Quote Originally Posted by pass_and_move View Post
There's worse things in life. The lockdown has given me a different perspective on things on a personal note. The chickens have come home to roost in certain aspects of my life. The daily grind of my work, the bad habits that go hand in hand with it have been exorcised.

Over the last two months I've come to realize the effects that my job and lifestyle has had on me. Cigarettes have been cut from around 25/30 a day to 10/12 at the most. My alcohol intake has gone from an average of 2 cans of beer a day to 2 cans per week or some weeks none at all. My sleep is improving from around 5 hrs per night previously to 6 or 7 hrs now. I'm not getting up at 5.30am every day anymore and feeling like a zombie.

My eating habits are consisting of 3 proper meals per day instead of grabbing some weetabix for breakfast then eating a crappy sarny in the van for my lunch. My gambling has dramatically decreased although it has to be said that the lack of income has curtailed that somewhat. Funny thing is though, I've not missed it as much as I thought I would, that also goes for all the other things I've mentioned.

The psychological impact my job has had on me over the years has seen me fall into far too many bad habits. Taking time out has made me realize the sheer stupidity of it all and what I put myself through on a weekly basis. My job is physically demanding and I'm self employed, therefore there's no tossing about or spinning work out, watching the clock or sitting on sh1t house reading the Daily Sport for aif an hour. I get paid by item rather than the hour. It's tough going so a couple of tinnies when I get home numbs the pain somewhat before I start cooking.

I could get used to this current lifestyle though, spending more time with my kids, watching them growing up where as previously I'd slump in the armchair after my tea having no energy and not much time for them. The only draw back is the lack of physical activity. I've not set foot away from my street since the lockdown started and I've put on a few pounds in weight.

My goal is to start exercising now the lockdown rules have been relaxed although I'm not 100% confident and comfortable with it just yet. I intend taking the kids out and getting some fresh air in our lungs and taking in some wildlife and scenery. There's some cracking walks to be had around this town, beautiful countryside all around us, summertime weather, what more could thy ask fo? I'm gonna take some pencils and paper and sketch from the inspiration of my surroundings, something I've not done in years and something I loved doing as a juvenile. Ashley Jackson am coming fo thi!!

There's many more things I intend to do of course, things I've missed doing due to my daily grind and the psychological impact its had on me.

I understand people have different responsibilities or different financial pressures but there's so many positive things life can bring during these changing times. Embrace it guys and take the positives from it, use it to learn something or re-take up hobbies that faded years ago. I'm just glad that I have cos life's too bloody short.
Great reflective and honest post Pass .

I can reconcile with some of your thoughts about work .

I'm not as tired as my job is quite physically demanding too , some days it can be manic and come 8pm through the week I'm ready for the feather , from getting up on a morning to coming home it's just shy of a 12 hour day with the travelling .

Come the weekends I couldn't be assed to do anything and the gardens got neglected a bit and I've reconnected with it these past few weeks , it's something ive always enjoyed in the past .

JLO's had to carry on working as she is a key worker but it's taken the pressure off her too at home , I've do all the chores and she walks in to her tea on the table when she comes home .

In her words you don't realise how much difference it makes .

I've even managed to get myself of some prescription tablets I'd taken for years but hadn't needed them for many years but I'd became addicted to them , you don't realise what the side effects are like till you stop which basically means you are addicted to them without knowing if that makes sense .

Learning to play the guitar is on my list too , creating my own blog and I fancy learning another language .

It's a real eye opener is this and I've hardly watched any TV , not missed anything Sport wise at all , maybe The Masters at a push .