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?

Firstly, as PP have said, I am not at home enjoying the quiet times. I am self-employed and always work from home so have had some major setbacks - financial, productivity, etc. It is a dreadful time, people are dying. People are going bust.

If I venture out of that for a moment, The positives are:

1. I realise there is nowhere I really want to go.
2. I am enjoying just "being", not having to project an image, dress a certain way, engage with certain people. I feel anonymous and safe in my hidden world and I like it.

Because of pollution, I'd also like to see fewer flights, fewer cruises and fewer cars, none of which will affect me. People appear to see their cars as there own little bubble, so I'm not confident of that.

We need to keep service industries and the arts going, especially if consumption of manufactured goods drops.

I hope that people will realise that living or running a business in central London or other large conurbation carries particular risks, and their are other choices to be made.

And yes I agree with Hullygully - I would like to see more women in positions of political and economic power globally (it really should be 50%). I think this would make a difference to how we structure our economies and the things we prioritize.

@HoffiCoffi13 I can imagine. The first we travelled outside dullsville (I was 8 btw) I said that day, first chance I’m off. Started planning when we came back from that school trip. 🤣

I can understand the appeal if you like the quiet live.

When you come out of the club and the party hasn’t stopped it can carry on with a quick trip to the shop on the way.
Pregnancy cravings and the petrol station doesn’t have what you want. No problem, there’s a shop steps away. And all without the need of a car.

I think things will be very different. It'll be a very gradual return to "normal", perhaps a year or more. Lots of things will change.

Many people/employers will have realised there's no need to "go to work" commuting an hour or more to a big city. Some will continue working from home. Employers may start moving out of cities into the regions to avoid the congestion of public transport etc.

We'll start to manufacture more and be less reliant on imports - that will provide jobs into the regions to reduce the London-centricity of the country.

Hopefully, people won't go back to flying to Amsterdam, Benidorm etc for stag/hen weekends.

Foreign holidays will be the last to return to normal, so people will holiday in the UK at first, discovering new areas, new attractions, etc - without the stress of airports, security, flight delays, etc - many will never fly abroad again.

Yes, some jobs will disappear, but others will be created. There weren't the coffee shops, nail bars, etc a decade or two ago - what goes around comes around. Entire new industries will appear.

Yes, there'll be winners and losers, but I think this is a "reset" for the country, if not the world, especially as regards climate change etc.

@ravenmum you probably have already but just in case, have you looked at YouTube videos?
Something needed fixing beyond the basics, took me ages but I did it. I was skint at the time lol

weary
I'd forgotten this gem, many thanks

I hope it's our new normal, except for the social distancing, I'm not sure that will be a benefit, but think unfortunately it will become the norm, there is too much hate for it to return to being warm to strangers.

Before it gets better though so many more will be thrust into poverty through redundancy and repossessions. I think the recession will hit hard, especially those who have always thought their job/role was safe so have aquired high mortgages and other debt.

its very easy to think of things like the planet at the moment if you are lucky enough to be with your family.
I can't wait to get in the car and travel to see my dd. at the moment she(and all the other residents) is self isolating in her bed room, not easy when you are disabled and have LD's.
tbh I find all this isn't it great stuff selfish.

Sadly I can't see much changing for the better.

Ultimately people are selfish and habits are hard to change. At the top there will always be people driven by money and power that will look to exploit others at the cost of the environment/others wellbeing/insert important issue here. I can't see any CEO of an airline saying our business model is now based on operating essential flights only, when there are shareholders (including many peoples pension providers) saying they want profit and when so many people won't have the luxury of choosing where/how they work because they are in poverty.

Yes there will be an increased expectation from consumers around social and environmental issues but if the economy ends up in the drains they have little buying power and it all comes back to money and aspirations.

I would love to be proved wrong.

Not going on holiday is a punishment for many of us, the sooner we can start travelling again, the better.

Not forcing people to commute would be great, many workers don't need to. That said, there are a few people in my company who are really struggling. Either they have a busy house and find it impossible to find peace and quiet for work, or they live alone and are feeling horribly lonely.

I am all in working from home, but it's not for everybody.

@canigooutyet Thanks for the tip, but this is something to do with gears, and apart from the fact that something needs replacing, I think I'd need a degree in physics to understand how it works

I'm with the person that said Kitty OMeara poem is self indulgent gaffe. It's hard for me to think there's anything good coming out of this. Yes, the world will be better without all the travelling and pollution but it's difficult to put those things into any perspective when people are losing loved ones or have had a difficult time of it themselves. Also, as someone that has had anxiety and felt really depressed in the past I can't think there is any good in this situation for people who are feeling this way right now.

