To think our new normal could be a better way of life?

[Wehttam]

Ok first of all, hear me out. Maybe this is hypothetical fantasy but I think it has merit.

As we are adjusting to Lockdown and both its benefits and disadvantages, I have started thinking about how civilisation may be able to use this as a starting point for a new way of life, accepting the previous 24/7 have it all lifestyle is fundamentally poisonous to our wellbeing.

I fully understand this is a global pandemic and is catastrophic for many people, losing loved ones, suffering illness and the fear of how this could potentially affect many people’s lives going forward economically is a worry no one wants or needs, I am not minimising this nor am I advocating for blanket suffering or pain before you come for me.

Environmentally this is momentarily allowing the planet to slowly recover from one of its biggest problems, Us. Look outside, the air is cleaner already, the noise we had so become used to has quietened, our frantic pace of living has slowed, for most of us this will have untold health benefits as well as benefits to nature we will see manifest further over the coming weeks.

I fully appreciate how for many people this is an uncertain time, those suffering DV or poverty are living in hell, the situation right now is unpeeling the veneer society generally paints over these problems though. What if our new reality was to help those who are vulnerable and suffering but still maintain this level of calm muted living.

Excessive commuting, over consumption of single use anything, traffic everywhere, takeaways, shops, bars clubs, restaurants catering for every niche or whim, flying everywhere incessantly, worrying about having he latest this or that, which all means sweet FA at the moment. What it all boils down to is all of that was needless to actually live and breathe properly wasn’t it?

Eventually once Lockdown starts to be lifted, are you willing to go back to that chaos the outside world had become? I’m not so sure I am and I dont think it will be any good for those who do. Thoughts?

I think we had too many coffee shops anyway.

Put women in charge everywhere. Get rid of the men. Then we'll have a chance.

I think we had too many coffee shops anyway

It’s supply and demand. They wouldn’t exist if people didn’t use them.

I can see what you're saying OP. It would be good if some positives came out of this appalling situation in the medium / long term.

I think more people will start to work from home some or most of the time. That will have a positive impact not just on their lives but on traffic congestion, air quality etc.

It's possible people will adjust their values slightly - realise that consumption should be less important, and things like good neighbours and community are worth valuing. And I really hope we all go on valuing the NHS in the long term as much as we do right now.

I like coffee shops - it’s a part of my going to work. Don’t want to change the good things in life.

YABU

Some people have lost some or all of their pay and are really struggling even to pay essential bills.
A study indicated up to 1 million are not getting enough food sometimes, not just food they like

Some self-employed and small business owners have lost all they have built up

Some people are using up their life savings

Then as pp said, all the vulnerable people, adults & kids, locked up with their abusers
....

I think it depends what happens re a vaccine and antibodies test post-lockdown. If the virus is still around I think we will be wary of doing certain social activities. If the virus is completely eradicated then maybe we will get back to a version of normal.

I also think it depends how it has affected you personally. I just read about a man who lost both his parents and his sister within a week. How do you recover after the shock of that?

The minute this is over, people who can afford to will flock to pubs, restaurants and shops. Those who have been financially crippled by it all will still be on their knees. The world wont get better overnight and sadly I don't think the majority of people care enough about the environment and the wider issues to change.

Some people will change their behaviours or keep their new routines and habits, but fundamentally it'll go back to normal or get worse when we are less restricted. People haven't bothered their arses to stay at home for a few weeks, why would it be any different post-lockdown?

Some well-off mc in leafy gardens who can WFH on full pay may well find advantages

Oh I hope it doesn’t stay like this.
I’m bored to pieces.
I love being out and about. Travelling round London, 24 hour life. What’s not on my doorstep not far to go. Loads of other places to explore by train/coach. When we cannot be bothered cooking any cuisine we want just a tap away.

I moved away from dullsville 30 years ago. It was only around 10 years ago they stopped the old opening times (closed half day a week, and even then there’s a day where everything is closed. In the U.K.

And 🤣🤣🤣 at London doing this.
For starters many of those working in London were forced out years ago. So have to commute in. Same with Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow etc. Where do you suggest they all work and live?

I think we had too many coffee shops anyway.

They wouldn't exist if people didn't use them.

