To think that life just hasn’t been the same ever since covid

Most of our friends are well off and not worrying about COL so not the reason. I do realise that COL could be a factor for less parties and going out for many people though.

The vaxxed versus the unvaxxed, or as the groups themselves liked to put it, the brainwashed covidians versus the covidiot refuseniks.
The masked versus the non-masked.
The "mask-exempt" versus the mask refuseniks.
The keyworkers versus the non-keyworkers.
The children in school versus those not allowed in school.
The furloughed versus the non-furloughed.
The self-employed who were lucky enough to receive support versus those who didn't.
The tested versus the untested.
The clappers versus the heretic non-clappers.
The lockdowners versus the conspiracy theorist granny-killers.

It's almost as if somebody was looking for ways to divide the public, and looking for ever-more creative insults for each side.

I've noticed this a little too. I wonder though if it's more a cost of living crisis issue? Since Covid, many businesses have lost money.

Absolutely right - I'm still having arguments with friends/family who say the harsh lockdowns were necessary. The rules were ludicrous.

@PigglyWigglyOhYeah that was definitely there before covid

I disagree for my family but I appreciate I didn't have the worries others had in that I'd already lost my dp.
Covid was wonderful for us and dh can work from home which is wonderful.
It's had many many benefits for us.

As a nation though we have been through one disaster after another, not just us of course but it feels like we have not had a great time for 20 odd years.

Agree with everything you said.

I thought after the restrictions Covid brought, people would seize the day more now. Most of our friends are doing less fun stuff and don't go out much. Some of our friends who always had birthday parties and bbq garden parties have not hosted a single one since Covid. Apart from wfh, I miss pre Covid.

@Youcantbeseriousmate yes I 100% agree. People are much more introverted now, more home based and less sociable. Mental health seems worse in general. Working from home is more common now and I think to the detriment of working relationships. It feels like lots of things got worse and haven't got better.

I feel like work really ramped up during Covid (pubic sector) and hasn’t gone back to normal levels. So everyone is very stressed and it’s unmanageable and never ending. There’s also no money as the government had to bail out lots so less to put into new things. Obviously when you had nothing else to do people did work more so it’s hard to row back now and expectations are huge. Also, society is a lot less tolerant, more demanding and there is a big impact of mental health problems and impact on kids I’m seeing. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m less happy, as I had my kids post covid but it’s definitely different. A lot of my friends drifted away during covid and we’ve struggled to get back to the same place, especially those who don’t live locally. Which is ironic as I’d think the use of new tech would have made that easier but people prefer to go out locally with local friends than zoom with someone further away now!

I found the Covid lockdowns difficult due to many factors. I was glad the lockdowns ended. I do agree that a lot of things seem to have changed though although not sure whether these can be attributed to Covid. I think there is a lack of thought and understanding for other people, lots more entitlement and anger and people seem generally less resilient. I feel far less tolerant than I ever had but some of this might be menopause!

I feel like it is different but wonder if due to austerity or cost of living more than the result of COVID.

My only fear is a return to similar restrictions . I’m lucky enough I live remote and rural and I managed to still go out during lock down but the not being able to see my parents and sister , nephews was so bad . But as you say my priorities are much clearer now .

I think the whole Covid episode gave us a very clear window on to how quickly the world could be divided and controlled. The vaxxed vs the non vaxxed. As a non vaxxed having to sit outside restaurants. Invasive tests before I could board a plane … the certificates. I don’t think I’m less happy. Just more wise.

I feel things are different since covid.

My children were 10 & 12 at the start of covid, and I think they have had a VERY different secondary school experience than they would otherwise have had. Their early teenage years were significantly impacted and it has changed the kind of people they are. Friendships mediated online, much less hanging out at each others' houses, much less opportunity for parents to be present on school campus, two full seasons of sport cancelled means they both gave up (forgot?) cricket, other childhood hobbies just fell away because nearly two years of cancellation. Younger boy's teachers did not see their kids without a mask from start of you are one until well in to second year of secondary - this massively affected relationship building.

Not all of it is covid though - I agree that Brexit reality, economic woes and American politics all play a (negative) part.

Yes, this sums it up perfectly.

I am “leaning out” at work. I can easily exceed my targets in a fraction of the time and can’t be arsed to do extra work for free.

Travel, friends and family are all I care about now. I have vastly improved boundaries and am a far better friend as I no longer feel pressured into agreeing to do things I don’t want to do socially then flaking. I used to do this but now I say no straight away if I don’t fancy it.

My priorities are far better and I am so much happier.

I have never come across this. The paperwork for call centre staff is online. They do not have access to paper records.

Phoning large organisations have become a trial since so many staff are working from home and you have to contend with dogs barking or babies screaming in the background or the member if staff not having the right paperwork in front of her/him!

I agree too. It seems that people have also lost their work ethic too. So many people "working from home" They got too used to getting money for nothing on furlough. Of course it doesn't apply to everyone. I think the global uncertainties don't help either and the 24 hour news cycle.

Absolutely agree - I don’t see friends now my partner and son are depressed - not very fun here.

I worked from home while having 2 kids plus me and then boyfriend decided to start living together so a massive change . I love the time with my children but hated the time away from the rest if my family as they all live abroad and I didn’t see them for 2 years . I think the reason why so many didn’t return to normal was we managed to see how life without all the work stress was. Many worked from home or didn’t work , kids didn’t have the stress of school and we probably realised daily is all it matters . I don’t think those of us that feel this way will ever go back to normal .
I refused a promotion since. Work is a means to pay stuff only and I no longer care as much with it as I used too . My goal is travel more with the kids , work less and remind the kids of what truly matters .

Agree OP. I know I will never feel the same again. Everything feels different. Worse.

I mostly agree with this. Labour could be telling us what is going right, and giving us something to hope for. They don't have the Tory press on their side, so it is harder for them. I know they are careful to under-promise and over-deliver, that they inherited a total shit show, and I'd rather have boring old Starmer than the grinning clowns we had before, but even I think that the flatness has gone on for too long.

I know that politics is the art of the possible, but I have mixed feelings about politicians promising utopia, and the moon on a stick. This was the modus operandi of Boris Johnson, who frequently promised miracles (including during Covid, such as "Build Back Better"), and to some extent, Tony Blair, who was pledging this, and pledging that. Every time I read a headline "Blair pledges", I groaned.

I feel genuinely so much happier since covid. I think it gave me time to reevaluate what was important in my life and have lived that life since. Got off the treadmill lived my authentic self!

Main problem with the Labour goverment is their dreadful attempts at communication and publicity. If you look at the actual data, rather than the toxic right wing tabloids, it can be shown that pensioners are better off now than last year despite the now means tested winter fuel payment. This is because energy costs have come down by the equivalent amount as the winter fuel payment and pensions have got better. Labour should be publicising this to the public.