Anyone else hate shopping after lockdown ?

[Veeveeoxox]

Euugh I went Christmas shopping today , the noise , the crowds it was sensory overload I feel exhausted and just want to lie down. Prior to COVID I loved it will this be a forever thing or will I be able tolerate it again ?

Anyone else now hate crowds ?

Yes.
I've been out twice to make a start on Xmas shopping. Barely bought a thing. Can't be bothered trawling around the shops to find the same old stuff. There's nothing inspiring on the high street.
I just kept thinking that I could find much better online so I'll be Xmas shopping online I think.

I went shopping yesterday at a big shopping centre. Hated every second of it. Couldnt even concentrate enough to buy anything. Back to sofa shopping from now on.

I'm not too bad with shopping if I go at quiet times and can escape easily. The last hour on Sunday afternoons and weekday mornings are the best times.

We've had our first trip to the theatre which wasn't a great experience. We're big theatre goers and were really excited to go but being in close proximity to a lot of people after nearly two years wasn't pleasant. We had the end of a row so we're constantly up and down letting people in with faces inches apart. I'd say about 10% of us kept masks on. Apparently they have some swish air con/ air exchange system but it was really hot and uncomfortable with just the sheer amount of bodies I presume. The show was great but it felt like we paid £200+ for tickets to feel uncomfortable for three hours. I think our theatre days might be over, we'll probably just stick to going to the cinema with proper air con and roomy seats.

Yes, because we're still expected to wear masks in Scotland.

There’s nowhere to go shopping is there? So much has closed in my hometown. I’m struggling to fill my time without Debenhams.

Cool (whoever quoted me, not interested enough to check), must just be my local town that’s a druggie infested shithole then. Good for you.

I have grown to love it again now. It is a feeling of normality returning. I don't want to be scared of crowds any more.

I did feel really odd when I was in a crowded room at the end of August though so it has taken time to get used to it.

Same here. For some reason the 'big' shops / retail parks near me seem way more crowded on an average day than they ever were pre-pandemic. I need to go to the Range / B&M for a couple of things this afternoon and I'm dreading it...I used to be able to spend hours mooching about now I'm irritable after 10 minutes and just go in grab what I need and leave

I definitely do more online shopping now.

I still love a trip to John Lewis, and I go to my local M&S food shop several times a week, but I haven’t been back to a supermarket for over a year. Not remotely bothered by crowds, just find doing a huge shop a massive bore

Me. Everything has to be mulled over beforehand like a military exercise. A list, plan of action and dithering whether I really need to go, do I really need it now? It's raining, perhaps not. Where will I park? It's too late to go now. I'll go tomorrow. I could slap myself really hard sometimes.

However, yesterday remembering I had a £5 voucher off Hobbycraft which had to be used by today I was in the car within 5 minutes of printing it out. Of course I needed nice, expensive coloured pencils because the cheap ones I have loads of just don't do it for me anymore.

@Veeveeoxox

Euugh I went Christmas shopping today , the noise , the crowds it was sensory overload I feel exhausted and just want to lie down. Prior to COVID I loved it will this be a forever thing or will I be able tolerate it again ?

Anyone else now hate crowds ?

I've never liked crowds or shopping in busy places. I could deal with it though. Now I actively avoid it. Maybe because of Covid risks as well but not entirely.

I've done all my shopping online from independent shops. We only go into our city now for socialising. I get really bored shopping in shops

I find the shops are a lot less crowded, not worried about Covid in the slightest, had it in May last year and have had both vaccinations plus booster but shopping is dull, no buzz at all. Even our local reasonably big Sainsbury’s is never busy. God knows why anyone worries about masks, no one is within 3 meters of anyone at any point.
I cannot see how our local high streets are going to survive on the few shoppers out.

I LOVE it!

Pre-covid I hated crowds, but I really missed those crowds and now I will never again moan about the shopping centre being packed.

Our centre has put up the xmas decorations, I love taking my lunch break and strolling across the road to it from my office. Jossling with thousands of other people, admiring all the decorations, browsing and occasionally purchasing something.

Love it! The more crowds the better.

I'm loving it again now, our local shopping centre has been hard hit so we are heading into the city. Post lockdown I noticed the selection was rubbish but now it seems to be improving

Yes- I can't take the crowds anymore! Used to love shopping pre-Covid would frequently make a day of it with friends or alone including getting a nice lunch/afternoon tea etc...

Part of the reason is also WFH 4 days a week - just don't need as many clothes/accessories/make-up anymore so it's pointless browsing!

Never really liked a really busy time like Saturday afternoon. Would always go last minute on Saturday, first thing Sunday or Thursday late nights when I worked during the week. Too loud, too busy, too crowded.

Now I have more flexibility I pretty much stick to times like Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning when it’s likely to be really quiet. And even then it’s really much more of a mission and no browsing.

I’ve never liked crowds, have had to leave some of those mega—supermarkets half way round because I just couldn’t stand it any more.
My husband used to take a day off midweek when the children were small, usually a Wednesday, so I could Christmas shop in relative quiet.
Now, I bless the internet!

Recently saw that Tesco are dimming their lights and turning the volume down on checkouts for two hours a week. Unfortunately, since I work full time I would have to shop on a busy Saturday morning to benefit from this. Why no weeknight option? Or just get rid of the harsh lighting altogether?