What is helping you through this?

[jo1962]

Hello everyone,
Just wondering how people are getting through these never ending restrictions and have you any tips to share?  I have always been a planner and not a 'lets see what today brings' kind of person. However I'm now in the mindset not to look at next week or even tomorrow otherwise I feel an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. I'm focusing on today and what I can do to keep my spirits up. So instead of grabbing 'something  out of the freezer' for the evening meal, I'm planning a nice meal and perhaps looking at new recipes.  I have never been an adventurous cook but perhaps I should try to be.  I go out for a walk every day with my dog, and I'm fortunate to live in a lovely village where most people are very friendly and enjoy stopping for a chat. I'm really missing my friends and family, as everybody is but texts, zoom and phone calls aren't the same as meeting face to face.
So, what is everybody doing to stay sane?
Best wishes
Jo

[Ruskie]

Jo, you should visit the daily diary threads where people talking about how they spend their days. Mainly UK residents chip in but there are also contibutions from some of us from other countries such as NZ, Australia (which have few or no restrictions) and Canada (some restrictions I believe).

The threads often veer slightly off the "diary" topic and there are some quite interesting discussions that come from them. There are also some inspiring dinner ideas. 

Here is a link to the "Stay Safe" board which includes the diaries and other topics:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/staysafe/

[oldfashionedgirl]

I bought a slow cooker and have been experimenting.
There is a supermarket at either end of my road so it was always easy to nip out and get something for tea at 5pm. Haven't been in either since March so cooking style has completely changed. The only problem with a slow cooker is that the smell taunts you all day until dinnertime 

[jo1962]

Jo, you should visit the daily diary threads where people talking about how they spend their days. Mainly UK residents chip in but there are also contibutions from some of us from other countries such as NZ, Australia (which have few or no restrictions) and Canada (some restrictions I believe).

The threads often veer slightly off the "diary" topic and there are some quite interesting discussions that come from them. There are also some inspiring dinner ideas. 

Here is a link to the "Stay Safe" board which includes the diaries and other topics:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/staysafe/

Thank you 

[jo1962]

I bought a slow cooker and have been experimenting.
There is a supermarket at either end of my road so it was always easy to nip out and get something for tea at 5pm. Haven't been in either since March so cooking style has completely changed. The only problem with a slow cooker is that the smell taunts you all day until dinnertime 

ha ha, I know what you mean!  I love my slow cooker 

[Gone]

I'm used to being "housebound" as my partner is 100% dependant so I've had to restrict leaving the house to a weekly shopping trip which takes about an hour. It's not easy, but I'm lucky to live in a rural location and can take photos, day and night and there's a footpath at the end of the garden, used by dog walkers so I see people every day.
Also, I've been investigating a few family history "mysteries"
Griff

[Caw1]

It’s certainly hard to keep motivated this time round... unlike lockdown no1 when the weather was wonderful and lots to do in the garden... now the days are cold, often wet and dull...
On the plus side it’s getting lighter everyday for longer...
First time round I was busy sewing for local hospitals, care homes, charities etc... but since having a break over Christmas I’ve not got my mojo back to carry on... it’s not so easy as I was meeting with someone in the town along the road to swap made goods for more fabric..now I’m not keen on going anywhere unnecessarily and seeing others...
Played a lot of scrabble...
OH busy with 1000 piece jigsaws...
Walking weather permitting... living in a small village lucky to have lots of countryside around us...
Reading all the books that have been piling up...


Caroline

[brigidmac]

I'm immersing myself in family history .finding new ancestors but most importantly using nonegenariand mother and paternal aunts DNA results to help (grand)children of adoptees to trace their origins and get photos of relatives from other connections

& Hoping to get collaborators to help make guides on using Jewish ethnicity and paper trails to find ancestors+ records +relatives of children separated from their families during pograms or holocaust

[mumjo]

Hello everyone,
Just wondering how people are getting through these never ending restrictions and have you any tips to share?  I have always been a planner and not a 'lets see what today brings' kind of person. However I'm now in the mindset not to look at next week or even tomorrow otherwise I feel an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. I'm focusing on today and what I can do to keep my spirits up. So instead of grabbing 'something  out of the freezer' for the evening meal, I'm planning a nice meal and perhaps looking at new recipes.  I have never been an adventurous cook but perhaps I should try to be.  I go out for a walk every day with my dog, and I'm fortunate to live in a lovely village where most people are very friendly and enjoy stopping for a chat. I'm really missing my friends and family, as everybody is but texts, zoom and phone calls aren't the same as meeting face to face.
So, what is everybody doing to stay sane?
Best wishes
Jo

I don’t think you are alone in how you are feeling.
Hubby has said lockdown hasn’t make a lot of difference to us as our day to day living hasn’t changed much, but family just dropping by for a chat and meeting friends for a coffee, although maybe not done very often, does lift the spirits.
At first, it was easy to occupy time, catching up on all those things we’d put off doing because of time. Now having caught up, the only things left are those things we’ve put off doing because we didn’t really want to do them.
I read and do puzzles while hubby manages to find a Z rate film on the TV in the afternoon, in the morning we do the chores, and if the weather permits, go out for a walk, if not we fight over who is going to use the treadmill first, although after 15 minutes my boredom threshold has been reached!
I do think the weather plays a big part in how you feel, my mood is far better on a bright sunny day than one which is dull and damp.
Since March we have been in continual lockdown, all of which has been self imposed, I must admit, only going out for necessary appointments, not socialising or visiting shops etc. It is now beginning to grate a little, especially when reading about stupid breaches of lockdown.