things you realised in lockdown that you're surprised you never noticed before??

[NoviceNewMN]

Working from home made me realise how low level subtly grindingly misogynistic alot of the men I work with are and how I am undermined every day without ever noticing when I was there - because it comes under the guise of cheerful chat that is blink and you miss it stuff. When you are out of it, life becomes lighter and happier.

I also never noticed exactly how much ££££ I spend on travel.

That I can buy anything I want from home & don't ever need to go out if I don't want to. That I don't like people at all & am happier with my own company.

I realised how much I value a decent team to be part of.

how i miss certain work colleagues who i have not seen in person for 18 months!

@gannett

Sadly the thing I've learned most from the past year is that a lot of people are so invested in the status quo and going "back to normal" that we've missed a massive chance to change the old normal for the better. There were so many aspects of how we lived as a society before the pandemic that were bad for our mental health, our family lives, our environments. We could have tried to keep some of the silver linings of lockdown. But it's all getting stampeded over in the name of "back to normal". As a species, humans really don't learn.

This.

People really need to start realising that "normal" was the problem!!

@NannyAndJohn maybe cos living without social interaction is unnatural. We are a social species. In the UK, social interaction is 'monetized', so naturally companies want to benefit from people's need to interact with others. I only learnt the term 'social poverty' when I first came to the UK, and it means not having adequate social interaction due to lack of disposable income i.e. not being able to partake in leisure activities and meet people. It was endemic amongst poorer people in the UK and also why many poorer people might even prioritize a TV licence over food because you feel a lot less lonely if the TV is on. It is extremely detrimental to mental health and is probably one of the main reasons why poor people suffer from worse general health. But we have all suffered from social poverty this year, both rich and poor people

But there is no viable alternative to this way of living in the UK, we are an individualistic society rather than a communal one. We don't live communally so a lot of interactions are 'organized' i.e. at work, at activities, in commercial venues.

@NannyAndJohn sorry correct term is social deprivation www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/social-deprivation

Pre pandemic, it was seen as part of the problem of poverty. It would be sad if more people become socially deprived in the long term due to pandemic.

I saw people for what they truly are and how I was being used by certain people in my family, and how entitled these people were and how they don't care about me at all, only what I can do for them. It sounds negative but it has actually been incredibly liberating.

Husband and children have been amazing.

This thread is making me realise how much lockdown has driven a wedge between people who hated lockdown and need social interaction and the richness of life and people who enjoyed lockdown and resent being forced back in to the busyness of normal life.

I am one who hated every minute of lockdown and feels that it takes away everything that makes life worth living. What I don't understand is why people who loved lockdown can't create ways in their own life to give themselves more of the space they crave. There are no laws forcing you out of the house now as they were (well actually are because I live in lockdown loving Melbourne) forcing me to stay home.

That despite what some tell us, when the whole of the UK Is in the UK we are pretty full. The countryside became such a busy place with people forming a trail across farmers fields at all times of the day. Also coastal locations were full.

Coming out of it all to see what has survived on the High Street shows that trash is rising to the top. Some fabulous independent restaurants are gone and replaced with small chains providing burgers, fried chicken cheap unchefed fast food but massive ones.

Same with shops, independants and chains such Monsoon, East, department stores, Gap, Mamas and Papas, Hotter, lovely cookware shops - all of which pride themselves in providing great service and helpful staff have been replaced by at best Sports Direct who pride themselves in cheap items and dreadful can't be assed staff.

The trend was already there but its escalated. The high Street shops are filling up but what with.

On a more positive note we realised we really enjoyed being together- 5 girls under 9 was so enjoyable for us. Our neighbours all came together to help those who needed and we have formed some brilliant friendships through that. And finally London really is a fabulous place to walk around when everything is closed.

I realized how much I enjoyed life pre-lockdown. I really missed commuting, going to shops, realized I hate shopping for clothes online, I really really missed people.

I realised that I do actually tan - as a pale skinned blonde I’d usually start holidays with pale pastey legs and spend the holiday trying not to burn.

Turns out that when i live in shorts, go for a walk every lunchtime, and walk or visit the beach every weekend, I do actually go quite golden brown. Enough for everyone to comment on it.

(Ok probably bad for my skin, but at least I’m getting vitamin D!)

@thingsarelookingup

This thread is making me realise how much lockdown has driven a wedge between people who hated lockdown and need social interaction and the richness of life and people who enjoyed lockdown and resent being forced back in to the busyness of normal life.

