I thought I would take a moment to look on the positive side. Where I am the shut down probably will not be over until June the earliest and July at latest. I am still being paid and I am working from home every day.

1. Getting Sleep: Because i don't have to commute I am sleeping at least another 2 hours each day. This is just amazing - I suspect - for my body. I get some really quality sleep these days. I have so much more energy per day.

2. Eating my own food: by and large I am making my own sandwiches and making my own breakfast -- when I want to, and how I want to. This has allowed me to save money, actually not gain weight, and get better at home cooking. I am having less coffee because I don't need to force myself awake. I am wondering if soon I will be able to give it up. I did this when I was in grad school because if I got tired, I could just sleep.

3. Less Distractions: Though I am more efficient at work, there are tons more distractions. People walking in, useless phone calls. Right now I am using an awkward computer but if I was set up at home going forward, it would be magical.

4. More time for Breaks I am the type of person who does best by doing 2 hours work and then resting for 2 hours, and then going back and so forth. This doesn't work well in the 9 to 5 world. But working at home I can work at my pace and with what is best for me. For instance today I am going to do some work. Because it is easier for me to do like 4 hours a day than to do 8 in 5 days. It just works better. I did this in grad school. If I got tried studying I just went to sleep. I would do the work when I woke up.

5. Able to get things done. It is just amazing to be able to head off to the doctor's office for an hour before I even start work. This would be impossible with a commute on a normal work day.

6. Starting to fall back into who I used to be: This is really a kicker but I have been working full time for 20 years. With very little time off. Being in the house, all day, every day... just allows for your brain to rest. For you to start to think about you. For you to get a lot of those long delayed projects done, for you to have joy about getting those project done. You start to come back to yourself. To have faith and courage that if something comes up, you can handle it.

7. Leave time. Because I can get things done outside of work and still put in an 8 hour day. I haven't had the need for leave time in weeks. This is starting to make a real difference.

8. Retirement: I have always worried that retirement would drive me crazy, but, I am starting to really think I will love it. I am starting to consider a business when I retire. I think I might like to have 4 hours or so of work per day. But I feel like I am getting a feel for what retirement will be like and I am happy about it.

9. Kitty: Well my kitty is NOT thrilled that I am home... he is not getting his beauty sleep. However, I do feel like he is happy that i am home. (albeit confused)

10. Dressing / Showering: Though I do "Zoom" with regard to work, so I can't look horrible. I have saved sooo much money by not having to dry clean clothing, or clean clothing (I have enough clean clothing to last a month) and yes, if I am not going out, I am going to shower every 2nd day. The thing with this is that it also saves time. Not having to prepare clothing.

11. Money Savings: Though I lost a lot of money in the stock market, I am saving a lot each month. No dry cleaning, no coffee / snacks in the afternoon, no gas (but that is super cheap now), less on food, no eyebrow wax, no hair salon, no new clothing. Less opportunities to buy things that aren't necessary.

And you?

Oh also

12. Taking Medications / Supplements I am really bad at taking these things. Often forgetting to take them when they are right in front of me. Now, while I am cooking or cleaning and pass them, I can just take them. I have even made it a practice to take magnesium at the end of the day. My suspicion... that most times i am too tired at night to bother taking a supplement, I just want to go to bed. But with more energy and time... magic.

[Skeezyks]

It sure is QUIET around here...

[mote.of.soul]

Well, my dull old life isn't different at all, to be honest, except I've come to realize my hair doesn't actually look too bad in it's natural form. I might keep it this way but just get the sides trimmed a bit, after the lockdown.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by mote.of.soul

Well, my dull old life isn't different at all, to be honest, except I've come to realize my hair doesn't actually look too bad in it's natural form. I might keep it this way but just get the sides trimmed a bit, after the lockdown.

I'm pretty much with you - including the hair

I am delighted because my bank has no overdraft fees for at least 60 days.

So I am pretty excited. I got some lab tests yesterday. Ever since I got sick in January ( and yes I think I had Covid-19) my labs have been super messed up. But even before that things were moving in the wrong direction. Alkaline phosphate has been moving up for about 10 years.

- my liver enzymes were high -- as was my alkaline phosphate (signs of liver damage potentially)
- my WBC was low.
- my differential was abnormal
- my glucose kept coming back extremely high.

But the labs I got back yesterday came back amazing.
- liver enzymes and alkaline phosphate came back absolutely amazing. Dropped to levels I haven't seen in 10 years.
- WBC is still on the low side for me but it came up and is much improved.
- Differental was normal for the first time in ages.
- Glucose was actually kind of low.

I really believe this all happened because of the rest, ability to eat homemade foods, and supplement support I have been able to give my body over the last few weeks..

Now I am really wondering, is my job killing me? And if so, what to do about it?

[Mountaindewed]

I keep finding new things to do. The other day I discovered Amazon prime music.

[Helper2]

I had this talk with my brother yesterday, we both said despite how bad covid is it has been the best thing for us. We are spending more time with the family, working on the house and reading. I would never have had this time to work on myself. I found out about the root causes of my anger and how to recognize it. I wouldn't lie being at home stuck can be terrible but i found a way to make the best of it. It is like CBT work all over again. I would say this has been a life changing experience and I am looking forward for good things to come in the future!

