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Coronavirus

What helps you to stay positive?

(143 Posts)
Nata Thu 02-Apr-20 06:19:17

With all this situation we all need some postivity. What makes you feel better? My list consists of going for a walk before the crowds, doing some sports, cooking things I usually don't have time for and reading Gransnet, haha! What are your tips?

Growing0ldDisgracefully Thu 02-Apr-20 12:21:17

To respond to Henny, I had considered signing up for the voluntary service to deliver prescriptions and equipment, on the basis that those items would be from a more sterile environment and less human contact. However my DH is absolutely terrified of either of us catching it so I was dissuaded. I ventured out yesterda to brave queueing for the supermarket for the first time since it was introduced and was not impressed at the lack of social distancing being practiced by other shoppers once inside, so would not want to increase risk to our household by additional shopping trips for neighbours. I know that sounds selfish but that's how worrying yesterday's shopping trip was. There was also what appeared to be a 'discussion ' between another shopper and staff - the shopper had 2 small trolleys presumably because of shopping for 2 households and had presumably gone over the 3 items of a type limit per shopper, so that is another barrier to people being able to help out without increasing their visits to the shops. Sorry to have gone off topic here but it is an anomaly which isn't helping neighbourly helpfulness!

Misha14 Thu 02-Apr-20 12:15:48

MawB thanks for making me laugh. I'm not on my own, so haven't been reduced to that, though I'm well known for chatting to inanimate objects. I'm convinced that anything that is "smart" responds to the human voice and so far all my electronic companions are proving helpful and resilient in this time of crisis. Keep laughing everyone. It's so good for the immune system.

gillyjp Thu 02-Apr-20 12:09:59

I go from being very concerned to very positive about this situation, depending on what I've read/seen on TV. I do try to only watch the Government daily briefings on TV but I like to keep abreast with current guidelines and statistics.
My DH is working from home and in uncorona times works Mon to Thurs, so effectively part time. With him home we are sort of doing a dummy run for when he takes full time retirement. We are both looking forward to that. I'm retired.
I have been watching TED talks which are influential videos from expert speakers on a variety of topics. They are brilliant. I read a fair bit also. We've redesigned our small garden (in our heads). We visit our allotment and spend time there enjoying the peace and tranquility. Usually it is directly underneath the flight paths servicing both Heathrow and City airports. Not a plane in the sky - bliss.

LIZZIE28 Thu 02-Apr-20 12:08:22

Music, meditation and the love of great friends with whom I have daily contact.

Romola Thu 02-Apr-20 12:06:51

Thanks for your post MawB. I'm still chuckling.

nipsmum Thu 02-Apr-20 12:03:39

Walking my 2 Westies in the park, baking, cooking, knitting without feeling I should be cleaning, The house is generally tidy but I hate dusting and hoovering. I see that as a waste of time and my mother taught me well. Never sit and do nothing, was always her mantra when I lived at home.. I really don't get bored.

cassandra264 Thu 02-Apr-20 12:01:50

Our young and enterprising local vicar has set up weekly interactive and informal church services via Zoom for all of us who have a computer, tablet or phone - with a half hour general chat period beforehand. Just to reconnect with friends and neighbours we can no longer visit has been great. And people further away can join in too.

One question though - a friend who is a more tech-y than me says Zoom may not be sufficiently secure. Is she right?

CaroleAnne Thu 02-Apr-20 11:56:38

Thank you Maw for that. You have really made me laugh and made my day.??

Theoddbird Thu 02-Apr-20 11:47:40

I am a positive person and live a simple life on my boat. Just seeing the wildlife every day helps. Today I will pot on my pepper plants that I have grown from seeds from a supermarket pepper. Remember...we will get through this. Just had a thought..I wonder how many babies will be called Corona....hahaha

grandtanteJE65 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:47:14

I've got upstairs spring cleaned and am thinking about starting downstairs.

Sunny, dry weather, but the wind goes right through you, so no gardening yet awhile.

It is spring: the cat came in yesterday evening and asked me to deal with a tick that had attacked him. It had hidden itself cleverly in the dark fur below the cat's ear, but I got it.
Poured a dose of Advantage flea, tick and lice prevention onto said cat.

NannyC2 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:46:50

Faith, Trust & Prayer

Henny2020 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:46:27

Nobody has mentioned volunteering with their local Corona Virus support group. Or food bank/community fridge. Even if people can't go out they can usually help by taking messages and other admin.
I am a district councillor -councils will be relying heavily on community groups to support vulnerable and self isolated people. My local group has street contacts on every street - and volunteers fetching shopping and collecting prescriptions.

Apart from this -I look after myself by only checking news websites on my phone first thing every morning, never watching TV news, talking to my chickens and going for a walk every day.
If I get any free time I try to do a bit of sewing!

annifrance Thu 02-Apr-20 11:45:06

I know I live in a bubble but I am thoroughly enjoying this, and hoping it Will carry on for a few more weeks.

