Booooored

I haven't really had time to be bored.
Extra time cleaning doorhandles bannisters phones.. anywhere we touch.
Trying to organise food online.
Keeping in touch with children on the phone. Son and partner had virus (we think- no test) Daughters 2 sons ill. Third sons wife and daughter ill.
Today over an hour spent queuing outside chemist for prescription. Continually changing towels and washing.
I've never been so busy.
I hope to paint tomorrow...

If anyone hasn't found any suggestions among the many on this thread, have a search on the internet and see if you can find anything there. If you STILL can't see anything that you want to do, why not consider doing something that you don't want to do, but which would help some of the many people who would just love to have the luxury of choosing an activity.

If yo like cooking, is there any way you can provide meals for an NHS employee who is ready to drop by the time they finish their shift, but still has to cook? you'd have to organise getting ingredients and handing over dishes without contact, but that is not insuperable.

If you like interacting with people, could you volunteer to phone half-a-dozen vulnerable or older people who can't go out and never see a human face or hear a human voice? There are lots of schemes to check regularly that they are Ok, and give them something to think about other than their loneliness, but not enough volunteers to contact all those who need it. Ten minutes of conversation with each of them would set them up for a few days, and fill an hour of you dragging time.

If you think hard about what someone might need and what you can do, there will be other ideas out there. You could help others to bear the lockdown, as well as relieve your own "boredom".

Hollysteers don't you think that telling anyone (presumably the OP) that they sound like a six year old is very unkind?
I don't know the OP, or any of the other posters, but I really feel that in this unprecedented time of stress we should all be very careful about slapping anyone down.
None of us know how others are feeling - some are coping well, others not so well. The OP (or the person you were referring to) may be feeling very scared and alone?
Feelings can be hurt so please let's all think twice and perhaps, if we can't say something nice say nothing at all?

I am finding it hard to settle to my usual activities of learning a language, reading, knitting, jigsaws and so on. I am feeling a sort of anxiety that persists and I am sure many others will be in the same boat. I live alone in a flat with no outdoor space which seems such a shame in this weather. I admire those of you who seem to be in a busy and constructive routine but I haven't got there. I am just doing what I feel like and reminding myself that this is a marathon and not a sprint.

Hang on in thereCath and aonk, things will improve before too long. In the meantime maybe you can make it positive. I will never, for example, be so bored that I will learn to crochet (tried it!!!) or wash the car (I'll wait for the nice car wash men to do it - they might need my custom by then). I've already decided to write to some of my family and friends so they get something cheery in the post. In the meantime, yes, I'm doing many of the things others are doing and I guess there won't be enough time to cross everything off my list. What I'm really regretting is not being in a position at present to help out with volunteering. Prints to hang on the wall, anyone?

I'm worn out with all of this .
Up at 8 today to join the RSPB bird watch on Twitter.
Chat via text with sister in law .
The laundry still needs doing .
I went to try and buy pet supplies for some one who is indoors ( all the time 2m away )
Hubby was vaxing the living room carpet!
Did a bit gardening .
Then walked the dogs . Th as no goodness for my beloved 4 legged friends. I wouldn't cope without them.
Then evening meal , a bit of knitting, a lot of online chat .
So tired I'm in bed . Couldn't even drag up till 10 to hear Boris !
Exhausting stuff !

I am busy developing bad habits, staying up much too late then reading in bed for most of the morning. Unfortunately nerve pain medication tends to limit what I can usefully do so I end up waiting for the medication to kick in. Luckily my OH is here so I do have company and someone to take turns with tea and coffee making. One thing we are both finding tricky is keeping track of which day of the week it is.

It must be so disappointing Blue Cat. You will have been looking forward to welcoming your new grandchild and having a cuddle, also hugging and helping your daughter. We were supposed to be going to see Van Morrison, staying over with my DS and his partner in London, celebrating our GD’s first birthday and meeting the eventually to be in laws for the first time. The concert is now in November and we get refunds on some parts of the split rail tickets but not other parts. Still at least we are able to self isolate in comfort and I have a stack of library books and a loaded kindle.

My thoughts and prayers are with all the struggling key workers and those bereaved in such horrendous circumstances.

The floorboards are creaking above me and I’ll be getting disapproving looks for staying up late AGAIN!

I’ve also got a little routine going. I get up around 8am, have breakfast and don’t put on the news. Then I go for a 45 minute brisk walk and empty the dishwasher when I get back. Then prepare our evening meal or decide what to have. Do a bit of housework then 11am coffee break with DH. Knitting until lunchtime then do some sewing on the afternoon while watching TV. Tea made and out of the way then shower. Settle down to watch more TV and knit. DH usually makes us a drink of hot chocolate around 9pm and bed around 11pm after watching Scott & Bailey. I also try and do a few exercises in between and dance around the kitchen as much as possible. Sorry to all of you who are suffering aches and pains and cannot get about easily. I will be glad when this is all over but for now I am trying to make the best of it. I miss my little grand children but we do speak on the phone and text each other. Also I’m putting a book together of my life and that keeps me busy. If you are bored then why not put together a diary of each day. Who knows we might look back on 2020 and laugh! Stay safe. X

polnan So true, I partially fit that description.
It can be very disheartening to see jobs or hobbies crying out to be done and not being able to get on.

I envy all of you who shake off any suggestion of boredom.

mbmb … Yes I have that background feeling of being unsettled and anxious.
As you say it's a marathon not a sprint.

hollysteers … silly thing to say, and not necessary.

aonk, Elle Anne …

Abnuyc…. Thanks for that!