I think people who feel relaxed have job and financial security.
I feel really sorry for older people who are in isolation. My mum really misses going to library and shops and seeing relatives.
My friend's MIL is depressed because she lost her social life.

I can't wait for this to be over and to be able to go to bars, restaurants get on a train for a weekend away, go back to work, drive to the beach. Anything is better than looking at the same 4 walls day in, day out. All this talk of "peaceful, quiet" means nothing when, living in a village, it's the norm. I yearn for the hustle and bustle and the freedom of being able to do something without being scrutinised all the time.

I'm a bit grumpy today can you tell? ]

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.

For people who like WFH - fine. Great.

But I would far rather be physically at work with my team. I don’t WANT to be sitting at an improvised desk in my flat. There seems to be this blanket view now that WFH is the better option. But it isn’t for everyone.

It's definitely a simpler way of life. Does make you wonder what's really necessary.

Anyone ever been on holiday in a basic holiday cottage or a caravan before, and enjoyed the simple life, and come home thinking that it had changed them and they'd declutter and live much more simply from now on? How many days did that last after you got back?!

Yanbu op.

Obviously I hate that people are suffering and that coronavirus is ruining lives and of course I understand that this is a terrible time for many so I definitely don't mean any disrespect. My fiancé is medical and I definitely have a realistic idea of how coronavirus is affecting people and watching the news breaks my heart. However, people are forming good habits during this time e.g turning to reusable nappies, buying plastic-free fruit and veg and being more careful when it comes to wasting food. The air is cleaner. These are all good things.

Sadly I think people will give these habits up the second they are able to though.

I said on the phone to family I hope we end up spending more time at our homes. My PIL always do dinner parties with friends and games nights at home. I used to love going out but learning to love home and can't wait to have friends over for food and drinks and celebrations. I really hope alot more people buy less and spend more time together without the extra costs. I'd go into my overdraft for a meal out or cocktails in the past as I 'needed a break' and looking back that was just ridiculous when I could just be anywhere with my friends now and I'd be happy.

The day after lockdown is over the pubs will be filled, there will be queues at restaurant, people will book holidays and travel across the country to see family and do all the things they haven’t been able to.

People don’t want a calm and quiet existence, they want to live. And people are selfish, so they will.

X - still on full pension/ benefits - life has not changed, (but maybe a little worried and life is more restricted - ok short term but there is only so much you can take)
Y still earning - mainly from home - life better (pontificating on MN)
Z still being paid although actually on holiday in nice house with lovely kids and garden. Life better so Z writes a load of crap about how lovely it is.

And AZ - working crazy hours, putting themselves at risk, putting their families at risk usually for low wages. They cannot leave - they would get no lovely furlough pay or benefits for that.)

Everyone else - frightened, going bankrupt, unable to pay the bills, will lose their home, all their savings, have lost family members, trying to manage without support, carers/ childcare/family), can't get food, alone or trapped, no fresh air, no garden.

Maybe think about how those with all this money and space can have less money and space so that things are more fairly distributed.

Personally, I can't bloody WAIT to get back to the pub!

It's definitely a simpler way of life. Does make you wonder what's really necessary.

Only if you're privileged enough to be able to afford it.

I live in a different country from my parents, and for a while I’ve been thinking I’d like to move closer to them. The current restrictions have crystalised my vague thoughts into a more defined decision... assuming they survive. I will fly less if I live closer and I know I’m not the only person who is currently rethinking the distance they live from loved ones. I’ve taken the freedom of movement for granted.

That said, I’d love to go back to Italy and other wonderful places I’ve visited. Whether my lifestyle changes radically remains to be seen. None of us knows where this will end. It may be that everything changes so much that the world will be altogether different.

Would love to see school buses introduced as standard. Would also help to ensure local kids stood more of a chance of getting a local school, instead of having to go past four to get to theirs.

One of the things I absolutely love during the holidays. The commute drops a considerable amount. Not as much traffic, don’t get stuck 8-10 3-8pm, Monday to Friday.

Even weekends with everything open even offices, it’s quieter.

School buses and that’s a massive problem solved there. And think if they are all in walking distance, especially in secondary school there would anywhere near the amount of traffic, even if it extended to include after and before school clubs.

Look at all the jobs created as well. Those households under an decent living wage can pay contribution and those over pay. It wouldn’t have to be expensive, work with local affordable companies as a parent I would pay. Damn right id be the first to sign up 🤣

With the use of chaperones this can be from nursery age. It already happens with SN schools, why not extent to all schools?

Imagine. Stress free morning not stuck in traffic, trying to get the kids to school before you get to work? Get them to the meeting spot and off you skip happily 🤣