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Original poster

What is your life like post-COVID?

113 replies

ForeverWeBlend · 18/01/2023 19:50

I'm late 50's, two adult DC. During the pandemic both DC were here with us, plus one of their friends who could not go home due to a fall out with their parents. On the whole we were happy - but we didn't lose anyone and both DH and I were able to WFH, so we did not have the financial problems many others had. So grateful for that.
But life has never gone back to 'normal'. We go out rarely now. I find it hard to get the energy to see the good friends I used to see regularly. When we get invites I look for reasons not to go. TV, glass of wine and I'm good.

Is it just me?

OP posts:
Original poster
ForeverWeBlend · 18/01/2023 21:01

QueenofLouisiana - sounds very difficult. I hope you are on the road to recovery.

OP posts:
LINABE · 18/01/2023 21:05

XenoBitch · 18/01/2023 19:53

I was champing a the bit to go out and do things again post-Covid. I have some friends who are still stuck in their family bubble, and never go out.

If you are happy with how you are now, then fine. If not, change it.

That's not really what is being said though. Is it?

Suedomin · 18/01/2023 21:05

I am the same, nothing terrible happened to me or those I love during the Pandemic but I feel very different. I don't really want to go out or do anything.Some people I don't see anymore. It's like I have just got out of the habit.

PigeonPerchingOnMyWall · 18/01/2023 21:05

My life is back to normal now in the sense I am not worried about going out places. But my world has shrunk because it is like everyone has vanished. I don’t hear from many people, I also don’t contact people much. A lot of friendships and family relationships have fallen away. My life is mainly DH and DC now. It’s a bit lonely, but drama free.

bloodywhitecat · 18/01/2023 21:06

It's different, a very different life. I have never had covid but it affected my life to the point that it will never be the same again. I am now learning to live life as a widow and with the trauma of watching DH be one of the people who's cancer journey could've been very different without the pandemic.

Yorkshiredolls · 18/01/2023 21:08

Life is entirely back to normal for me. i barely think about covid and I was very cautious and lived very by the book in lockdowns. Had a 5 week Old baby at start of first lockdown so was on may leave and had my then 3 yr old DD who’s nursery closed. Life was very insular.

The only thing that remains is I have to wear mask in work and am mindful of vulnerable patients (work in a clinic). I sometimes do telephone clinics from home which I enjoy.

As soon we could socialise again, I did, albeit a little cautiously at first.I would not hesitate to go to a crowded bar or restaurant now (chance would be a fine thing!) often have friends and family over, been to large concerts etc.

I feel that friends are little
more flakey than before but thats not cos of covid hesitancy, its just very busy lives with kids I think and people seem to struggle to commit to agreed days to meet up.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 18/01/2023 21:09

ForeverWeBlend · 18/01/2023 20:49

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight I know nothing about this but a quick search showed that the BMJ reported it was approved in March 22.

Yes they approved it as safe and effective and the government decided not to buy any when the rest of the world did.

BertieBotts · 18/01/2023 21:10

I get what you mean OP.

I want to go out and socialise, I desperately miss it. I can't seem to make myself do it. Every invitation I end up chickening out at the last minute. It makes me feel really miserable.

Reinbek · 18/01/2023 21:11

We both carried on working throughout and have become more social since 2021, we make more effort to see people and do things, to go to the theatre and cinema etc.

LINABE · 18/01/2023 21:11

Superficially people are saying that it hasn't really changed that much.
If you look a little deeper there is a real shift and I feel unsure of this 'new world'.

CallMeBubbleDarling · 18/01/2023 21:14

Our lives are back to normal. Both DH and myself worked throughout so the kids were in school/nursery. The only thing that’s changed for me is that it has made work easier because everyone is so used to video calls now. I have been working from home for three months due to an injury and I’ve been able to do everything I would have done had I been at school thanks to the technology.

maddiemookins16mum · 18/01/2023 21:15

Same as/if not better than before. Still see people, go to Theatre, cinema plus our Church life is thriving. Even better is that I now WFH (we moved to a smaller office in Summer 21). My hours changed to 8-4 from home instead of 9-5.30 with a 30 min each way drive. It’s made a huge difference to my work life balance.

FlowerTink · 18/01/2023 21:17

DH is working from home full time now, his work decided it was more cost effective not to have to heat offices and so on. It works better for us as a family.

I find I'm not going into physical shops as much, I buy most things online now. DC are back to normal with school/clubs. I had a primary aged DC and a 12 week old at the first lockdown so going out with baby/getting them socialised around others was hard when we were eventually let out (shielded).

OriGanOver · 18/01/2023 21:18

I don't think things have returned to normal. My work had a lovely office culture, we had lunchtime walks, yoga sessions, meditation groups, a decent enough canteen. They still haven't reopened the canteen properly let alone put anything else back. I miss my old office. Now we eat at our desks and half the team are still WFH.

I also used to drive anywhere for a day trip - now I moan about driving longer than 20 minutes. My full zest for life isn't there atm - although it is winter and I did have a good summer.

