s as much nonsense now as it was then. I mean I saw people saying things like you’ll have time to write your book. Writing needs focus not time and every Professional writer I know struggled to write to eat for the first month or two never mind for fun.

This has been stressful on all of us for differing reasons.

We don’t need this pressure.

I learned how to work 50+ hours a week every week with no days off and not turn alcoholic

Fuck that shit.

I've been working throughout. Normal hours.

So all this time to improve yourself bollocks has been mildly irritating.

I've learnt that I secretly wish that any person who says "If you don't come out of the pandemic with a new skill, a new income or a new expertise you didn't lack time, you lacked discipline" is made summarily redundant.

I learned how to teach live via Zoom and Firefly. I was terrified at the start.
I can now perm my own lashes and make a gorgeous coconut chickpea curry.
Otherwise, I got nothing.

Yes I am another one who's worked loads of hours and tried to cover her kids education as their school didn't want to and is now dealing with a daughter who is in a meltdown about how far behind with her A levels

And watched others sunbathe and shop and learn new hobbies whilst I rot behind a computer

Tired and bitter...