Mar 25

Mar 25 What we'll miss about lockdown

I was going to save this post until the lockdown restrictions are finally lifted here in the UK. But with all the reflections that have been prompted by this week’s one-year anniversary of the start of our Covid-enforced life changes, it somehow felt like an appropriate moment to share the responses I got when I asked all you lovely Heydayers what you would miss when life returns to whatever its new version of normal turns out to be.

It may be a while yet before that happens for us in England, but I hope that sharing these unexpected positives will help to remind us to make the most of them in this - oh-I-really-hope, final - stretch of this lockdown marathon. And maybe try to find ways to incorporate them into our post-lockdown lives.

Unsurprisingly, there were several common themes that emerged from the responses

Kinder communities

“I will miss the camaraderie that people seem to have developed - a hello from strangers, a wave or good morning from other cyclists when I was (eventually) allowed out to exercise. I will miss the way people looked out for each other and those most vulnerable.”

“There has been a more neighbourly feeling in our village - we set up a WhatsApp group very early on so that people could ask for and offer each other help, so picking up things from the shops, medication from the doctor, etc. We are keeping the group going as it has proved invaluable over the winter with people asking for and giving advice on best routes to take to avoid flooding, icy roads, etc.”

“I never really knew my neighbours before Covid, but we have all looked out for and helped each other out in many different ways through lockdown. We started doing collections for the local food bank early on in the first lockdown and we’re still doing them every couple of weeks. It needs two cars to deliver them!”

Quieter streets, and skies…

“I know it won’t last once everyone is allowed out and about again freely, but I’ve loved how much quieter the streets are. Living in a city it’s really noticeable how much less pollution there’s been”

“The lack of traffic, and traffic noise, has been a real plus for me during this time. It’s made walking around my area - which I’ve obviously done a LOT more! - so much more enjoyable.”

“As much as I love to travel and have missed being able to do that, I don’t miss the frequent noise of planes. My walks are so much more peaceful without it.”

…and the sounds of nature

“Without the sound of traffic drowning them out, I love hearing the birds singing. I’ll miss waking up to the dawn chorus instead of the noise of cars!”

“Is it just me or have the sounds of nature seemed so much louder and more beautiful over this past year? Maybe it’s that I’ve been more aware of the birdsong, the sounds of cows and sheep and the occasional horse neighing as I’m out on my daily walks. I hope that doesn’t stop after lockdown.”

A slower pace of life

“One thing I think I might miss about life in lockdown is the slower pace of life. I have found more time to read, do jigsaws, bake, sit in the garden and other things.”

“I’ve always been someone who rushed around and was always busy. It took a while to adjust to a slower pace of life, but I’ve really come to value the chance it’s given me to stop and reflect more, and to think about - and do - things that I really enjoy. I’ve even finally started to learn how to play bridge!”

“Is it bad that one of the things I’ve enjoyed and will miss about lockdown is the chance to watch more television? In the past I never seemed to have the time to watch the shows that everyone was talking about. Now I have!”

Having time at home

“My garden has really benefited from lockdown! I’ve spent so much time working on it, doing all the jobs I kept promising myself I’d get round to but never did. I’ve always loved the garden and gardening, but it gives me even more joy now and I’ll miss having so much time to just potter around it.”

“I started lockdown with a long list of things I wanted to do in my house. I can’t say I’ve got through all of them, but with no excuse not to do them, I have managed to work my way through quite a lot. Not sure my other half will miss tripping over tools and DIY debris though!”

Being and staying in touch

“I’ve missed seeing my children and grandchildren dreadfully, but I’m so grateful for the technology that’s enabled me to stay in touch with friends who are far away and who I wouldn’t normally see much of at all. I hope we stay connected via Zoom when this is all over. I’ll certainly miss it if we don’t.”

“I reconnected with a group of old friends who, because we live all over the world now, I had lost touch with. Thanks to the wonders of Zoom, we started to virtually meet up every few weeks. I’ll miss that when we all go back to our busier lives. But hopefully we can keep it up in some way.”

“It’s been very hard to be separated from my grandchildren, but they facetime me most days, so actually I see more of them, albeit virtually, than I normally would. I won’t miss being apart from them, but I will miss the daily contact and knowing so much about what’s going on in their lives.”

New ways of working

“I’m in Melbourne, Australia and I was very lucky and still had a job to go to ( in a hospital ) and I LOVED how quiet the roads were getting to and from work.”

“I definitely haven’t missed having to dress smartly and do battle with the rush hour to get to work. Although I do get weary of endless zoom meetings and miss the interaction with my colleagues, I will miss the convenience and comfort of working at home.”

“I’ll miss wearing slippers for work!”

Not missing out

“There’s been something strangely reassuring and comforting about knowing that everyone is experiencing the same thing as you are. Maybe it’s my hopelessly ingrained FOMO, but knowing that all my family and friends are living the same sort of limited life as I am has removed a whole layer of anxiety about what I should or could be doing, but aren’t. Also, what a joy it is never to miss a delivery and have to traipse to the sorting office to pick it up!”

Is what you’ll miss about lockdown in that list of reflections? What would you add?