Things lockdown is teaching me

It's not exactly the learning curve that I hoped to experience in my early twenties but we have to deal with the hand we're dealt. The coronavirus lockdown has been a lot of things and as I write this, I have no idea if it's close to being over or close to being extended (I'm on the vulnerable list so I've got at least another 5 weeks ahead of me). It's been worrying, it's been boring, it's been difficult... and it's been interesting. It's provided me with a few observations about people and about life that I thought I'd share with you.

Thinking of meal plans is exhausting

I'm someone who likes to cook. I don't very often go for fast food or nando's or takeaways but I do enjoy a lot of restaurant meals out. But on nights I don't go out, I cook. And obviously I normally eat 3 meals a day, and despite all the craziness that coronavirus has caused, it hasn't changed how many days are in a week. So why then does it feel like I do nothing but cook and eat? I'm exhausted! And the hardest part is working out what to cook/eat. What do I normally order when I go to restaurants? How do I normally fill the meals of the week? Because at the moment it feels like I've gone round the globe and back again in cuisines and am all out of ideas!

No one is isolating with everyone they love

There are some people who live with their families and can't see their boyfriends. Or people who live alone and can't see their friends. Or people, like me, who are isolating with their boyfriends and are separated from their families instead. I don't know a single person who lives with their parents, grandparents, siblings, partner and friends (and I'm pretty sure you don't either) so the fact must therefore be that everyone is separated from someone they love. And yet I'm seeing a lot of finger-pointing about how certain people have it better than others. Yes, I'm very happy to be isolating with my boyfriend (and there's a certain sex factor that adds to the list of pros too). But being separated from my family for this long has been the hardest thing I've probably ever done. I cry about it at least every week. We're a close family who have been through a lot of challenges together, like the times when I was in hospital. And the one thing that's always pulled us through is being able to pull through it together. But now, for the first time ever, we must pull through it by staying away, and keeping each other safe. The idea that I, and others like me, somehow have it easier than those who can't see their boyfriends is just crazy to me.

This isn't easy on anyone

Hands up who's ever wished they could get paid to stay at home and do nothing? And yet, everyone who's furloughed is bored to death, wishing for nothing more than to go back to work. I feel lucky to still be working from home but it's far from easy. I work for a healthcare business so we're busier than ever, meaning that I'm busier and more stressed out than ever. And obviously, anyone who's a key worker or battling this on the frontline must be so drained I can't even imagine. It's interesting that staying home is harder on us all than we would've thought.

I feel more time poor than ever

It's weird because even though I'm working full-time, I'm not commuting anywhere, I have no nights out or meals out or pub visits to fill my time and I'm ashamed to say I'm saving time on washing my hair a bit less often than normal (my bad). So surely then I should have loads of time on my hands to learn a language, start doing something crafty or binge dozens of TV shows? Well it certainly doesn't feel that way. Weirdly, I feel like I have even less spare time than normal and I'm struggling to find gaps for calls with friends, blogging and evidently, washing my hair. I wonder why that is?

The days of the week still have meaning

So pretty much every 9-5 worker is furloughed at the moment (with exceptions such as myself), and those still working are unlikely to have a regimented working pattern (supermarket workers, nurses, care home assistants). And yet, the days of the week still seem to have a very definite meaning to everyone. I still see loads of furloughed people talking about having drinks on a friday night to kick the weekend off. And everyone has still celebrated the (disgustingly wasted) bank holidays that have gone by. It's interesting to see the importance of the days of the week, even when everything else is so topsy-turvy.

I feel like a full-blown adult

Like I said, I've had struggles in my life before but any difficulties that I've gone through, I've gone through them very much as the child under my parents wings. Looked after and directed by them through any challenges. Even though I moved out of my parents house over 6 months ago, it didn't make me feel too different. Cue the coronavirus pandemic and suddenly it's made me feel like the adult that I technically am, living with my boyfriend instead of being looked after by my parents. It's a very weird realisation. But atleast it's been a great trial run for when me and Ollie live together for real. Well, I say a great trial run; it's not exactly a great reason for a trial run but it's a trial run that's been great. When life has given us lemons, we've managed to enjoy the sweetest lemonade.