With everyone being in lockdown, or supposed lockdown, many are lost for something to do. Without their visits to McDonald's, Costa coffee, or KFC, their lives are incomplete and without purpose. I've heard of people being almost suicidal in response to their confinement.
Of course there are books to read, classic films to watch, even mind-numbing TV Soaps to watch. There are no end of things to do, as long as one has the willingness to absorb knowledge, or even simply be entertained.
One can also have fun with food. Bread baking has become amazingly popular, and firing-up the BBQ has never been more fun. It's a time given to experimentation and discovery, and, frankly, what could be nicer than finding new things to eat, and new flavours!
But still there are those who claim to be bored; and they want their so-called 'freedom'. May I suggest that these people are more 'boring' than bored.
Keep busy, keep your brain engaged, and stay contented. And at the end of each busy day, why not do what we do; sit outdoors (if you can) and enjoy a simple glass of wine and a few nibbles; and watch the world go by. Life will seem so much better.
And don't forget Terry Waite's wise words "You're not stuck at home; you're safe at home".
The effect on mental health is being talked about here more and more as the weeks go by. 'People' are mentioning that one outcome of the restrictions will be a suicide epidemic so government 'money' is being made available like never before.
ReplyDeleteThose who threaten self-harm probably have underlying problems unrelated to COVID, but the restrictions certainly aren't helping.
DeleteEven though we had a whole farm at our disposal, Mum hated wet days with kids stuck indoors. The worst possible things we could say was 'I'm Bored'. Her stock response was 'Find something constructive to do or I will find a job for you.' The job would be waxing and polishing the linoleum floor (by hand), or dusting, or cleaning insides of windows. It was far better to find something 'constructive' to do. As a result all 3 siblings have carried craft and creativity right through life, value this 'down time' as an opportunity to be creative, and understand that given the chance some of our best creativeness arises in contemplating our boredom. (F)
ReplyDeleteI must say, I've seen some wonderful examples on Facebook; in almost every medium imaginable.
DeleteI really love this slow life now.
ReplyDeleteI certainly can't see myself going out as often as I used to. Plenty to do at home.
DeleteI was, up to a couple of months age, one of the few who baked bread on a regular basis and never had a problem buying strong flour or dried yeast. The shelves are now bare of both these commodities as people re-discover the satisfaction of home bread-making.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking advantage of enforced captivity to carry out some serious de-cluttering; sadly only slowly as the council skips are closed even if I could get out.
Also working my way down the big chest freezer, there's stuff in the bottom that has probably been there for years.
I've been doing much the same with our freezers. I've found things that I didn't know even existed. As for the freezers up at the barn (my son's home); mystery upon mystery!
DeleteSimple pleasures. I'm enjoying watching my tomatoes grow though they puzzle me. Why do half of them thrive and half not in the same soil and climate.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the sight of my nasturiums, so green and colourful.. Another puzzle. Why are half orange and half yellow although they all come from the same plant and live in the same place.
Lots of riddle to chew over.
We used to buy 25 kilo bags of flour about every 3-4 months. The last bag lasted 2 months, It's time to stop baking!
I've just been looking at my Tomato plants. They all look OK, and are thriving; but they always do at this stage. Over the past few years they've all developed problems, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
DeleteThe youngest child by 5 years, I was often on my own, and always had books to read or crafts to do. Important training for later life!
ReplyDeleteI had loads of Meccano to play with, so was never short of things to do.
DeleteWhile not suffering too much at home, you remind me of how I felt during three days at sea last year on a cruise ship. There was no end of interesting things to do and entertainment, but I was just not interested.
ReplyDeleteFrom my knowledge of cruise ships, those interesting things involved eating, eating, and eating.
DeleteUnlike my other half I am not easily bored. I can quite happily just sit and read or play mindless gamnes on my tablet. He, however, has to be up and about and always doing something. So far, he has dug over and planted out the veg patch and is now happily emptying out his basement workshop, rendering and painting the walls and filling in the cracks in the cement floor before bringing back all his junk and re-arranging it!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can claim to have ever been bored, there is always something to do, or something that needs doing.
DeleteI'm still wondering what I do wrong because I have less time than ever! Ok, today I can't go to veggie patch because it's snowing, but I haven't had more than an hour per day to spent there anyway. My days are fillet with walking the pup (2,5yrs) supervising kids while they are doing their school things, doing my own work, feeding children, getting groceries once a week for risk groups... I might have an hour in the evenings when I can sit down and do something I want to do, instead of something that has to be done.
ReplyDeleteOk, I have made decisions that consume my time (like having children, cats and dogs; having a house instead of flat; growing vegetables etc), but sometimes I would like to be bored.
I can't see you being bored. With all that in your life, being bored would be very boring.
DeleteWell said Cro, no-one should ever be bored, there's tons to do and still not enough time to do it in!
ReplyDeleteSince my official retirement age, I've never been busier. An old house keeps you busy, apart from all the other things.
DeleteWise words but if I lived in a high rise flat with half a dozen kids and a Rottweiler named Tyson I might not feel that way. Anyone with a garden has got it easy in this lockdown and for those of us who are retired from work, things are not too different really.
