How are we all coping with Covid 19?

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Times are tough - this virus and lockdown really messes with your mental health

I am finding that immersing myself in my hobbies is really helping me

So I am spending more time

- Home Brewing
- Listening to my music (I have to admit that I am an audiophile)
- Ferret Juggling

How are others coping?

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I’ve not minded the lockdown(s) too much - to be honest, in the grand scheme of things it’s amounted to an inconvenience at most. I’m finding it a bit hard not to hug my elderly mum and dad when I see them though, and my heart goes out to anyone trying to run a business or who‘s been ill with the virus itself...

 

[ChilledGecko]

I usually have issues this time of year anyway. Nights getting longer, temperatures colder, 'trapped' indoors mentality.
So it's a bad time of the year for me.
When the Lockdown 2 came over the horizon I felt great trepidation if I'm honest.

I'd just started a 6 week gym course with a personal Instructor that I'd set up to meet the issues I know I'd be facing this time of year to help get me through.
That bugger is out of the window and scuttling down the road
Still, something to focus on when things calm down.

So I've knocked up a list of things I need to do as well as a list of things I'd like to do.
Generally on the geeky side of life, but most are small so I can achieve those wins quickly and get some of those feel good hormones flowing.

So with a bit of active preparation, I think I'm on top of things.

...oh, I may have the odd beer as well....

 

[chthon]

I can carry out my new job (actually also caused by the pandemic) entirely from home. I am employed again on a full daily and weekly basis. My first assignment is even for a British (Wales) company, Puffin Produce Ltd. I must say that the temporary unemployment did me good, I feel rested and fit again.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

I usually have issues this time of year anyway. Nights getting longer, temperatures colder, 'trapped' indoors mentality.
So it's a bad time of the year for me.
When the Lockdown 2 came over the horizon I felt great trepidation if I'm honest.

I'd just started a 6 week gym course with a personal Instructor that I'd set up to meet the issues I know I'd be facing this time of year to help get me through.
That bugger is out of the window and scuttling down the road
Still, something to focus on when things calm down.

So I've knocked up a list of things I need to do as well as a list of things I'd like to do.
Generally on the geeky side of life, but most are small so I can achieve those wins quickly and get some of those feel good hormones flowing.

So with a bit of active preparation, I think I'm on top of things. I

...oh, I may have the odd beer as well....

I have also always struggled with these dark nights at time of year

Geekiness works for me also - the world needs more geeks!

Take care

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

I can carry out my new job (actually also caused by the pandemic) entirely from home. I am employed again on a full daily and weekly basis. My first assignment is even for a British (Wales) company, Puffin Produce Ltd. I must say that the temporary unemployment did me good, I feel rested and fit again.

Good luck in the new job

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I have to say that my life hasn't changed overly so things are ok in that sense. However I am aware that some of my friends are struggling, one in particular with financial and mental health issues which worries me. It's going to be different for people now going into winter, it feels like that feel good togetherness (which might have only been skin deep anyway) has gone and for many people after losing their jobs in October it's going to be a bad time.

But that's not what you asked, I have been brewing more but conversely drinking less, I enjoy the brewing almost as much as the drinking. Started cycling more, regardless of weather, bought myself a bodyboard and been getting in the sea more. What i've found is that we don't have to rush around like we used too and that's quite nice. But I realise that I am incredibly lucky to have a safe job, a house with a bit of land and am less than 2 mins to the sea, for lots of people they don't have that luxury.

 

[Linalmeemow]

Frustrated at Lockdown 2 as I'd just got myself back up to a decent level of strength & fitness after losing it during Lockdown 1. I'm sad for the 20-odd colleagues who've been made redundant, fortunately about half of them have either retired or found other work already but that's cold comfort to the rest. Other than that I enjoy working from home and not having a commute (not that I had much of one anyway). It's encouraged me to get brewing again, I'd slacked off from about this time last year so that's a good thing.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Frustrated at Lockdown 2 as I'd just got myself back up to a decent level of strength & fitness after losing it during Lockdown 1. I'm sad for the 20-odd colleagues who've been made redundant, fortunately about half of them have either retired or found other work already but that's cold comfort to the rest. Other than that I enjoy working from home and not having a commute (not that I had much of one anyway). It's encouraged me to get brewing again, I'd slacked off from about this time last year so that's a good thing.

Really tough losing your job at these times - bleak times ahead for them I guess

I am now semi-retired but worked from home for many years before being semi-retired - it's good if you can focus it well, but there is a risk you don't switch off

You'll get that fitness back

 

[Druss]

The lock downs are something of a boon for me really, I've always been rabidly anti-social so not being around people is really no issue for me.

My work is in an 'essential' place so that hasn't changed at all, the commute is far more pleasant since there's only a couple of people on the bus now.

The orderly queues and appropriate distancing in supermarkets suit me down to the ground too as I detest shopping, it just makes things so much easier when everybody is living in fear of the great plague hanging over us.

Pretty much all my hobbies are home based so that's pretty convenient, taking my kid to school can be a bit troublesome what with all the screaming, apparently feral, angry little people who (understandably) don't really get all the (ever changing) Covid rules nowadays.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

The lock downs are something of a boon for me really, I've always been rabidly anti-social so not being around people is really no issue for me.

