For many of us, lockdown brought some great opportunities: working from home and the flexible hours that come with that; more time with loved ones; fuel and time savings; and much more.
But, months later, some of those very benefits may have turned against us…occasionally.
Maybe the flexible hours have blurred lines between home and work, and you’re feeling like you’re working more than you ever did.
Or maybe the comfort of home is turning into cabin fever, but government restrictions, closure of attractions, and the inability to go on holiday, just kills any chance of escape.
Or, perhaps, with family in your space 24/7 – and you lacking the daily hours apart you once had – you’re realising the reality of the saying: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
What are your challenges?
And, more importantly, what have you been doing to alleviate the stresses of those situations?
As a public service – both to other readers and myself – please share your experiences in the comments section. I’m very eager to learn how you’re coping with these challenges.
slip-sliding away..... 
I worked from home prior to coronavirus while the kids were in school and my wife was at the office, so the main change for me has been adapting to a full house every day of the week. It was actually nice for the first few months, knowing everyone was safe at home and getting to spend more time with the family. We are fortunate enough to have our own private outdoor space in a big city (London) where private outdoor space is at a premium, so in that respect we could still enjoy outside time and exercise during lockdown.
I have to say, though, that as time wore on, I began to miss the routine of my regular workday, both in terms of professional work and work around the house. It’s just easier when you can focus only on your own responsibilities. I also missed interacting with the world at large, even for a few hours a week dining out, visiting a local watering hole or catching some live music, I’m now at that stage where I yearn for the “normalcy” that came pre-COVID.
All the same, it has been a valuable life experience and learning experience. Learning to adapt to new circumstances, making sacrifices for the greater good, understanding that nothing can be taken for granted.
We’ve had it a lot easier than others, though. We were still able to work from home, remain safe, earn an income. Those who went months without a regular income, or who were most vulnerable to the physical effects of the virus — or had to go to work under life-threatening circumstances (medical personnel, public servants, essential foodservice workers etc.) — have carried a huge burden through all this.
True. It is a big relief still having a job. There’s such a wide spectrum of impacts, but I fear that even people like us who are still working will eventually be affected when the economic knock cascades even further. All the more reason to appreciate the ease we have now…
Working from home gave me an opportunity to sneak in more ‘me’ time. I enjoyed it. Then again I live by myself. 🤗
There definitely is an element of relaxation in working at home as opposed to going out. For many, though, much of the alone time was the commute to and from work – which was lost. Regardless, I’m glad you’re getting more of what you need.
OMG that mandala made me laugh out loud! I think for me the biggest challenge is having to wear a mask with my hijab. I’m not complaining about the latter certainly, but having to do it with the former is a bit tricky. I have a makeshift mask that makes me feel like a bandit. I don’t have kids yet and my husband only see my husband a few times throughout the day. I wish I had a proper home office, but it’s fine… I’ve been working this way for close to 5 months now. People get used to things. My stress alleviation continues to be cake and cows… I’m also running more now. While it doesn’t help with the work situation, it’s something productive and takes my mind off the drudgery. Also, those endorphins. I’m also reading more!
That mandala is a safely violent way to relieve the stress 🙃. I hear that glasses and masks don’t go well…so hopefully you don’t have that as yet another layer of complexity.
Running definitely does help. I think, aside from the exercise, it’s the psychological freedom of being out in the open without the constriction the rest of lockdown life brings.
Yeah, I’ve not done mask, glasses, and hijab all at the same time – only two at the same time. If I did have to do all three, that would be something else! I do avoid people and dogs in a way I never did before… but yeah, it’s nice to run outside.