I suspect I’m in the minority here, but I’m actually quite enjoying this lockdown. As someone who works from home anyway, the adjustment has been much smaller for me than it has for many others so I’m able to focus on the positives. If you’re struggling with being cooped up indoors, I hope my list of reasons to be happy will inspire you to take a new perspective.
Pyjama socials
I’m socialising more than ever before (even if it is all online). Everyone’s making an extra effort to stay in touch with friends and family and it’s so much easier to get together now that there’s no need to book babysitters, show your face at after-work drinks or plan travel. Public transport or your sofa? Cold, dark nights or central heating and a blanket? Skyscraper heels or pyjamas? It’s a no-brainer, and I for one hope my pyjama socials continue long after lockdown ends (although with some real-life socials mixed in too, obviously).
Home school
I feel like I have home school sussed. This is because I have teenagers, who have long been convinced that I know absolutely nothing. My ignorance is no longer a disappointment to them, they have no expectation of me being any use whatsoever and I’m free to carry on with my day as usual. “What’s that you say, darling? Can I help you with quadratic equations? Nope, absolutely not. No idea. Email your teacher”.
We’re (kind of) learning stuff
Quizzes are certainly having their moment, aren’t they? If I wasn’t so forgetful, I’m sure I’d have amassed a huge bank of general knowledge facts by now. In reality, all I’m learning is that my general knowledge is sadly lacking. When it’s my turn to be quizmaster, I’ll be getting the kids to set the questions as they already know it all anyway.
Watching the news is fun
Ok, not so much if you actually listen to it, but if you turn the volume off there’s plenty of room for amusement and discussion before you need to worry about the doom and gloom. My favourite games at the moment are Judge The Bookcase (a simple game based on giving marks out of 10 to the bookcases of the various correspondents, based on criteria such as tidiness, expansiveness and literary taste), and Homemade Hairdo (based on assessing the hairdressing capabilities of each presenter, in the absence of their usual team of stylists – this is generally a simple roots-to-dragged-through-a-hedge-backwards ratio).
I’m useful!
In my stubbornness, I have refused to give up my regular Monday morning trip to the supermarket. I did it for years before the virus came along and I’m not going to let a few germs mess with my routine (luckily I’m in a low-risk group). Now, I can pick up shopping for others while I’m there, which not only lets me extend my one trip a week out of the house, it also makes me feel quite useful and helps other people. Everyone’s a winner!
We’re trying new things
In our drive to adapt and make the most of the lockdown, we’ve done things we don’t usually do. So far, we’ve joined in online quizzes and a WhatsApp scavenger hunt, watched West End musicals and Zoomed with family we rarely get the opportunity to catch up with. We’ve also had our days where we couldn’t be bothered to do anything at all and amused ourselves by merely shovelling food in our faces. Balance is good, right?
We’re making friends with new technology
I actually hate technology, and it hates me back. I mean, it’s fine when it works, but quite often it doesn’t and that’s where we clash. On the other hand, lockdown has introduced me to the delights of Zoom and I know plenty of other people who have taken their lives online with Microsoft Teams, Skype and various other technologies, to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues. Being forced to embrace software that we wouldn’t have looked twice at before lockdown will surely only improve our ability to collaborate and communicate, both virtually and real life, in the aftermath.
The weather has been glorious!
It wouldn’t be British not to mention the weather, would it? But how wonderful it is that we’ve been locked down while the sun’s shining and the sky’s blue. And we’re still allowed to go out and enjoy it! Imagine how apocalyptic it would have felt if we’d been in lockdown during storms and grey skies. I fear I may be speaking to soon, if the weather forecast is to be believed, but no one can take that sunshine back now.
We’re safe at home, not stuck at home
I love having my kids safe at home with me. I’m sure the feeling isn’t mutual. But it’s still a reason for me to be positive.
I hope my experiences have helped you to look at things differently and make the most of your lockdown. Be sure to let me know how you’re staying positive and what new things you’re trying!
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