I am one who hated every minute of lockdown and feels that it takes away everything that makes life worth living. What I don't understand is why people who loved lockdown can't create ways in their own life to give themselves more of the space they crave. There are no laws forcing you out of the house now as they were (well actually are because I live in lockdown loving Melbourne) forcing me to stay home.

You’re still living through a (harsh) lockdown. Most of us are looking back on it a little misty eyed. Was pretty challenging at the time, but there are elements of it that some of us realise were beneficial once normal hectic life restarted.

People really need to start realising that "normal" was the problem!!

For what? For who? Except you of course, we know you adored every second and would rather not leave your house again.
Lockdown nearly destroyed me and my family, in all sorts of ways. My old ‘normal’ was lovely, after multiple close tragic bereavements in early adulthood I made sure I carved out exactly the life that made me and my family happy, because life is short.
I won’t give that up just because some people realised that they like working from home and don’t like seeing their friends. They are welcome (and always have been) to take steps to carve out a life that is perfect for them, it doesn’t have to impact everyone else.

That I was glad to have split up and my ex had moved out 3 weeks before lockdown. This has most definitely enabled us to have a positive relationship instead of having to be stuck together through lockdown and probably end up resenting each other.
That I’m more capable than I thought. I managed to keep the house going, homeschool the kids and later find a good job (after 10 years of being a SAHM)
I’ve made a new friendship, she is also a single mum and we are absolutely each others support and cheerleader.
How much I was spending just nipping to the shops!

Mansplaining is more apparent or irritating or both on zoom.

very much enjoying Radio 4,
started listening as covid started

I'm naturally an antisocial cow, so lockdown didn't phase me... it reminded me how happy I am in my own company, or just with the kids (and made me relieved I'm divorced!). I was furloughed in the first lockdown and realised I loved being at home again and missed being a SAHM ( my kids are now of an age that would make that an indulgent luxury for me, and would be financially impossible anyway!)

During the second lockdown I worked full time (I'm a TA, so was involved in the key workers hub) and yes, lazy so and so that I am, I'd rather have been at home...

However, my job, and my own kids have shown me the impact the social isolation and fear mongering has had on our young people's mental health and I feel they have been unfairly disadvantaged throughout the pandemic.

I have also learned that it's easy to be pro-lockdown/ WFH etc if you are comfortably off with a nice admin/ finance/ desk job whilst those that don't have that luxury keep services, food deliveries, Amazon etc working for you!

i was also working outside the home throughout, driving and parking were great!
but i really felt for those in their 20s, ie, my dc age
little chance for meeting and making new friends.

That humanity could fix climate change if they truly wanted to.

That eating out and going out in the evenings is massively over rated and I prefer catering for friends and family at my home.

How much my gym is a huge part of my life / social circle

How you can work your ass off for the public sector and risk hour life just to get a pay freeze

@profpoopsnagle

There are 3 sorts of Pom Bears. One that has both hands up, one with both hands down and the third is one hand up, one hand down.

I nearly bought some yesterday. I will do next time, you know, for research purposes

@longtompot thanks to prof I did indeed eat Pombears yesterday to check, and can confirm. I then ate a second bag to be sure. Likewise.

[quote onlychildhamster]@NannyAndJohn sorry correct term is social deprivation www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/social-deprivation

Pre pandemic, it was seen as part of the problem of poverty. It would be sad if more people become socially deprived in the long term due to pandemic.[/quote]
I meant more along the lines of international travel, excessive car use, and our obsession with material items over family.

If people stuck to their local areas all year round, there would be more sense of community and hopefully fewer lonely people.

So much better for the planet too.

If people stuck to their local areas all year round, there would be more sense of community and hopefully fewer lonely people

Yeah you’ve had your fun. Done your international travel and long haul holidays (despite us having known for years and years that there was a climate emergency) but now you want everyone to stop all those things because you quite enjoy pottering around at home.
No one is making you fly, or use a car, or even leave your house. That’s fine. What isn’t fine is expecting everyone else to live exactly how you do.

@TheGrumpyGoat

People really need to start realising that "normal" was the problem!!

For what? For who? Except you of course, we know you adored every second and would rather not leave your house again.
Lockdown nearly destroyed me and my family, in all sorts of ways. My old ‘normal’ was lovely, after multiple close tragic bereavements in early adulthood I made sure I carved out exactly the life that made me and my family happy, because life is short.
I won’t give that up just because some people realised that they like working from home and don’t like seeing their friends. They are welcome (and always have been) to take steps to carve out a life that is perfect for them, it doesn’t have to impact everyone else.

For the planet.

For our future generations.