To ask what you will not go back to doing?

[Galwaygirl]

For me, I realise after weeks in lockdown that I spent a fortune on kids clothes that they never wore, way too much and getting on fine with no new purchases!
Also, spent a fortune on make up and skin care that o am still using, makes me think I was living in a world where there was so much excessive expenditure on material thanks I did not need, will be mindful in future!

I’m going to carry on with online supermarket shopping. I’m lucky I have priority as on shielded list but I’m spending less, not buying stuff on impulse and find it very easy to not buy chocolate, crisps etc. Inside the shop I’m less able to resist temptation but this way I don’t click on the confectionary or savoury snack sections and what I don’t see doesn’t taunt me.

6 weekly hair trims. I’ve used the enforced lack of hairdresser to grow out my very short graduated bob. I’ve not had a trim since mid January and if I can keep out the salon will be able to nave it shaped into a collar bone length blunt bob that I’ve decided I want.

I will hopefully appreciate the little things I took for granted. Meeting up with friends for coffee and a chat or cooking each other a bit of dinner.

Not wearing make-up. I never went out anywhere before March without a full face of makeup. There seemed no point once we were all stuck indoors and I’ve gradually got used to seeing my naked face and getting the air to it has done away with my sickly pallor. Now when I go out I generally have a mask on so there’s still zero point. Might just wear a light dab of bb cream and a bit of eye make up but I’m not going to put on a whole face full of stuff just to go to the local shops. It seems ridiculous now that I felt I needed to do that to look acceptable.

i don't think I'll ever go to soft play again. I feel for the soft play business owners and not that I don't think it could be safe, but I've had close to four months now when I've been very happy not to go and the kids have found other things to do.

I’m aiming NOT to go back to...

• bothering with full make-up, heels or underwired bras.
• burning the candle at both ends due to work (currently sleeping 11-7 most nights and it’s taken years off me)
• wasting money on pointless clothes I/the DC will hardly wear.
• giving a shit what my selfish, narrow-minded colleagues think of me. Hoping to find a new job altogether (!)
• being too busy for my kids. They’re the only thing that really matters to me.
• getting angry about the state of the world but not doing much about it: more volunteering and activism.

There’s a LOT I don’t miss about my pre-lockdown life, and I’ve no desire to go back to the same old exhausting grind.

Getting my hair done, I used to spend a fortune. I taught myself how to highlight my own hair during this time in lockdown, not as perfect as salons obviously but I was happy with it. I'll still get my hair done at a salon but I will be able to go longer between visits now. Or I might just go for something different now that I have seen my natural hair colour for the first time in years! I have realised I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts of money at the hair salon anymore.

Food shopping, I used to go food shopping every other day. During the lockdown I've not wasted any food, I let my fridge and cupboards go quite bare before I go to the supermarket, mainly because I've hated having to make trips to the supermarket during the pandemic. Even though my shopping bills have been higher I've probably saved money by not making all the top up shops I used do during he week.

Yoga classes, enjoyed doing them at home.

Won't be getting in touch with anyone I didn't hear from during the lockdown.

I won't be going to the gym - have been doing couch to 5k, and strength exercises at home.
Won't be hurrying back to restaurants or theatre or flying anywhere.
Won't let the garden get overgrown and full of weeds.
Will stop feeling guilty about having a cleaner, we have proved that we need her!
Won't be giving up coffee shops though!

Not buy as many clothes And frivolous stuff

Not turn down an opportunity to go out and do something

Appreciating nature and the glorious summer weather while doing SFA with any luck. Desperate for vitamin D.

Cured crunchy hard feet & toenails of terror without my podiatrist - now frenzied to show off with this season's mules.

I used lockdown to do up the flat singlehandedly, so planning on a summer of crisp wine on the newly decorated balcony with its 150 blossoming plants that started as seeds in March.

I used to be out buying food 3-4 times a week. One excuse was a back injury meant I couldn't manage a full trolley. Well it turns out I can now. Food shop only when we need milk and will then buy the rest of the list so hopefully every 7-12 days. Bulk buying various things on line. Will order in line more. I only buy clothes when I need them as this years plan and will stick to that but has been nice to get new pants this week that I wanted as I realised most of my knickers were black and wanted white and cream. The kids can chose their own clothes on line and I'll just pay for them. Kee0 on top of the cleaning and tidying more. Helps my mental health I'd the plan is clean and tidy. Ring my two friends who are in their 80's more often and write to a couple of people who I do send odd letters too but have really enjoyed weekly letters.

Hopefully we will stay with s virtual office and therefore little commuting

We’ll stick to doing a big shop once a week instead of popping in to the supermarket most days.

We’ll stop going to places like the Trafford Centre and buying just ‘stuff’ as a leisure activity (sorry to the Trafford Centre as I know they need the business).

We’ll avoid going to places like trampoline parks just for the sake of something to do. By the time you’ve paid for entrance, coffees, drinks for the kids etc you’ve spent £20 just for one child! This is obviously easier in summer than winter though.

