I miss lockdown

[DeniseDenis]

Locktime lurker.
I know this is controversial, but I'm quite seriously, long-term ill at quite a young age and so I've basically always been in and out of lockdown.
I spend weeks and months on my own too ill to see people.
I don't blame anyone, there is no one to blame.
But plans are always cancelled. It's rubbish. I'm isolated simply because I'm too ill to go out.
When covid hit and everyone was forced indoors (and I'm not saying I'm glad people were ill or businesses failed and jobs were lost) I felt less alone. It's awful to admit but I was glad it wasn't just me for once whose life had ground to a halt.
I loved chatting to people via online quizzes and finally felt 'seen' at work.
And it's awful as I know loads of people struggled with it but I didn't because I was used to being in lockdown and already lived constantly with a huge degree of health uncertainty.
But now it already feels like these strides which were made to be more inclusive have been forgotten.
I get why, it was an unpleasant blip people want to forget about.
It's really lonely. I doubt I'm the only one who thinks this period is already being erased from people's minds and feels sad about it.

Hi
I also miss lockdown. I'm a single parent with mental health problems. Before and after lockdown I have felt/feel isolated and excluded from a lot of social events. I found lockdown to be a good leveller and that people had more time for me when their social lives were more like mine.

After lockdown it seems to be that people are more selfish and less empathetic than ever before.

Xx

I miss lockdown as well, for similar reasons. I have a few chronic illnesses and felt so less guilty about not being able to do things & go places because no-one could.

Oh I totally understand. I had no FOMO during lockdown.

I must admit lock down reduced traffic, and it was quicker to get items in town and more organized with the limits of people eg going in the various stores.

This👆

I miss many aspects of lockdown. In this world, I feel isolated and there's massive FOMO.

Ah I was already to rant at you and then read your post.

I dont miss lockdown - it was one of the worst times in my life for a multitude of reasons and I do my best not to think about it too much.

But I can see from what you have written why it would make you feel as you do and how it might have lightened your load. So YANBU.

I hope that maybe you'll confide a bit of this to your friends and workmates - nothing wrong with giving them a little prompt.

BUT so much has decided to stay online too - courses, jobs etc. much much more than before lockdown. But yes you're right, life is back on full pelt with little thought to the pandemic.

I miss it too, I get so busy- I can’t keep up with everything! I’m back to eating unhealthily, I’ve put on weight, not going to bed early enough. I’m over committing and not doing enough exercise, spending too much money and constant snacking.

first lockdown I was running really regularly, not snacking at all, my house was tidy and clean, my job was really fulfilling and I had no pressures on my time other than work. I got to do the things I enjoy doing for fun rather than because I said I would and had promised someone.

Since I retired I’ve been pretty much (willingly) living in lockdown, and found actual lockdown very easy, compared with many people, particularly those without their own outdoor spaces.

I don't miss lockdown, but completely understand. My ds has ASD and we are locked out of so many normally activities. I loved the booking time slots for things to prevent queuing and the reduced numbers which meant things were less overwhelming for him. I used to hear people complaining about 'not being spontaneous' and I would crack a wry smile that they could now have a tiny idea about how I live my life.

Hugs to you. I do love an online quiz.

I absolutely loved lockdown and really miss it.

I don't have MH issues and am healthy and well but just loved being at home every day with the DC. We went on walks and played games and baked and talked!! So much. It was like going back in time!

Aaaaand, the sun was always shining.

I might have made the last bit up but the weather was definitely lovely to begin with.

Absolutely not. Anyone who misses keeping people locked in their homes for months on end just so they feel better about themselves is misguided.

I remember being really worried about lockdown and how it would affect my mental health. If I'm off work for 2 weeks I start to feel like I miss the routine of it. But I actually felt like I had a much better work life balance. I had no commute so was more able to keep on top of things at home and used my lunch breaks for blasting housework so by the time 5pm rolled around I had most things done and a tidy house to actually relax in. Which meant more quality time with dh and our dog in the evening. I felt like life had a better pace. I don't miss not being able to see friends etc in person, or going out to celebrate things like birthdays etc and of course the worry of illness etc. But I do miss the slower pace and how much more on top of things I felt. I felt like my mental health was better for it.

I was suicidal during lockdown and I've not really recovered fully. So no, I don't miss it at all

I'm sorry you are ill, I really am. But even the thought of it makes me feel panicky.

My marriage hasn't really recovered either, and I'm living with someone who doesn't understand how it affected me. It's a very lonely way to live

I think quite a lot of people loved it. Even those without MH issues.

I know lots of furloughed or wfh wealthy types who stayed home with their teens having lovely quality time.

I was working on a ward throughout and have never felt more exhausted. So I am delighted it’s over.

Yanbu. Lone working parent here with no social life. Lockdown was a doddle. We had a good routine, lots of running and walking and exercise and I was able to WFH. I even watched some TV as I wasn't tearing around.

Yes, I also miss it

I don't have FOMO and work was demanding as I worked with a lot of suicidal people but the world STOPPED

And the pace of life was slower, more peaceful, MUCH less traffic, more people out walking

Whenever people go on about how they want extended opening hours on Sundays and other days I just think about the environmental cost of all that.... the lights, heating, staffing, traffic to get there

We just can't afford environmentally to have a 24 hour society 🤷‍♀️

I miss it too. Quality time with my husband getting pleasure out of the small things like cooking a tasty meal. Life seems so hectic now

I don't miss it at all. It was horrible. DP died just before the second lockdown. I have a disabled DD. We were on our own. She couldn't meet with other children and I had no adult contact. Zoom is not a substitute for human contact.

I understand your feelings OP but it was pretty grim for a lot of people and the consequences are only just beginning to emerge.

I understand your feelings but lockdown wasn't kind to me and I don't miss it at all.

I will always be sad that my elderly Dad's last year was lived largely in lockdown and that hospital restrictions meant that he died alone even though the reason he was there wasn't COVID related.

The beautiful thing about freedom is that you can use it to stay at home alone any time you want to.

I miss it to. The slower pace of life and lack of expectation to mix and socialise. I think for those of us who are naturally introverted it was a pleasant change because the world we live in run and dictated by extroverts.

The same.

The FOMO thing though. Either you want to do things and go out and do them, or you don't want to do them and stay happily home. You don't get to tell people they can't do things because you don't want to miss out, but also don't want to leave the house?

Thats just weird and controlling.