How different would your life be if Covid hadn’t come along?

[Username721]

Just curious really!

Work? Relationships? Did the pandemic bring any long term life changes for you?

No difference. Oh, we wouldn't have been taking part in the ONS Covid survey which takes about 20 minutes a month.

I lost touch with several acquaintances who drifted away cos they only wanted to meet their special circle of 5 closest friends in thatnohase when we could only meet in groups of six. Bit sad about that.

We would still be living in London, instead of up north.

I would still be going on long walks, feeling fit and healthy, going on city breaks etc and wouldn't have the health problems I have now. It's been nearly three years and I hardly have the energy to walk up the road. I do wonder if my life will ever go back to how it used to be.

I'd not have my decently paid full-time job - I left my p/t minimum wage job at the height of covid. I'd probably still be there now plodding along with zero prospects had I not left.
My new job has vastly improved my self-esteem.

Wouldn't have been made redundant

DH's cancer would've been spotted sooner, his treatment wouldn't have been delayed and he might still be alive.

It was good for us. My life would be much harder without it partly because DH can work from home which mean he does more with the DC and does some school runs.

Would be in office 5 days a week instead of the 3 I now do. I still dislike working from home though as I am far less productive.

Legislation has just come into effect which will allow me to WFH a couple of days as week. I thought I wouldn't be able to concentrate at home, but lockdown showed me I can, and the time and energy I save on the commute makes a real difference.

Got a fabulous promotion and huge pay rise - that would not have been available to me pre Covid due to geography.

Get to wfh most of the time do great work life balance.

Still hated lockdowns and all the restrictions but long term it's been great for me.

My cancer treatments wouldn't have been delayed and I wouldn't be disabled now. I would still be working too.

I would have been able to move closer to home two years earlier and spend more time with a loved one before she died.

I would be happier at work, more productive and more sociable. I hate working from home so so much.

Didn’t get a promotion because I didn’t work hard enough whilst home schooling small children. Quit because I was so outraged. Still sort of sad how it ended as I liked the company overall. But ended up in a better job with tons more money.

I would never have been able to afford to buy the house I now live in without COVID. I left a very abusive relationship with my daughter who was 4 at the time and moved back in with my parents, COVID struck so we got a mortgage holiday while we sold the house which meant I was able to save money each month, I then benefitted from the stamp duty holiday as well as lower house prices. According to zoopla I've made £100k on my house in the last two years.

At the time, after the initial shock and fear subsided, it had it's positives. I enjoyed furlough/ lockdown in lots of ways, as did my children.

Longer term though it's been more negative. DD now suffers from anxiety. DS had a really rough start to secondary school (he has SEN so should have had an enhanced transition.)

My role at work was changed, and I was forced to change my hours which meant using childcare (which DD hated.) I was close to handing my notice in/ walking out several times.

The first few months back at school and work were so difficult, it was a really tough time.

I wouldn't have hybrid working without the pandemic. It means I have an extra day at home when the kids get in.

No impact whatsoever from before to after.

My career totally changed as a result of COVID - I have had two promotions, one in a job I wouldn't have been eligible for before COVID due to distances. Neither job I would really have been eligible for without COVID meaning I was in the right place and the right time. The extra money will mean I can pay off my mortgage 15 years early, probably 5-7 years earlier than I would have done otherwise.

I'm also fatter than I was pre COVID, as it's been an incredibly stressful two years, primarily due to the above jobs. My mental health is in a worse state.

Net positive I think overall as I am very proud of what I achieved during the pandemic but I would really like to get back to my former self.

I'm really sorry to read the ones where the pandemic changed your lives for the worse - it must feel like one of those moments where you can just see the alternative universe where COVID didn't exist branching off from ours which I think I would find very upsetting on top of the events themselves.

Same. ☹️

I probably would have completed the marathon I had entered for May 2020.
Was in a training group and on plan, had managed 15 miles but then covid hit and it all just stopped. I’ll probably never train for a marathon again. I was never really a Greta runner. I feel it was the only time to be motivated as I’d just came out of a breakup and it was my thing for a while. However I’m now in a new relationship and happier

Have you had your b12 and folate levels checked? That is the first place I would investigate (and do your research.. don't accept 'normal levels' )

Probably wouldn’t have moved to our house. Lockdown made us realise we wanted to be closer to friends and family and we made it happen. It also allowed us to save the money to be able to afford it because we were both on full pay but not spending anything

We had a baby and work have become much more agreeable to flexible working. We also managed to save up enough to allow us to do a year shared parental leave between us. Shame it took a pandemic to make my life better.

I would not have moved in with dp as quick, I was at his house when he caught covid, the lockdown was called and I didn't go home for a month!