ReplyDeleteI did say to sit outside 'if you can', otherwise it's in the park; or even on the roundabout.
DeleteAnd nobody knew better than hime what he was talking about.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. It's what you get (in some places) for trying to help.
DeleteI think that our generation are pretty lucky as we are used to finding things to do and most don’t have mortgages or jobs to worry about. It’s just sad not being able to see our children, grandchildren and friends. I can always find things to do but I am also like JayCee and am happy to sit and read, do a jigsaw or watch something on tele.... and we have the garden. As Yorkshire Pudding says, to be in a high rise flat with three children is a whole different ballgame. I’m not going to moan about my lot. XXXX
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine not being able to find something to do. Even those in high rise flats can go outside for a jog/walk.
DeleteAnd yet, Cro, how many times, over the years, have you complained of being bored? You resent the winter months when there is "nothing" to do.
ReplyDeleteI find your comment disingenuous. YP's made me smile. As he says, indeed Rachel somewhere else did too, those of you retired (includes my parents) pretty much carry on as usual. Same old routine. Same difference. Good. Enjoy.
Do you actually ever give a thought to those who are not so much "bored" than worried about their lively hoods? Their ability to earn money put on hold because of lockdown's limitations? I am sorry, Cro, I am sick of some people's "I am alright, Jack" attitude, poopooing other people's potentially looming hardships. Being bored will be the least of their problems.
U
I can't solve everyone else's problems for them; that is for them to do. It's not a question of 'I'm all right Jack', it's more that I've spent all my life making sure that I have what I need for a pleasant life. It's what we all have to do. I suggest you do it too!
Deletep.s. I may be bored with Winter, but that never means I do nothing. I'm always busy... it's simply how I am.
DeleteYou made "sure that [you] have what [you] need for a pleasant life". It's insulting that you suggest that I do the same; implying I don't. Don't you get the difference between people your age and those still in the midst of it all? And please do not kid yourself that your children are exempt from the vagaries of life.
DeleteU
I don't see the connection between suggesting that someone reads a book, and being insulting. But if I tell the truth about my life, it always gets me in trouble. My problem is that I've never known any other life. I work, save, and enjoy; if that's a sin, then fuck it.
DeleteAnd by the way, I'm no bloody saint, and have never pretended to be, unlike some friggin' PC wallahs.
DeleteUrsula - Cro was not addressing the issue you raise - but merely talking about how he is coping and how many have - or haven't - managed to do the same.
DeleteI think it is very much specific to a person - if you are happy in your own company, you find things to do - no matter your circumstances. But these days with so many things available to us boredom (and this is different from missing friends & family) shouldn't be an issue.
I have refrained from responding to some of your attacks that I have witnessed on other blogs but this time I do feel the need - why do you even bother reading the various blogs when all you do is take offence and give offence? Disagreeing and engaging in a discussion is one thing but you seem to go out of your way to attack - or take to task people who are simply expressing their personal view about things.
Cro can no more change the world or the lives of others all around the world than you can - he is just giving us a view into his life. If you don't like it then why bother reading?
Nobody is attacking you, Cro. You have done well, and that's great. And I mean it - with all my heart. I just wish that, sometimes, you'd see above your own horizons. There are youngsters out there, some with young families, who - for obvious reasons if only age - are not at your stage in life. Whose least worry is to read Proust's "In search of lost time" during lockdown. Please read that last sentence again. It might make you smile.
DeleteMy son is lucky. His office set him up at home weeks before the official lockdown. No loss in earnings. Others? Well, others are fucked. It's just a fact. And no good glossing over it.
U
Margie from Toronto, may I suggest that you retreat into your shell and leave me to my own ways. Thank you.
DeleteU
Thank you Margie, you have obviously read what I wrote, and not simply speculated. I have two regular critics who love to insult me because I tend to tell the truth about everyday matters, and not take some silly PC viewpoint. I'm used to it, but I also find it disappointing. We can all take a 'holier than thou' attitude, but it really doesn't help people's woes.
DeleteLike you, I am lucky to have a garden to keep me busy and an outside yard to enjoy the beauties of spring. However, many are by themselves and are stuck inside a small apartment. They are lonely and mix that with fear, loss of a job, possible food insecurity, and having no end date for this virus, can cause many to go into a deep depression and do foolish things.
ReplyDeleteI think that why one should grasp the day, and benefit from whatever free time one has. We cannot change what the future will bring, but we can make the most of today.
DeleteI was always told that Bored comes from inside..there is always something to do..even if it's something you don't fancy doing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's right. Cleaning comes to mind, although I'm sure I'd find something before I got to that state of boredom.
DeleteI work at the hospital so life has continued on as usual except under more stress. I have looked on in envy as I trudge to work before each shift, at those homes where their people are tucked up in bed on frosty autumn mornings.
ReplyDeleteI do look forward to seeing my friends which can happen this weekend here in New Zealand.
Julie
Thank you for all your hard work - here they have been upping the pay of many front-line workers and I think everyone agrees that you all deserve some extra time off once things ease a bit. Have a wonderful weekend with your friends.
DeleteGood for you Poppy. NZ has been an example to the world in COVID management, I do hope that any relaxation of your rules won't lead to a second wave. Stay safe!
Delete