Do you think life will be dramatically different after the coronavirus?

[seasonalsparkler]

It is understandably very difficult for a lot of people who are forced into self-isolation. Especially those who have made significant life changes in a short space of time.

How will your life change once- hopefully- we resume to normality? Do you think it will be business as usual straightaway or do you think we will need just as much time to adjust?

I can say that my life has certainly been disrupted from what I knew. I think being in the thick of it makes it almost impossible to know how I will feel once we are granted more freedom. As a single mum of one, my socialising was limited to being none existent now. While I'm trying my hardest not to resent it by remembering that everyone's health is what ultimately matters, life does feel like it is passing by at a faster rate at only 2 weeks in.

I can honestly say I won't take that sense of freedom for granted again- we are curious, social beings after all.

So do you think it will change anything? Whether it is the grand scheme of things or for you personally?

It's difficult to say. The last month seems to have lasted a year, I remember going to a family event where there were about 20 over 70s all in close proximity and this was on 8th March so only 3.5 weeks ago. Cannot imagine doing that now.

For a while perhaps. But humans are stupid with short memories.

I don't know, too many variables. I suspect lots of things will carry on like it never happened. And while people may initially be more appreciative of things they currently miss I'm not sure that would last - otherwise you'd be maintaining a constant low level of anxiety about losing it again. Like missing home when you're away for a while and initially having that "so good to be back" feeling, but then it fading away as daily life continues.

The fact you don't normally notice your freedom is arguably a good thing - it means you feel safe and secure rather than existing in a state of hypervigilance.

I think a lot of businesses we had taken for granted will close, so we'll feel financially worse off. Eventually new business will come, but I think there will be a few tough years financially, especially with Brexit as well. As soon as there's a vaccine I think people will be so relieved and want to get back to how we were before, but they will be more appreciative of things for a while but not that long, like user says

I think I'll be divorced.

Sorry headed for divorce, definitely separated.

It will depend how long this lasts. If (not going to happen) normal life resumed at the end of the 3 week lockdown I don’t think anything would be different.

I want to think I’ll be more community-minded; but in reality I think that compassion fatigue will set in here for this just as it does for any other tragedy and “normal” life will return relatively quickly and most people will need to be so focussed on survival and financial normality that everything will be forgotten.

The economy will be fucked. And for all of the platitudes that “human life is worth more than the economy!” - we all know that’s not how it actually works.

I think people will have short memories when it comes to this. We’re all best of chums now and picking up a loaf for the neighbours etc but I think when life returns to normal it really will return to normal. Just my thoughts and I hope I’m wrong!

There will be a lot of people with mental health problems. Hopefully we will buy less shit. I think less people will go out to eat as they have less money, get used to doing a weekly shop again and find eating in is actually easier and much cheaper. Quite a few people will reassess their lives (esp if they have been ill). More homeworking by professionals as companies see the benefits.

Internationally I fear the expansion of Russian influences in the old eastern bloc, the EU (who have proved useless) will change. The relationship the rest of the world has with China will change. Most likely civil unrest in many countries esp the US. World economies will be on their knees. High taxation will prevail, no Marshall plan this time. 1970s life will be replicated.

Pixie

I will never be able to sing Happy Birthday without thinking about washing my hands. We are enjoying growing veg and seeing some plants grow. We had planned to grow some anyway but at least now we have the time. It certainly slows the pace of life down a bit.

I think retail shopping and close proximity to other people will feel very weird for a while. I'm hoping that hygiene and personal space will continue. We definitely won't be able to forget about it - we'll be paying the tax man back for 10 years

I am going to Adopt a live for today attitude going forward. See places I want to see, do things I want to do. This has illustrated that life could be short!

I'm sure people will just be '' out '' thrilled! Beach, hair cuts, holidays...

Picnics, national trust. Just a play park will seem like a huge treat!

Just stepping outside, going for a drive.... The woods!!.
Surge of joy like the interwar generation... Stocks will soar, most business will revive...

No I don’t think it really will. People are full of “the world has changed forever” drama on here but basically most people led the life they like so they’ll want to do that again. Some businesses will fold sadly though. I’ll be back doing everything I like doing, kids back at school and hopefully this will be consigned to a distant memory

As an Eastern Asian, I fear hatred and racism towards us

Also I think I will worry whether another pandemic would happen for the rest of my life...

Life won’t return to normal In economic terms any time soon, because there is going to be a huge recession, on a scale not seen before in our lifetimes, which will mean massive increases in unemployment and we will all be poorer.

Non-food retail will be hit particularly hard. I would expect to see dozens of retail & catering chains going bust, including big names, and it’s possible that one of the major operators of shopping malls will also go under. The travel industry will be in very serious trouble if travel restrictions continue into the summer peak season.

As a society we will also have to decide what to do about the NHS. Until now, we have all valued the service, but not enough to vote consistently to fund it properly. This will have to change, and taxes will have to rise significantly to pay for it.

I hope there'll be much more money for the NHS and a re-adjustment of social attitudes about which jobs matter most. I hope that there is much more focus on emergency planning. I hope we institute a universal basic income as an economic protection against such events in the future. I really hope that having learned what we can do without the whole world is able to focus properly on what we need to do to combat climate change, or else this will be just the first of the major disruptions our children will experience in their lifetimes. I'm not at all sure that I believe these things will happen, but I do hope we are able to seize the opportunities.

I hope we learn to value and recognise and celebrate those people who risk their lives on a daily basis just to do their job over the bunch of talentless z-listers and 'influencers' that seem to think the work owes them a favour. Go away and do something useful.

I fear that the impact on the economy will last a generation. Will likely make austerity seem a walk in the park.

I hope that the impact of zoonotic diseases coming from eating both wild (CV, ebola etc) and farmed animals (swine flu, bird flu) will sink in, with people reconsidering the wisdom of it.

Travelling thank you, it's been a while in coming but being in close proximity, with no respite or help, is making the problems a lot more noticeable. Can't go burying them forever.