Let's take the positives from the 'new normal'

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

This might be unpopular but I felt we needed a bit of balance to all of the threads moaning about the 6 person rule. What aspects of the current rules do you quite like? Here are mine:-

No more fighting to get served at the bar, when you can get served at your table.

If your mask is big enough it can double as a sleep mask when you fly home from your hols.

If you don't particularly like people, like me, it's good that they're not allowed to get too close to you!

The 6 person rule is a good excuse not to meet up with those family members you never really liked anyway.

WFH means you can get your washing hung out whilst on a conference call, prep dinner, go to the gym in your lunch break etc.

Come on people, let's think positive!

Happy with no hugging and i agree re getting laundry out, though where i work was flexible re WFH anyway.
Can't think of any other positives and i refuse to see this as the 'new normal' i believe it is a 'temporary normal' maybe for another year or so

Stamp duty holiday saved us over £4000.

Husband now working from home for the foreseeable future, with maybe one or two trips a month to the office, rather than 1.5hr commute each way every day.

Can always get a machine at the gym!

@timeforawine I agree re the 'temporary normal.' Although it doesn't appear it will be short term, unfortunately.

No, though i really do hope we're only looking at another year ish like this, i miss being able to randomly decide to go somewhere for a day without booking in advance and thinking about packing masks and a ton of hand gel (my daughter doesn't seem to hear us when we say don't touch!)

Not for me either. I loved my life and now it is joyless and filled with worry!

School run is well organised, less chaotic and much less stressful!
The class bubble aspect is great for my little boy, he hated the crowded canteen and playground
I work at a pub, I like the fact that everyone can't just crowd round the bar

I like the fact I find it easier to say 'No' to sleepovers when my DC are asking if their friends can sleep. I always gave-in in non-covid times.
I'm also using the 'I'm not comfortable because of covid' line when my poisonous, manipulative mil asks if the DC can sleep at hers/spend the day (they always come home badly behaved.)

I've found alot of the faff that stresses me out about flying has actually been removed. Boarding and exiting the plane in small groups is so much better. No more bun fight in the aisles. Other passengers not taking up your personal space when you're in the middle seat! Hopefully the mask wearing will help with not picking up colds on the plane.

• Lots of really interesting, cultural stuff available online (e.g. Women's Prize for Fiction last night)
• Lots of healthy outdoor activities
• No pressure to organise big family events/ dinner parties

WFH is massive for me. My commute used to take 15 hours a week.
Not rushing around.
People not coughing and sneezing all over the place when you are out and about - I'm not particularly germphobic but I hated that.
I'm very grateful that DH and I both have decent employers (and unions).
Now things are not so crazy, I can get my shopping delivered, it's fab.
Saved a lot of money by not going out. I miss my pub lunches and trips out, but not that much actually.
YY to cultural events online - I've attended some really good stuff that I could never get to in person.
We've all had the bloody illness and it was nasty, but we are finally recovered and I'm very grateful for that.

Just came shopping to my local indoor shopping centre. Still quite a lot of people but volume is way down. One way system is great at organising people who would previously be wondering all over the place with no regard for anyone's personal space. No weird people hanging about doing nothing or groups of old men sitting on benches for hours. Sounds rude but it's really alot more pleasant experience on the whole.

Not feeling very positive at all right now.

My son has been sent home from nursery twice in the last week with a temperature (he tested negative).

The new 6 person rule means we can no longer see my brother in law's family without splitting up.

My city looks like it may be headed for a local lockdown.

My father doesn't live locally and is highly vulnerable (generally quite fit, but an organ transplant patient) so the longer this continues the longer before I can see either of my parents again.

I also rather like the table service at restaurants. And even better are the restaurants with phone apps so you can order and pay remotely and not have the faff of trying to attract the attention of a waiter when you want to order more food or get the bill and leave.

I love not driving my kids around every single evening. We've limited them to one activity each.

I've taken up walking and really love the area around my house. I take a walk every day during lunch now, and I don't eat my lunch at my desk (because my desk is in my bedroom). I can't believe I used to prefer a noisy, sweaty, gym.