Woolandwonder · 18/01/2023 21:22

Still trying to recover from the bout of covid I had in 2020, made a bunch of health problems worse. Able to work from home more than previously so I've managed to keep my p/t job though. Had planned to try and buy a house but between savings being limited by sickness, huge increase in house prices during covid and then interest rate rises we are still renting.

SmileWithADimple · 18/01/2023 21:24

All back to normal here - working, socialising, kids activities etc. The main difference for us is that DH only goes into the office once or twice a week now, which is a plus as he saves time and money on the commute.

Harebrain · 18/01/2023 21:24

Life’s completely back to normal for my family and friends. I never turn down an invitation now as I very much missed social using during lockdown. We’ve made several trips abroad and are prioritising travel (both here and abroad) as we feel like we missed out when international travel was banned. We go everywhere and do everything, no masks, no worries. We’re free and I’m relishing it.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 18/01/2023 21:25

Back to normal, foreign holidays, meals out, theatre and concerts.
DH worked from home 2 days anyway. Now it’s 3-4 but he gets in to the office every week.
My work is back to normal too, as is school for DS.
I have friends who have become less sociable since Covid though.

garlictwist · 18/01/2023 21:28

I now work from home most of the time which I love. I feel very grateful to covid for that. Doesn't save me any time/money though as my office is a ten minute walk from my house but I like the flexibility it gives me.

I used to swim every day before work before covid and had done for years and years. Then the pool brought in a thing where you have to book in advance during the pandemic and they haven't removed that. I can't be arsed with the faff so I've stopped going. I never thought I'd stop swimming but that's been an unintended consequence.

Newbeginnings2023 · 18/01/2023 21:28

We were not impacted financially so we were lucky in that aspect. But my life hasn't returned to how it was before.
We lost a family member, not to covid but because of it and it has left me with unresolved feelings that I cannot let myself process. I haven't let myself grieve properly. My relationship with my youngest child changed and I don't know why. I hate myself for it and don't know how to make it right.

I left my job last summer and started a new one that I have been deeply unhappy in since I started. It didn't make sense for me to leave my previous job. However, Last year I suffered with mood/hormone swings that were so bad I commented to a colleague that when I was on a low, I could do something like hand my notice in at work or end my marriage and not realise the implication of my actions or even want to do it. It has only been this week that I have realised that is exactly what I did.

I have put on about 2stone in weight because I'm an emotional eater too, so that obviously isn't helping my state of mind either.

I could probably do with some sort of counselling but, since I know the cause of the issue, I'm not sure it would benefit me.

Motorcycleemptyness · 18/01/2023 21:29

My life is back to normal and has been since late 2021. I worked throughout the pandemic, and I caught Covid twice at work (once before vaccination, once after) and recovered (largely!) easily, although I have found that I am more vulnerable to other illnesses since Covid (might be connected, might not!). I am grateful that I did not have any financial worries due to Covid.

I’ve had several long haul holidays since dec 2021, one of which was a bucket list, holiday of a lifetime trip. I’ve got several more long haul trips coming up, and I am very excited about that. I don’t really think about Covid anymore and 2022 was probably one of the best years of my life - I did so many amazing things. I hope this continues!

Cakeandcardio · 18/01/2023 21:31

I find people don't want to do the things we used to do so frequently before - meet ups for drinks / dinner etc. I feel I am less bothered when we don't do anything - I'm not happy to go to bed and watch tv whereas before covid, we were always out and about at shops etc on the weekend then dinner or the cinema etc. I don't feel there's ever many social events to look forward to. I'm in my 30s.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 18/01/2023 21:31

Back to normal, apart from WFH every day now where it was 2 days a week in 2019- I di miss the people I worked with but we were all made redundant anyway and see each other socially still.

I'm back to exercise classes, festivals, holidays etc- I don't give covid a second thought now which I appreciate I am lucky to be able to do as my health conditions only put me in group 6 (remember them!)

GoT1904 · 18/01/2023 21:36

I think about this often. It definitely changed me. My circle is very small now and even that feels a lot to keep up with. I really don't go out nearly half as much as I did. I do miss it. Heavily pregnant atm but when I'm not I plan on getting out more and trying to raise my confidence.

JanuaryBlues2023 · 18/01/2023 21:38

I was fairly sociable before covid but on the shielded list. I am slightly more sociable than I was during covid but much less sociable and reclusive than I was pre-covid and I am much less sociable than some friends who seem to have gone or be going mad socialising making up for lost time.

Since covid life is much less full and exciting than it was in that I wouldn’t now go to a concert, festival unless possibly outdoors and I still wouldn’t go to a busy pub, nightclub or small busy restaurant etc.

On the whole I see my mum (usually once a week), go into work 1 day a week and 2 days a week I WFH (which I love and much prefer). I usually meet up with/see one other lot of friends a week or occasionally go mad and see two lots of friends and I still like a walk with the dog every day. Like you OP I prefer TV and a meal at home, sometimes a drink in the house especially when its cold. I might see more people again outdoors in warmer weather and when respiratory infections are less.