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[downandlonely]

I like not having to drive and being able to sleep more in the mornings.

[TishaBuv]

I’m embarrassed to admit my life has become a little less isolated and boring now. Our middle son is home during this and able to still work on his grad school, so he’s liking it, too. He’s happy to have us as company and making him food. I’m happy to have him added here for company.

[Mountaindewed]

I was thinking of taking a LOA from work for mental health reasons literally about 2 days before they closed. Now I’m really glad I didn’t.

[MuseumGhost]

Yes, we're actually saving money throughout this last few months. Not having to drive as much (and gas is inexpensive right now), has helped a lot. Making more meals from scratch out of necessity saves us even more. Not having as much laundry to do, that saves on electricity and water.

I was really worried how my husband would react to being home a lot. His job is very physical, but he's his own boss and he loves that aspect of it. He's coping quite well, and has even developed a bit of a mellow attitude over the last few weeks. He's been helpful around the house without being asked. And he's gone with me on walks, which is how it always used to be. That's a huge relief for me, because he is normally a workaholic who is often very unhappy stuck at home. It's a very good thing to know we're bonding throughout this time, and not getting on each others nerves as I feared we would.

I'm accomplishing more with him around, because it is a motivating thing. He is pretty tall, so he can help with a lot of tasks that I couldn't do on my own without a massive ladder. We're laughing more than we used to. It's all been pretty amazing.

[Travelinglady]

the air pollution problem is getting better

[eskielover]

Getting so much brush cleared around mybfarm it is really feeling good not running off to different things I was involved in. Though with my horse at the neighbors barn & they moved so that farm is vacant, I am msintsining the mowing there so it doesn't look deserted & it stays a nice place to keep my horse. Mucking her stall several times a day too. This time to myself helps me get the things I need to get done & I am loving it actually. I still stay in contact with friends & we do get together with reasonable social distancing but not as groups.

Lol....my farm hasn't looked this good since I moved here 13 years ago

[Medusax]

WHAT shutdown??? I was actually looking forward to not working for awhile because I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a bit of down time. Not HUGE amount, but some. No such luck...

[mote.of.soul]

Nature gets a little respite from mans destructive ways.

Originally Posted by Medusax

WHAT shutdown??? I was actually looking forward to not working for awhile because I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a bit of down time. Not HUGE amount, but some. No such luck...

I know. I have been working the whole time. I thought it would be a time to catch up with work but instead people have been making work for us. SO I am just as busy if not busier work wise.

Normally if I had a health problem I would make an appointment with a doctor. But, knowing that wasn't really an option unless absolutely necessary I have been holding off and so far, most of the issues have resolved themselves. I had a chicken pox like wound on my foot and though my doctor did get back to me a month late.. it has resolved enough that I don't notice it anymore. My eyes were killing me but I took self help measures like resting them, wearing glasses, and putting cold compresses on them, and sure enough.. feeling better.

[unaluna]

Did that turn out to be covid toe? You dont have to answer, just thought id mention it!

Originally Posted by unaluna

Did that turn out to be covid toe? You dont have to answer, just thought id mention it!

I don't know. They doctor didn't know what it was but she saw me by phone so it was difficult to see. It does seem to be going away and in fact a lot of the things that were off in March have returned to normal. So if this was covid I think I have kicked it.

I still plan on getting the antibody test but have bene unable to lately with work (and lack of mask) hopefully next week.

[Sunflower123]

I’m an introvert so this has been optimal for me. I don’t feel any pressure to go out and socialize. I’ve saved money. I’ve even paid off some bills with my stimulus check. I’ve had time for hobbies and keeping the house clean and cooking etc. I’ve set meaningful goals for this isolation time to keep me engaged. I’ve been doing a lot of incredible inner work. I hit the pause button to reflect and ponder my direction for the future. My family has grown closer. There have been many good things.

[Goforward]

I have had a lot of time to think. I sorted out something that happened to me a long time ago. Mature me looked at the situation and I know I'm right. This may seem simplistic but the older I get the more "I know what I know".

[Deilla]

I can do physical therapy from home. I didn't do it before because it required me to leave my house 2 times a week. I don't like to leave my house. Pandemic or no pandemic. I prefer staying home. So now my insurance will cover it and I'm getting help for a terrible back problem.

[MsLady]

1) Quiet roads
2) Clear blue skies
3) I'm saving money
4) More family walks and picnics in the parks
5) Friendlier faces, even with social distancing
6) New rock painting projects with my 3yr old, and delivering them to nearby parks
7) Bocce, here we come!
8) Increase in dog walking
9) Beautiful sunny days spent outdoors
10) New Cricut projects

[cptsdwhoa]

Lessons learned about myself that the lockdown forced me to look at.

Time to have a break from internal pressure placed on myself to go out and function. Everyone was at home so I didn't feel so bad for not getting out, socializing, and working through issues surrounding being out and about.