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've been busier than ever during lockdown. Someone should give that guy a slap with wet fish.

I have achieved nothing new. Just work parenting schooling et cetera.

The kids and I have developed a nice swimming in the sea habit which we've been doing since May and it's probably the one thing we all remember with fondness from this time - swimming and playing together in the freezing cold sea having fun.

Not 'constructive' as such but much of my time has been occupied with anger and disbelief at both our Government's inactions AND actions. Normal life had better resume soon so that I don't have time to follow politics as closely. Another 4 years of their shenanigans and my BP will be through the roof!

I've also spent too much time mumsnetting recently in the absence of colleagues while failing to work and home school effectively.

I'm a fulltime writer and if anything I've fallen behind. I've got three books out by the end of the year, a forth in February and a fifth in September next year, and if I don't get a move on it ain't going to happen.

I can narrate PowerPoints now.

I usually have a 2 hour commute & kids with loads of activities so I have
Done couch to 5K
Grown vegetables
Baked bread
Knitted a blanket
Watercolours
But I went back to work 4/52 ago am doing none & feel loads happier!

Working from home + home schooling at the same time. Also a quick keyboard shortcut to mute a zoom call when a child/cat starts shouting me. That's it 😂

I've learned that working 50-60 hour weeks whilst juggling childcare is fucking knackering.

cricketmum - I need that shortcut in my life

I learned that playgroup and play dates are more relaxing than entertaining a toddler all his waking hours. That it's hard for a toddler to be kept quiet in the house during conference calls. That my cleaner cleans bathrooms at ten times the speed of DH. That each day only has 24 hours and that isn't quite enough for work, toddler, cleaning and rest/ entertainment or sleep. That rest and sleep are the bits most frequently dropped. Also found a couple of new places for food delivery with great food and one with stale bread flour.

Some people clearly live in a bubble and don't talk much outside it.

@Eastie77 Alt+A 🤗

"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”

What a load of shit. I’m self employed and have worked 50+ hour weeks throughout, as well as homeschooling.

Your colleague is either a patronising arsehole, or spectacularly self-referential.

There is already a backlash...I saw this on LinkedIn yesterday

If you don't come out of the pandemic with
a new skill
a new income or
a new expertise

you are entirely normal

I had lots of plans when this initially started, along with dh.

Reality is though that we've both been busier than ever working from home - I teach, dh is a solicitor specialising in wills and probate type stuff. So we've had no spare time to do anything new.

Just Working ( MS teams is a new skill isn’t it?)and holding it together whilst moving house, keeping the family together ( zooming - another skill) and making lots of sourdough with a mother. Also another skill. Any more than that and I would have crumpled. Plus I lost 20lbs in weight thru the stress of it all so I think that covers everything.

Yes, I've used my time - working, often 5 days a week, 2 children to home school and keeping the house, shopping which suddenly took much longer etc etc

Anyone who said such piffle would get short shrift off me

Nope. I had a baby the day before lockdown so I've learned to juggle two children which is a pretty useful skill I suppose.

I've learnt that I can't garden?

Been busier than ever. Still working full time in my business, but instead of days out etc., I've finally created an all singing, all dancing database for the business which will save me hours of time and massively improve productivity. If we couldn't go out to enjoy ourselves, I was going to use the time wisely.

I've been working just the same as I always have. I'm self-employed working from home and have never been busier. I've also just landed another big job which means i'm working full time almost until the end of September.

All great - but usually I can count on the house empty between 8.30am and 3.30pm when the kids are at school. So I'm trying to do everything I always do, but with DH at home working in the loft and three teenagers harrumphing around demanding food.

Certainly no time for language learning!!

I have used my time constructively. I have been working and well as keeping the fridge full and my family of gannets fed.

Business = worthiness.

I disagree! I've learned to slow down and do less.

What a load of old shit. I haven't had time to do anything because I've been working like a dog!

I've been working full time at home also trying to home school my daughter, what I learnt is I'm probably boarder line alcoholic from all the wine and gin I've been consuming to get through the last few months!

I've been working full time at home also trying to home school my daughter, what I learnt is I'm probably boarder line alcoholic from all the wine and gin I've been consuming to get through the last few months!

I've been working full time at home also trying to home school my daughter, what I learnt is I'm probably boarder line alcoholic from all the wine and gin I've been consuming to get through the last few months!