Corona Lockdown week 4: Apparently the sunshine does make everything easier. Or maybe it’s the cocktails?

Read the rest of my Corona Lockdown diaries here.

It’s been a week since I wrote this post about lockdown, and specifically how much I felt I was suffering with the lack of alone time.

Being at home all day with my family without the distractions of pubs, frivolous shopping trips, expensive meals out etc has really brought home to me what's important in life.

ie pubs, frivolous shopping trips, expensive meals out etc.

— Ella (@socallers) April 9, 2020

In my head, I wrote it maybe a few days ago, but it really has been a full week. Time is stretching on forever, yet disappearing in the blink of an eye at the same time.

You’ll no doubt be glad to hear I’m feeling a lot more chipper this week. I owe this, I believe, to the following five realisations:

1) Staying in bed for as long as possible in the mornings is the way to go

Just refusing to get physically out of bed makes the days seem shorter and therefore infinitely more doable. It’s not like we have anywhere to be…

Honestly, it’s worth the half hour clean up operation after my kids have made themselves honey on toast for breakfast to not get up until after 9am, as opposed to being up and at’em by 7 and looking at the clock thinking ‘shit, I really must go to bed!’ and then realising it’s only 9.14pm.

2) Getting dressed and making yourself feel nice isn’t pointless

Yes OK, it’s a bit weird to put a full face of slap on just to sit in the garden and maybe drag the dog round the streets for twenty minutes, but actually shaving my legs, straightening my hair and putting a nice frock on made me feel good for a few hours. It’s not that anyone in my house actually notices/cares, but I do.

Plus it gave me something to do… and it gave me something to put on Instagram. Win/win.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fran @ Whinge Whinge Wine (@whingewine) on Apr 10, 2020 at 1:30am PDT

PS if you don’t follow me on Instagram, go do it. I am spending my entire life on Instagram Stories at the moment. Thank god TikTok has happened or I’d be considered ‘current’.

3) Netflix knows you better than you know yourself

Just take its recommendations, find something new, watch weird documentaries.

Don’t be afraid.

If you'd told me back in January that the highlight of April was going to be watching a documentary about Americans who keep big cats I probably would have believed you because to be honest my life was never that exciting.

— Ella (@socallers) April 16, 2020

Yes, now you understand the seemingly random header image (took it myself…). Well done.

4) Taking time out is really important

It doesn’t matter how much you absolutely love and would die for your family, you need time out. That is why school exists.

Easier said than done of course, when you have kids… and particularly ones that refuse to go to bed much before you.

Going for a long dog walk every few days on my own, having Doug take the kids out and just having the house to myself for half an hour or just sitting in the office with my laptop have all helped me to reset a bit. Obviously in return I try allow him to do all those things too because I know that he is feeling exactly the same. We have actually emerged as quite a team – ten years of marriage finally paying dividends in the form of leaving each other alone. Teamwork.

As well as this, having chats with friends over Facetime – and yes, dressing up to do so on one occasion – has been really good too. Weird, but good.

5) Saying goodbye to guilt is absolutely necessary right now

Just watched my husband on the Ring doorbell video lift and carry a 3/4 full recycling bin up the drive so it won't clink and the neighbour won't give us *that look*.

What a hero.

— Ella (@socallers) April 14, 2020

OK so I’ll be uncharacteristically candid with you – last year I managed to lose a bit of weight for the first time post-children. I got to the gym, I went swimming a lot and for the first time in a long time I was pretty happy in my skin. I started to enjoy going clothes shopping and I was getting more confident in myself.

Being unable to physically distance myself from the fridge (ironic, given I’ve managed to do so with human beings) and do exercise I enjoy scares me because I know which way this goes and it’s definitely not into summer shorts.

But fuck it, there are better times to diet and definitely better times to be sober. This is a fucking pandemic, not a Christmas holiday.

And if a large rum cocktail at 1.14pm, a Twirl and some cheese helps me to relax and think THIS ISN’T SO BAD, then honestly I can deal with the aftermath.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE…

If you are struggling with information overload regarding Coronavirus, can I direct you towards Jenny at The Brick Castle. Her daily COVID19 briefings are 100% more tolerable and knowledgeable than those coming from the government right now, and will make you smile even in hard times. Thanks Jenny.

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