Life After Lockdown & How It's Changed Me

For the last four months, we've been locked up inside due to the dreaded Covid-19, otherwise known as the Coronavirus. It's been a surreal time in all of our lifetimes and although it's not over yet, the UK is slowly opening back up and easing back into normal life. Since we've been inside, I imagine it's been a rollercoaster ride for all of us and I'm sure we've all learned how to cope in different ways, or even not cope.

I suppose I am one of the "lucky ones" as I have managed to stay working from home full time for the whole of the lockdown. With working full time and my own projects, I've stayed quite distracted from the whirlwind of negative news and brain numbing boredom. That's not to say it's been easy though.

Who would have thought we'd be spending 2020 like this?

Like many, I've been separated from family and desperately regretting not getting all of the grandparents set up on the millennial crazed FaceTime before this pandemic (but then who would have thought we'd be spending 2020 like this?). I've kept up regular phone calls, but it's not quite the same as seeing them smile in person and them seeing for themselves that we're doing OK. Throughout the pandemic, the safety of my loved ones has been at the forefront of my worry and I knew I'd have to stay away for precisely that reason. 

The socially distanced new normal does lead me on to wonder how we'll be as a society moving forward. Will I wince every time someone gets too close to me in public? How will I feel now getting on public transport knowing the likelihood of the virus spreading in such close proximity? When will I stop feeling guilty for touching my loved ones? What do I do in a professional environment if somebody reaches out politely for a handshake? Will I ever feel fully comfortable wearing a mask even though I should?

We've had the opportunity to slow down and realise what truly matters. Before this, our modern world was crammed full of stressful commutes, overtime, hectic crowds, selfishness, greed, air pollution and a constantly buzzing mobile phone.

Despite it all, a big learning curve has come from this experience that we can all learn from. We now appreciate our NHS teams and key workers more than ever (and rightly so). We remember to check in more often with our loved ones and those living on their own. We now know (hopefully) how to wash our hands to the tune of Happy Birthday, twice. We've had the opportunity to slow down and realise what truly matters. Before this, our modern world was crammed full of stressful commutes, overtime, hectic crowds, selfishness, greed, air pollution and a constantly buzzing mobile phone. I've realised just how fragile life can be and how important it is to spend your time investing in yourself, your home, your health and your loved ones.

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