My main positive is the saving of lives.

Whenever I struggle I remember that.

But focusing on the positives and making the best of things has been my attitude all along.

It helped that I knew at the start that it wouldn't be a "three week lockdown" and we wouldn't "break the back of it within 12 weeks" and things won't be "back to something like normality by Christmas" so I haven't been harking back to how things used to be all the time.

Knowing that this is a long term situation and we won't be "going back to normal" any time soon helps focus the mind.

It helps no one to wish things were different. They aren't.

So many of the 'benefits' of the 'new normal' only seem to benefit those who are better off. Stamp duty holiday, wfh, being able to book tables, getting a machine at the gym...

In reality if you're not so well off (or have lost your job in the last few months) there's not a whole lot to recommend it. Those on a lower income are less likely to be able to wfh and will have to carry on commuting on packed public transport. They're also more likely to rely on help from extended family/friends which hasn't been possible for a lot of lockdown and for many won't be under the rule of six.

Those whose mental health is shot to shit by all this won't find many benefits to it, either.

The increase in disposable income due to no travelling

Except I'll be saving most of it for spending cash once we are ready to holiday again (fingers crossed next year summer). I'm going to treat my sons to whatever they want in Paris and the US

I can’t, it’s all bullshit.

The only thing is not having to socialise at school gates...but that makes me feel guilty for being an antisocial cow.

No-one sitting next to me on the bus.

@PennyDreadfuI

So many of the 'benefits' of the 'new normal' only seem to benefit those who are better off. Stamp duty holiday, wfh, being able to book tables, getting a machine at the gym...

In reality if you're not so well off (or have lost your job in the last few months) there's not a whole lot to recommend it. Those on a lower income are less likely to be able to wfh and will have to carry on commuting on packed public transport. They're also more likely to rely on help from extended family/friends which hasn't been possible for a lot of lockdown and for many won't be under the rule of six.

Those whose mental health is shot to shit by all this won't find many benefits to it, either.

Agree with this 100%.

@PennyDreadfuI

So many of the 'benefits' of the 'new normal' only seem to benefit those who are better off. Stamp duty holiday, wfh, being able to book tables, getting a machine at the gym...

In reality if you're not so well off (or have lost your job in the last few months) there's not a whole lot to recommend it. Those on a lower income are less likely to be able to wfh and will have to carry on commuting on packed public transport. They're also more likely to rely on help from extended family/friends which hasn't been possible for a lot of lockdown and for many won't be under the rule of six.

Those whose mental health is shot to shit by all this won't find many benefits to it, either.

... even though I don't disagree with what's said here, why do people feel the need to jump on a positive thread like this. Do you want people to feel guilty for trying to look for the positives?

Not having to rush around to after school activities every night.

Not worrying that the house isn't tidy enough cos no one is coming in (I'm in Bolton)

Not having to make polite conversation with random strangers

Husband mostly working from home so saving money from petrol
Having time to eat tea together every night

@JayDot500 it's an open discussion. Yes, for some there are benefits, but for many there aren't. Nobody needs to feel guilty, but let's not pretend that this has been the hardest time in many peoples' lives.

Working from home is fab.

Less traffic on the roads, less air travel, so good for the environment.
More cycling

More time to 'be' rather than rushing around

Much more use of independent retailers. My small town has a much more invigorated high street and local market as people are supporting businesses that stood by them during lockdown and people are not travelling to other local towns.

Innovation and change, forced change had led to great problem solving and some fantastic new ideas ( community and local business...not central government)

To the poster who said 'Walking' - YES, YES, YES!

Pre-Covid it always seemed that people who went walking on their own (without a dog, partner or friends) seemed to be considered a bit weird somehow.
However the initial lockdown changed all that as it was one of the few things you could actually do.
And it seems to have continued. All of us here now just 'go out for a walk' routinely and it's a really positive thing both mentally and physically:

• I'm always bumping into friends and neighbours doing the same thing
• I've discovered new paths and roads I didn't know existed (despite living here for 20 years!)
• I always feel happier and healthier after a walk.