What is self-isolation teaching you?

It's taught me to take pleasure in small things..........

Swizzywiz That made me laugh. Thanks.

That I actually like it. The lifestyle suits me. Maybe I should have been a nun.

That I'm a personal slob who likes a tidy environment. Hypocrite!

Apart from missing my family & friends & the freedom to go out when I choose, I've discovered that I’m taking much more delight in nature. Watching bird habits, pecking orders & just listening to their sounds trying to identify which is which. Im ok on geese so far ?. On my walks I’m noticing the small things which before I would probably have taken for granted. I’m making use of every scrap of food whereas before I’d probably waste some. The pace of life reminds me of my childhood when we had to find our own amusement. Too much to hope that it continues when ‘normality’ resumes. I’m also acquiring a flat bottom from sitting (in the sun) too long - and a very tanned front.
I’m trying not to worry (sticking my head in the sand) about what is to come nationally & globally, particularly financially , Employment, mental/physical health .... Sadly it is what it is but I believe we’ll come out of it eventually and hopefully alter our ways after this devastating learning curve

It’s taught me that a six pack of fudge bars can last an afternoon

As Gabriella said, the air is cleaner. I have very dodgy lungs and decided I should keep a daily check under the circumstances. My peak flow has improved for the first time in years. There are no planes using the nearby airport and very few cars going past.

I'm lucky still having my DH with me.

At the beginning of this I dreaded being shut away for weeks and thought I would go stir crazy. I used like outings and events to look forward to and wouldn't like staying in too often. However, after resigning myself to the fact I was going nowhere and neither was anyone else, I have quite accepted it. Still see my daughter and grandchildren via Skype. In fact yesterday 6 year old read a story to us and we had a set of question to ask her about it which was lovely.

We consider ourselves the lucky ones, our mortgage is paid we get our pensions turning up regularly and lots of others are in a far worse position.

I have learned that I am quite happy entertaining myself and being alone. I don’t need to be out doing stuff all the time. I am finding I can easily occupy myself for hours on end.
In a way I am happy every one is in the same boat as I could be like Eloethan and feel I was missing out.

I am happy about the environmental aspects of the lockdown but worry about the increase of domestic violence!

(Or we need a little bit of a break from each other.)

I can be intentionally irritating.

There are some really thoughtful and good posts on here.
gabriella so true.
eleothan liked your reflection on the animals.
crafty I’m with you, I have discovered that I’m more of an introvert than I realised, and although I do enjoy meeting friends I am entirely happy in my own company.

My big lesson is how quickly the environment would recover if we left it alone. I have noticed the brighter stars and fresher air, I am loving it and really really don’t want to go back to air that gives my son asthma (he is a cyclist and his chest is clearing) and pushes nature to the fringes.

I've learned that I probably do too much. I was so concerned when I retired that I'd end up just doing housework, making meals and watching TV - but I seem to have gone too much the other way.

I'm normally busy every day of the week, including looking after grandchildren after school on two days and visiting my Mum on one. I enjoy keeping active but, to some extent, I've enjoyed spending more time at home and not having to rush out for choirs and classes.

However, if it weren't for the current semi-lockdown situation and if everybody else was going out, meeting with friends, going to groups and classes, I would feel I was missing out. It's ridiculous and rather immature but I fear it is true.

I hope I am able to make this worrying time serve some good purpose. Although I can't drive and don't usually travel in a car more than a short distance on a couple of days a week, I am going to make more effort to use public transport, even on longer journeys. I also don't do that much shopping for inessentials but I'm going to try and shop less in future and to choose more carefully the products I buy, with a view to environmental concerns. The photographs of the clear canals in Venice, the deer relaxing on the green of a housing estate in Harold Hill and the wild goats in the town of Llandudno made me think about how much our lives have impinged upon the lives of other animals.

As a person who doesn't at all enjoy talking on the phone, I have forced myself to do so in order to keep in touch with friends and family. I'm finding it's getting easier so I've learned that my usual way of avoiding anything that causes me discomfort (that includes anything computer-related) is defeatist and should be challenged sometimes.

I've learned how important friends are - in fact I already knew that, but I appreciate it more keenly now.