I'm reading, sewing, knitting and making calendars. Also I'm trying to get out of the house to have a walk before the crowds, I just can't stay at home without some fresh air.

Great new thread here :-

www.gransnet.com/forums/coronavirus/1275111-Links-to-useful-resources-during-self-isolation

Counting my blessings daily.
Dcs have key workers jobs which is a worry but they are amazing sending hilariously uplifting what's app messages and talking to us several times a day.Lots of lovely chats by phone with friends.
Grateful for my home, lovely garden and ability to get out with our dogs. Can do a lovely walk from our doorstep.
Our garden is going to look its best ever with no visitors to see it !
Gardening jobs a priority until it rains then jigsaws, books,sorting photos, general cupboard tidying.
Neighbours all chatting from their driveways.Some more senior than DH and I so will shop etc if they need us to.
And I have to go out to check on my housebound mum and do her cleaning as her cleaner not coming.Still paying her as mums money goes in regardless and we agreed don't want to lose her or see her struggle.
Best wishes to all those truly housebound.Hope you are getting support.

We are in lockdown in a hotel in Perth. We came to WA from SA a week before they closed the border but as we hadn’t been here for 14days, we’ve been in Australia for a couple of months, we have to be isolated so....Today
We get up as late as possible and have a cup of tea

Then we decide what to have for breakfast. Not a lot of choice as the hotel has dispensed with the chef.

Then we shower etc.

Then we decide what to have for lunch. Then we order it.

Then I cut our toe nails, carefully over the clinical waste bag that we have to put everything we touch in.

Then we ate lunch.

Now we are watching the Iron Maiden on tv.

For the rest of the day - I WILL do some exercises, some ironing, look out of the window and watch life going on on the sun shine. Read a book, luckily I have three.

Thank god for technology and my contacts with the outside world.
Hopefully we’ve only got 2 days left, if our plane flies. The last one didn’t.

It’s going surprisingly quickly and tomorrow we have to change the bed. There’s an extra bit of fun!
I’m counting my blessings, so many people are having a much worse time than us, however I will be glad to get home.
Home will be easy?

Cleared out the bathroom cupboard yesterday - oh dear!!!

Why did I have 4 bottles of Nit Lotion in there?
Out of date bottles of Tea Tree Oil.
Various bottles of Body Lotion from those 'gift sets'.
'Bath Crystals' - I live in a flat with a shower - no bath!!!!!
Empty box off cotton buds.
Used razors - not taking the blame for those!!!!!

Part tins of Deodorant / Body Spray / Moisturising Cream - all will now get used before anything else gets opened!

Surprised to find that I only had about 1 inch of shampoo left in the bottle though - and no spare one in the drawers . Had to go out yesterday (medical reasons), so popped into B&M for shampoo and a bottle of washing up liquid - then straight back home in a taxi!

I'm saving a small fortune on Coffee Shops etc .

Have you access to a phone, and enjoy a chat? Use both to help others. The key sentence for gransnet posters is " Other volunteers will provide support calls to elderly people who are in isolation and at risk of loneliness. "

From the Guardian - "Yesterday 500, 000 people signed up in the first day to join a scheme to help those confined to their homes because of the coronavirus.
About the scheme - www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

"People can join the scheme in four different roles, including as a community response volunteer, which involves “collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home”.

Patient transport volunteers will support the NHS by driving discharged patients to their homes, and NHS transport volunteers will move equipment, supplies or medication between sites. Other volunteers will provide support calls to elderly people who are in isolation and at risk of loneliness.

Volunteers, who must be over 18, fit and healthy and able to pass an enhanced DBS check, will be directed to tasks via a responder app that they can switch to say they are “on duty” when available."

If you cannot get essential supplies these people will help you. If you are bored out of your skull, or are going round the bend with nothing to do or no human contact, then you can help yourself at the same time as helping others, by phoning someone in a worse position than yourself. This is in England, but other parts of the UK either have their own schemes or will be copying it soon.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/astonishing-170000-people-sign-up-to-be-nhs-volunteers-in-15-hours-coronavirus

Finally tackling clearing out the loft which hasn't been looked at for years. No excuse not to do it!

Washerwoman
Well said.

Being bored is one thing, being a frontline worker whether NHS, police, supermarkets workers, delivery drivers etc. Is quite another.

As my younger, fitter but isolating neighbours said "we are the lucky ones"

I think for some people, it's not the lack of things to do, it's the lack of motivation. What's the point of getting up or getting dressed etc? Undoubtedly that is the start of depression.
There's no point in the 'pull yourself together' mentality. That person has to fight it themselves.
A little reward for a task completed (or a task started?)
As this weird lifestyle continues, please watch out for this happening to friends or family.

Abnuyc123 you have cheered me up no end,love your sense of humour.

Good explaination Chardy

As I am normally isolated for a lot of the time, and quite like it, my days are progessing pretty much as they always do.
As an elder of a large Maori organisation, I will receive at least one phone call a week (I could have one daily if I wish) to check my welfare and am in regular contact by email or phone if I have an urgent need.

They will bring food (or medication) to the house if any of us run out - and support us in any other ways.

I wish this applied right across the board to all elders and other vulnerable people and perhaps this crisis will highlinght that need so something is put into place.

There's got to be some good to come out of this.

I’m so glad to see you Bradford. After your post about your DGD you seemed to have dropped off the radar.
Did she go back to the U.K.?