What do you think will happen to all the people working in the industries that you want to decimate?

I moved away from dullsville 30 years ago. It was only around 10 years ago they stopped the old opening times (closed half day a week, and even then there’s a day where everything is closed. In the U.K

where I live now shops are closed Wednesday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. After living in central London, Paris, Milan, Madrid and Valencia in the past it’s a bit of a shock to the system!

I don't think I'll have much choice tbh I don't think wfh will be possible.
I've said it before though that more people should be encouraged to wfh as long as possible so I think this may go on for some time .
I agree it's not possible for shops/bars/restaurants/ theatres sports arenas etc . Even if they are opened on a small scale and still some people are reluctant to go it will eventually go back to normal .

That organisations that were previously wary of allowing staff to work from home come to realise the practical, financial and environmental sense that WFH makes. This becomes normal.

There are negatives stemming from companies turning to fully WFH roles, I think a bit of careful what you wish for. Flexible working would probably be more of a balance, some days in office and some days at home.

I think it’s essential that as a society we strive to make some long lasting changes to the way we live. The main one being enabling employees to wfh (where this is possible depending on the industry they are in and where the employee is open to this). Any movement to reduce congestion, carbon footprint, can only be a good thing. Also we need to realise what constitutes ‘essential travel’. We have proven we don’t need to be there in person all the time to have that meeting, pitch that product etc and so a drop in business air travel can be achievable. Aside from these aspirational shifts, I personally will be walking more, buying less crap (I tend not to do much of this anyway but I’ll do it even less now), buying more second hand stuff, giving more to charity, doing more community work (I’ve enjoyed getting to know my immediate and wider neighbourhood more over these last few weeks) and being even more grateful than I already am for what I have which is a family and group of friends who I love dearly.

It will for me, I can't believe how much calmer it is, how much more I've got done and enjoying basic things like cycling. I would like to retain at least 50% of this lifestyle

For the planet yes, for humans no. I am desperate to see my family and will happily forgo shopping, cinema, eating out etc for the rest of the year provided I can see my family.

However, come next year I am going to want to go on holiday. I will be extremely unhappy of international travel does not resume as I dislike holidaying in this country.

Great post BigChocFrenzy. Let’s just hope the inevitable global depression doesn’t upset their self satisfied lifestyle.

I think it would be great to see less pointless consumption, less car dependence and a rationing of flights at least. However, as our whole economic model is based on continued expansion in all these areas i'm not sure the political (or societal) will to rethink the fundamentals is there.

I think what is so sad is that things could be different. How the world is set up is not inevitable - everything is based on choices made now and historically. I think people often find this fact hard to grasp sometimes and this leads to apathy and a sense of fatalism about everything.

I moved away from dullsville 30 years ago. It was only around 10 years ago they stopped the old opening times (closed half day a week, and even then there’s a day where everything is closed.

We have that here and it's lovely!

Everything shuts on Wednesdays at 1pm, Saturdays at 1pm and 90% of places shut on Sundays too, with the exception of Tesco/Spar/Co-op etc.

It's fine. You don't need to be able to shop 24/7.

Excessive commuting, over consumption of single use anything, traffic everywhere, takeaways, shops, bars clubs, restaurants catering for every niche or whim, flying everywhere incessantly, worrying about having he latest this or that, which all means sweet FA at the moment. What it all boils down to is all of that was needless to actually live and breathe properly wasn’t it?

The trouble is all those “sweet FA” activities are also people’s jobs, so yes, they are needed for those people to live, or at least to feed, clothe and house themselves.

Right now our society is like Wiley Coyote running off a cliff. The ground has dropped away but we haven’t looked down and started falling yet, because the government is throwing money to keep people employed. It’s an emergency measure to hold society together in the short term. It can’t support a new normal.

If this lady's long enough then I think there will be a change as people have time to think and adjust. If we're all back to normal in a few weeks then I think the majority will just crack on as they were, which would be a wasted opportunity.

For me the cycling has been less enjoyable, as my bike needs some fixing I can't do myself and the bike shops are all shut. Quite a PITA.

I’d like it back to normal please

I’m dealing with an end of life resident at the moment and her children can’t come to see her. It’s devastating for them, and for us watching it.