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I don't *think* we've had a thread on this already, apologies if we have.
Like a lot of folk my life has changed a lot over the last month or so, some for the better and some for the worse. I've been having a think about what changes I might like to keep when / if we return to some kind of normality (whatever that may be), and things I'd like to get back to / make the most of more that I can't now.
Exercise.
The nice weather has helped with this, but since the announcement of lockdown I've made a point of getting something in every day. Mostly that's walking 3 or 4 miles with a pram, but I've been running or riding at least a couple of times a week too. I'd like to keep this up, I've lost weight and I feel better. I don't want to get back to the old excuses.
Family time.
Not gonna lie, juggling mine and my wife's full time jobs working from home whilst looking after a one year old is really hard. But getting to spend hours every day with her is beyond awesome; before it was often more like half an hour rushing around in the morning and the same at night. This may well call for a juggling of our current working arrangements.
Riding.
Having a baby really buggered up my cycling, particularly socially. So I want to make sure I ride with my amazing friends more often. Even if it's once a month, those social rides need to not slide. But also lockdown has inspired me to squeeze in rides wherever I can - half an hour on the BMX, an hour on the gravel round town, couple of hours on the MTB riding to the trails. Kinda reminded me that rides don't need to be 'big'. Again, sun and lack of traffic definitely helps here.
Get creative!
I've not had time to work on my own projects much, but I'm determined to find some when I have the opportunity, especially hearing from folk who have been furloughed and are doing all sorts of cool stuff - not that I'd trade, I realise how lucky we are to both be still employed. I started learning Blender not long ago so I'll get back on that, back into photography and maybe finish that novel...
So how about you? Are these crazy times making you reassess at all? Any big plans?
Two things for me:
Not eating McDonald's crap. Had fallen into the habit of having one a week on average, usually on the way back from a day's riding. Seeing as all my riding is from the door now and they're closed it's been very beneficial to me and my wallet! Won't cut them out completely but one a month should be easily doable.
Zwift training. Have tried to get into a basic training regime over the last few years to make me better on the bike: gym-based stuff, specific training rides eg hill reps and the like but nothing has stuck. Really got into Zwift even though I only have a basic setup, surprisingly so. Will see if I can pick up a smart trainer once we're all allowed out again (should be a few floating about secondhand) and a beater road bike I can use purely for it, having a quick setup time will help me stick with it. Bonus is it's cheaper than the gym and easier to motivate myself for as I'm seeing results on my rides even now, with a better setup and mixing my usual rides with it I should be able to make big gains in the future.
Bit like you OP, slightly different stage of parenthood (boys are 10 and 8).
I am going to make the effort to ride more and be more disciplined about leaving work on time to do so once a week to see friends. I am going to do more riding from my door because now I've been forced to I've found a few cheeky out for an hour trails I can use.
Going to really push the intelligently flexible working and paperless thing at work and try and make one day every week work from home a long term thing.
More play time and less loafing basically.
I'm the meantime I'm beasting my way through the DIY so nothing to hold me back. 😁
I've actually really liked not eating junkfood since lockdown therefore will keep it going
Mcdees is utter kak & would never even pass thru my gob in last 18yrs 👍
Had a wicked Ruby ... before lockdown hit hard mind
Oh and not to take life for granted therefore to ride loads & loads into the sunset
For me three things, 1) less rushing around on the weekend; 2) less trips out for coffee (we used to spend a lot of money and time going for coffee and cake); 3)as above, don't take things for granted and don't make excuses to not do things
1. complete this jump at Swinley
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2. Plan and organise my 50th birthday celebrations @ morzine for next year
3. Get my weight to start with a 13
Going to carry on with my alcohol abstinence after 2 weeks of not drinking.
Ride more trail centers. Never thought I'd actually miss them!
Get back into the habit of mid week night rides.
Offset the emissions of driving to them by doing some guerrilla gardening and plant some trees (this was on my list anyway after a colleague introduced me to the concept).
3. Get my weight to start with a 13
That's easy.
I'm 13 st 35 lbs
Probably do more stuff locally. Had loads of good walks / rides with the kids from the house. They can find enjoyment in the smallest things and a lot of the places we dragged them were probably were lost on them a bit. Time together > activity > location whereas before I had it back to front.
Savour any days out or holidays we do have.
Be more disciplined with diet and exercise.
Get my weight to start with a 12.
Ensure I get to keep my work laptop so I can work more flexibly and productively at home.
Sacrifice less of my own time and activities supporting the kids stuff. MrsMC is going to have to step up to the plate if her new role comes off after lockdown.
I wrote a massive long list of very detailed plans, but when I thought about it it could be summed up by.
Don't take shit for granted.
1) Never work another day in my life
2) Spend less money
3) Keep the 30 lbs weight I dropped since new year off
Keep supporting local businesses above multinationals.
Stop reading Internet forums.
Keep stretching properly as I’m getting old!
1. complete this jump at Swinley
You can't stay up there until lockdown ends.