The news has far far fewer reports of stabbings, scooter robberies, weekend fights outside pubs and clubs. We have cleaner air, more time to reflect on the way in which we live and how we spend our money and time.
I appreciate all this and doubly appreciate the people who are keeping our services running and make sure to thank those with whom I interact albeit via email or phone.
I recognise that refuse collections have been stopped in some areas, thankfully, ours have not and I make an effort to let them know they are appreciated. Likewise our posties and couriers. When these services stop we get up in arms but sadly don't always appreciate them when things run smoothly.
If one tiny cog is missing, a watch however expensive, will not work. IMO, it's the ants keeping the infrastructure running who are the unsung 'heros', not the CEOs.

I thought this was lovely.

❤️ Home

'And people stayed at home,
And read books,
And listened,
And they rested,
And did exercises,
And made art and played,
And learned new ways of being,
And stopped and listened
More deeply.
Someone meditated, someone prayed,
Someone met their shadow,
And people began to think differently,
And people healed.
And in the absence of people who
Lived in ignorant ways,
Dangerous, meaningless and heartless,
The earth also began to heal.
And when the danger ended and
People found themselves,
They grieved for the dead,
And made new choices,
And dreamed of new visions,
And created new ways of living,
And completely healed the earth,
Just as they were healed.'

~ Catherine M. O’Meara

I love hanging out washing on the line on a lovely sunny day. I already knew that.

Today as I took OH's shirt off the line I thought "do I need to iron this shirt?". We are self isolating. I'm the only one who will see him wearing a crumpled shirt and I don't mind. I don't think he has ever noticed whether his shirts been ironed. I don't like ironing so an I just give it up until we get out again?

Most of the above apart from your neighbours obviously.
Plus I'm reminded of how lovely it was when there were far fewer cars on the roads.
That I am not easily bored except by television.
That I miss chocolate.
I agree grannyactivist about having to accept charity and to accept we are now officially old.

I have learnt that I cannot bake or do DIY successfully, I am sure that 20 years ago I could do both.

I miss driving but always thought I could do without a car.

I've discovered that:
1. one of my neighbours is a total fruitcake.
2. putting off jobs until tomorrow (which I thought was a fault) is a useful skill.
3. the usually invisible neighbour opposite is a neurologist
4. playing/stroking my upstairs neighbour's dog is a mood lifter
5. my hair was never meant to be long
6. DH is even more patient (with me) than I thought was possible

oh CB, I wish my kitchen was pristine and tidy it is anything but that, too busy outside working in my new garden. I don`t have time for boring housework.

It's reminding me of how important it is for people to feel valued for who they are and not what they do. Something I've had to grapple with myself at times of illness in the past.

A lot of the people I know are volunteers who are over 70 and do a myriad of things to help others and now, because of the instruction to stay home, they need to receive instead of give help. It's obvious that some of them are feeling pretty worthless at the moment and I find that very sad - I'm spending a lot of time (that's okay I have plenty ) on the phone trying to counter a lack of self-esteem in people.

1. I've learnt that, whilst working from home a couple of days a week is fine, a full week isn't; I really do miss my colleagues more than I thought I would.
2. I work better under pressure. The more time I have, the more I prevaricate and the less I do.
3. I don't like having a pristine, tidy kitchen and house as much as I thought I would. I miss the untidyness of having GC's clutter and toys strewn about and the detritus of children's baking.

1. I can cope with this (I am shielding - week 3 of 12).
2. I am generally in good spirits.
3. The iPad with it’s various communication modes is very useful.
4. I miss having a cleaner and don’t love housework.
5. I would like to have lunch out in a nice country pub with a pretty garden.
6. I may be getting sick of ingenious, homemade vegetable soup for lunch.
7. I am sure I could guzzle a large, sharing bag of crisps, all by myself ...

1. Working from home is fine 1 or 2 days a week, but I couldn’t do it full time.
2. I need a house based hobby.
3. I really enjoy the company of my friends.
4. I am so grateful I’m healthy and lead a full and independent life that will (all going well) allow me to leave the house once this is over.

craftyone,I write a list each evening for the following day too.Like you I feel it gives my day structure and the feeling I have achieved something at the end of the day.