Corona Diary: Day 37-40
The diary of a student who is no longer in school, following what this new virus means for us.
For the first couple of weeks, I had a clear schedule. I planned out exactly when I was going to do school work and writing and drawing and all the other things that I wanted to get done, trying to stick to it as much as possible. It meant that I felt as if I was being productive even when there wasn’t really much to do.
Then, for the holidays, I decided not to follow a schedule as there was no school work that needed to be done, instead just doing what I wanted. This was fun to start with, but I quickly realised that I’m fairly useless without a plan. I promised myself I would go back to my schedule once we had school work again.
We’ve been doing a lot of baking- which sort of feels productive even though it probably isn’t.
The issue is that there still isn’t any school work to do and I still haven’t made a schedule. I said in one of my previous articles that it would take me a long time to get bored, which in hindsight seems like tempting fate. I’m bored. There’s lots to do, but I’m still very, very bored.
Nothing has really changed in nearly six weeks and, although I have so many projects and things that I want to do, I’ve found that I really don’t want to do anything. It’s a very strange situation. I want to do something and make the most of my time, but I also can’t motivate myself to do anything except wait for my daily exercise, a welcome breath of fresh air. There’s a strong possibility I’m turning into a dog.
I keep seeing things that remind me that I don’t have to be productive whilst we’re in quarantine, but that doesn’t help the fact that I really hate not being productive. All the while I’m not doing anything I feel like I’m wasting my time, and it’s got to the point where I might have to set myself a schedule of random tasks even though there’s no actual work to do.
by Lily Tibbitts
Hi Lily,
Whilst I agree it’s probably a good idea to set yourself a schedule – even if you haven’t really got one – I think you may be taking the first small steps towards the discovery of the very rewarding passtime of ‘idling’ 😉
It is perhaps best explained in this recent facebook post of a friend:
“Controversial, this, but I keep seeing posts advising how to keep your spirits up during lockdown. They advise tidying out cupboards, painting the inside of the house and a hundred other things that look like unnecessary hard work and smack of desperately trying to outrun the silence of listening to your own thoughts.
In the spirit of constructive criticism, I offer my own solution.
Get up later than normal and don’t be in a hurry to get dressed.
Come to gradually, there’s no hurry. Another cup of tea? Lovely.
Stare out the window
Maybe check Facebook.
Stare out the window. My favourite.
Watch any video featuring Trump. He is a privileged buffoon who has never had to face the consequences of his actions but that is what makes him hilarious.
Watch a bit of daytime telly. It’s so bad you can’t take your eyes off it.
Stare out the window.
Bit of breakfast around lunchtime.
Maybe a shower?
Netflix!
Channel4.com Homeland on catch up.
Stare out the window
Where did the time go?
If you have time, try to fit in lunch before tea.
Have you had your daily walk yet?
Window…
OK, give in and make the tea. You missed lunch but maybe that’s a good thing. I’m getting old, so missing a meal helps me keep the weight off.
Eat.
Evening telly is much better. Watch that.
Wee bit dark to stare out the the window. Maybe a beer or two.
Getting sleepy…..
Bed.
REPEAT.
(Full disclosure: I do try to spend a bit of time learning Polish each day, but I was doing that before, so it doesn’t count.)”
Thanks for your blog Lily, I enjoy reading your posts/thoughts.
Tony
Thank you, that does sound like a good schedule!