It is day 11 of lockdown for our family as we self-isolated a few days earlier than the Government suggested.

Things are going well for us. We are all healthy, there is food in the pantry and we are adjusting to the new pace of life.

It doesn’t seem too different for my husband and myself, as he continues to work from home and the washing and cooking don’t stop for me, even in quarantine. 

I am enjoying eating dinner together and having time to think about meals and cook them without rushing. We are usually out in the evenings from Monday to Thursday, so this is a welcomed change that I will not take for granted. 

We are finding that we have more time to connect with friends, family and neighbours through video calls and messenger. Isolation has shown us just how busy our lives have been.

The teenagers in my house are definitely missing their friends and their freedom. While we can’t do much about their limited freedom, we can let them connect with their friends digitally. I am so thankful for technology right now.

Which raises the question, how much is too much online time?

There are lots of different views on that subject, but the idea of ‘Let The Novelty Wear Off’ really caught my attention.

So that is what we have been trialling at our place since the beginning of lockdown. Our mentality of ‘fill your boots’ when it comes to screen time might sound extreme, but I am pleased to say that we are starting to see small changes happening. 

I find I am saying, “Good morning” more than “Good afternoon” when a kid emerges from their bedroom.

The novelty of pulling all-nighters gaming with friends and sleeping the next day away is starting to lose its appeal, and binge-watching a favourite show soon gets boring once you hit the third season.

My teens are starting to look at other ways to entertain themselves and fill in the time. A rather large and complicated puzzle has taken over the dinner table, and the sound of very loud and heavy guitar playing is reverberating off the walls. 

It is definitely a different world that we are living in right now, and no one knows your kids better than you do.

That means only you know what they need and what will work for your family at this time. It might be sticking to their normal routine, or it might be loosening up on that routine for now. Or like me, you might get rid of a routine altogether.

Boredom has an important function because pushing through it can unleash creativity – Amy Dickinson