Really, we’ll just avoid feeling like we have to be doing ‘something’ all weekend every weekend. We’ll actually stay at home and enjoy our house sometimes!

I’d rather avoid spending £100 a time on meals out but DH doesn’t agree with me there.

I won't be living with a man - or anyone - anymore, EVER!

Straighten my hair every day. I used to straighten it every day with out fail, I maybe do it every other day, if not longer, and I've started to put it back into a pony tail, never had the confidence before.

Drinking. I've given up over lockdown and I feel so much better.

I will never cram myself on a crowded tube again, will wait or walk. I really miss central London and can't wait to go back to the office for my 'other' life. I miss my team and the camaraderie of work.
(I won't be buying loads of expensive food from Pret though.)
I will let some of my friends go now I think. The people I used to be friends with but only saw each other every two months. I used to tie myself in knots trying to keep up with people, and I this lockdown has made me realise I just need to let them go.

Air conditioning.

The commute.

Rushing around to arbitrary time targets.

Driving for two hours each way for a "day out."

Driving locally when we can walk.

Anything closed in, artificially lit and badly ventilated. The gym just feels like a fake nonsense and germ repository compared to exercising outside.

Plasticky brightly coloured nails look so weird to me now. I'll keep them short, bare and easy to clean.

Producty hair is over too. Conditioner and styling products were why I had to wash my hair so often, then I needed the products to calm it down and round and round we went. Now I shampoo and air dry after exercise. Job done.

I don't need any clothes. Possibly ever. I have a small wardrobe full of outfits I bought for weddings and wore once. Those combined with getting my hair done and nails and brows and lashes and tan etc fir occasions just seems really strange and stupid and wasteful now.

Dyeing my hair is over, as is going for a blowdry. Fake tan, heavy foundation and Instagram make up feel like some weird historical artifact like Marie Antoinette powdering her face with lead. Eyeshadow palettes look unpleasantly gaudy.

Soft Play. Why did we ever put ourselves through that? Birthday Meals out for little kids? Coffee culture. It's all a stressful waste of money and time. With people we often don't really like or care about.

I can't see he going to live comedy, gigs or the theatre for a while either to be honest. Being shut in a windowless room breathing other people's exhalations definitely doesn't appeal.

Bloody Hell, I'll go back to my old life as soon as I can! 🤞

• Get my hair done - my 3" grey roots are horrendous
• Get back to the gym - I've lost so much upper body muscle from not using the heavy weights
• Go to the pub - we were there once or twice a week
• Go shopping (although I won't go shopping while all the current measures are in place)
• Go away for the weekend

I know it will be months (years?) until the old 'normal' is back but I can dream...

going to the big supermarket.. i have discovered online shopping (better late than never) and its so much less hassle than going around a supermarket, dc having a tantrum, running off all the time etc, cant get every product online though so may need to go out for the odd few items. Also since having spent more time in the garden i have more appreciation for it, want to spend more time in it now... just had a lovely afternoon in the garden with friends and family and we wouldnt of done that if it wasnt for lockdown, was so much better than being in

That’s all very well while it’s summer. It’s going to be dark and wet soon, then the garden is no use.

I just want everything back to normal.

I think I'm the only person missing soft play! It's one of the only things my kids have asked for. When I will safe comfortable going back I don't know...

I'm really missing exercise classes and swimming pool.

I will not go back to eating out - places like supermarket cafes with dcs- somehow I felt it was less effort than cooking - why?!

I would like to not go back to sitting in traffic, struggling to park, rushing everywhere late. I have worked throughout lockdown and the lack if traffic sample parking spaces has reduced my stress greatly.

We’re missing soft play too. We had a lovely small local one we went to at least once a week.

Bedtimes.
We cracked them for our 4 and 6 year olds in week 1 of lockdown. After 4 years of no evenings.
Now I just need to work on the 2 year old!

My life hasn’t changed that much, but I can’t imagine ever accepting a handshake again, it was never a hygienic thing to do anyway. And I won’t be going to the council pool again, unless I get vaccinated for Covid19, if that’s ever a thing that will exist.

No, there aren't any changes I am likely to make. Things have been pretty normal for me through lockdown.

I do wish I could carry on having everyone at home spending time together as a family. Pre-lockdown, the eldest was often out doing things and then crashing from chronic fatigue syndrome. I took my youngest out to see friends and do activities every day, which can be tiring for me. It has been nice to do less and be together and relaxed. But at 20 and 13, they don't find their family enough. They aren't happy stuck at home. We'll go back to how we were.

ironing. I used to iron everything.....I definitely wont go back!

I'll be going out more and continuing the exercise regime I've started to build with long walks and beginners yoga.
More organised food shopping and supporting smaller suppliers.
Got a milkman now we will keep.
Downsizing our possessions.
I've learnt how to do my nails but will still go to the hairdressers and for waxing.