We live in an isolated rural valley in deepest rural France, we do have two neighbours within sight. I haven't been out for three weeks and Love having no distrations. DH is much younger so he is doing the shopping and still able to do some garden and tree work for clients. I'm the meantime we have got so far ahead with garden and veggie garden, thanx a lot to some wonderful weather. The new little polytunnel is full of flourishing seedlings. We both love working outside so that's OK. Quite a lot of things getting done in the house, down to the last four boxes of book s from our move 15 years ago. There's quite abig pile to go to charity when we can, and that decluttering feel is wonderful. I have enough craft and se wing stuff, books and films to.last for months. OH is very practical and innovative. He has just made a potato planting attachment for the tractor out of 2 old hospital beds and drainpipes. It works! So he is a happy bunny. We are so busy, but not feeling under pressure timewise and go to bed exhausted!

We can walk the dogs for 1 hour 1km from the house quite easily on fields and tracks without getting near a road. The spring wild flowers by the little river are a joy to behold. I'm loving the increase of birdsong in the silence and I have twice seen a nuthatch for the first time since moving here. Heard about two planes in two weeks. Nature is healing itself. I hope we can all learn something about our former lifestyles.

Of course I am horrified by this dreadful, tragic pandemic and worry so much for my family in crowded southeast England, and they all seem to be coping amazingly. We are so incredibly blessed in this little corner of paradise. There is little or no cases of the virus locally and for the most part little or no shortages in the supermarkets. Can't be said for other parts. Only cloud is the worry about summer bookings in our gite, could be difficult financially. However, carpe diem is what I say.I

Stay safe, look after yourselves and dig deep into your imaginative resources.

Conni7 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:44:49

So encouraging to read all these posts, which mirror my own. All this housework, , chatting to friends on the phone, there aren't enough hours in the day. When we emerge from hibernation I think we will all be rethinking our lives.

Phloembundle Thu 02-Apr-20 11:44:47

Learning to live for the moment.

3nanny6 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:43:00

Life is much the same for me as before the virus as I am already retired (early retired as back problems) so I have already learnt to stay positive take each day as it comes and go about life and give myself time to smell the roses.
I like the phone-calls to immediate family and also extended family as everyone is at home so much more and people phone me and I phone them it's great talking to family so much more than ever. GN is fun as well.

gillyknits Thu 02-Apr-20 11:42:33

Looking at the lovely spring flowers and blossom gives my spirits a lift and also being able to laugh at the silly things!

Rosina Thu 02-Apr-20 11:42:16

The bottom line is imagining how I might feel if it did all become too much - oh dear! My happy heart is, I hope, probably going to prevent that happening. Like most here I am reading, exercising, walking/dog walking for an hour, cleaning the house, cupboards etc. to what will be an impossible to maintain standard when this is all over, and remembering that it will be. I do have a wobble at awful news, and frightening statistics, but then get a grip and work out the percentages - not that high - and remember that hundreds of people are now better . We might have thousands who have been diagnosed, but they are not all ill now.

jenwren Thu 02-Apr-20 11:39:35

Living with my new partner of two and a half years. Teaching him Bridge. Playing Bridge online. A daily walk, reading, baking. Facetime with my boys and grandchildren. I see more of them now than ever. Feeling fortunate I am still breathing.

Maybelater2020 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:39:35

Maw. Thank you for the laugh. I have not started talking to the white goods yet but my little dog is looking very puzzled as she can't get a decent sleep with my constant jabbering.

Sheilab72 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:38:26

I have always loved clothes and when abroad I always bring back a top or something. While the sun’s out I have been wearing an item that I bought on my travels and it reminds me of good holidays

Susieq62 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:37:08

I find having a routine helps me. I make coffee/tea at 8am.i do Joe Wicks PE at 9 then have breakfast followed by a shower. Housework or cooking is next.
We have a good hours walk in the afternoon then listen to one of our vinyl records for a peaceful hour.Today it is The Manhattan Transfer. We have discovered records we didn’t know we had.
Wine o’clock accompanies the news which we watch once a day. Dinner is later than normal, about 7.30 and the some TV. Book and bed about 10
In amongst this is time at the allotment, online choir using Zoom, trying to re-learn Italian, afternoon tea on-line with my WI ladies again using zoom. I feel better this week as I was overwhelmed last week??‍♀️

Coconut Thu 02-Apr-20 11:34:10

Skyping all my family plus coconut cakes !

Davida1968 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:33:22

Not over-dosing on information from any media outlets. (We get the radio news, mostly.) Being lucky enough to have a lovely DH - we get on well together. Feeling very grateful for a comfy, "easy" home and a retirement income. Enjoying regular communication with friends and family - thank goodness for modern technology! Appreciating chats with neighbours (at a safe distance) over the garden fence. And looking forward to the future - seeing & hugging my family again....

Helenlouise3 Thu 02-Apr-20 11:32:27

Getting up in the morning and making some sort of plan for the day over my coffee. Today it's just doing the washing and popping to the local shop for a loaf of bread. This afternoon I'll be doing some knitting.