My work is in an 'essential' place so that hasn't changed at all, the commute is far more pleasant since there's only a couple of people on the bus now.

The orderly queues and appropriate distancing in supermarkets suit me down to the ground too as I detest shopping, it just makes things so much easier when everybody is living in fear of the great plague hanging over us.

Pretty much all my hobbies are home based so that's pretty convenient, taking my kid to school can be a bit troublesome what with all the screaming, apparently feral, angry little people who (understandably) don't really get all the (ever changing) Covid rules nowadays.

Yes - I keep wondering what excuse can I make when all this is over for not not meeting other people

At last an excuse for being anti-social!

 

[Scrattajack]

Main social activities were non-league football and pubs, so that's not happening any more. On the other hand, having time to spend in isolation isn't a problem, happy with my own company. Work is not so clever, the homeworkers keep coming up with schemes involving third party site visits, not giving a second thought to the risks it poses to us lot who have to go in. Then again, my colleagues, who I'd thought to be ******* are pushing back so that's good.

On the plus side, all that huggy stuff is a thing of the past and there's now time to get on with hobbies, though it would have been nice if the weekends in October weren't rained off...

My Leader, on the other hand, who loves getting out and about, holidays, eating out and so on is crawling the walls, especially now she's having to self-isolate due to someone reporting positive for Covid and can't even go to the local shops to choose her own lunch.

 

[jof]

Roads are a bit quieter, and its stopped raining at last, so been out on my bike a couple of times.

If it starts pissing it down again, I might have to get some Lego out the roof.

Although we are having to check in with one of the children stuck at university, as nearly all others on his floor have gone home & he has suffered depression in the past. If that kicks in then restrictions or not, we will medivac him home, as we view self harm risk higher than covid

 

[Rodcx500z]

one of the things that keeps me sane is this little lady i trust her more than most humans she is loyal loving and adores our grand daughter who is 7 also my trusty old yamaha F310 accustic guitar, being retired not much has changed for us i feel for people who have lost their jobs and those who live in places with no open space ie garden or yard, mentally i am ok i have always been a bit strong in that department, i fear life will not get back to normal for awhile yet if ever, this thing will always be in the back of your mind

 

[marshbrewer]

I ******* hate it.

 

[simon12]

Well on the + side I will try and get on with the stuff I should have done in lockdown 1 but on the other side I really get the feeling for the 1st time of why people consider suicide. Don't worry I'm not its just like if I try and give up smoking I start to understand why my dad and brother are angry all the time.

 

[Mr_S_Jerusalem]

I find I am brewing 3 times as much and sometimes drinking 3 times as much as I used to. I had to tell myself to stop drinking during the week because otherwise everyday was getting a bit bad.
Also I was running out of home brew faster lol. Except now I have like sh*t tons of home brew bottled lol.

I tell myself it’s my Christmas stash I’m brewing so I can’t drink too much of it.

Mentally I am on an emotionally detached level most days with some days feeling a lot lower than others although I don’t know what causes these dips irritatingly.

I struggle with socialising face to face anyway so the lockdown has both been a relief to me and also incredibly bad for me lol. After all they say the less you do something the crapper you get at it right?

This second lockdown I will have to go to work next week which I am utterly dreading. A grey place with no greenery and I have to wear actual trousers and shoes instead of my pyjamas all day.

It turns out I quite like making bread. I find it quite therapeutic, possibly the yeast connection to wine has something to do with it.

My son keeps me busy at times and as I often lack proper emotional skills we struggle to get on sometimes. Also seeing a 5 year olds point of view is quite difficult apparently.

So in summary, basically the same as everyone else, right? Lol

 

[Gerryjo]

I'm lucky in the fact that I have been working continuously throughout but my wife had to shield first time around as she is severe asthmatic and although she is back at work in a daycare centre for vulnerable adults we still have to take extreme precautions for her sake as I know if she gets this virus.....
It's a life changer for everyone and with constant changes in the lockdowns it's head frying for some and I sympathise with all affected ass no one shall be unscathed whether it's physically,mentally or financially.

 

[Wilfy]

I had 3 months of furlough during the first lockdown. I’ll not lie, loved it. Been back at work since July and our order book is full enough for us to pull out of the running for some jobs. Roads are quieter, what once could take an hour to get home now takes 40 minutes. Mentally, I’m fine but can see how people will struggle. Wife had a very mild stroke in September, she goes back to work in two weeks on a structured return to work. Think that will do her some good.

 

[The Cat]

I'm doing ok. Got loads of stuff to take up my free time such as learning to brew and doing loads around the house. Work is also crazily busy I work in IT and been working from home since before lockdown we've been busier than ever.

Hardest bit is seeing my Mum not being able to have her usual routine and struggling with it and also being a divorced dad finding a way to keep my son in touch with both sides of the family without upsetting anyone or him - that's the very tricky bit. Luckily his Mum and I have not argued for a very long time and have been able to compromise at different times during our extended lockdown.