Life After the Lockdown
Lockdowns worldwide didn't just mean a new experience for us all and a reset button for nature and humanity.
A crisis can also be seen as an opportunity, as humans learn from mistakes. Many of us found our weaknesses and strengths during the lockdown, what made us tick and what didn't, so we can now take this knowledge into the next chapter of the challenging 2020 and hopefully make it better.
During the pandemic, many people appreciated the lives of their family members and friends and how every breath is so precious. After the initial anxiety and unnecessary stockpiling of toilet paper (for some), people started embracing kindness, even among strangers.
The world took time to stay still, rejuvenate and welcome animals back into forests and waters. But what did we, people, learn from the lockdown, and what will we take into the future with us?
There will be various personal changes in habits, depending on personal experiences during the lockdown.
Some will find that online shopping and food delivery is an easy way to go forward for their household. Others will keep doing virtual coffee or wine dates with friends, especially with those overseas or located far away. Some will embrace making their own bread or continue regularly bake.
While many families with children struggled in one way or another, as entertaining kids for weeks on end wasn't an easy task, there was also a lot of quality time spent as a family. Lots of walks, exercising together and spending precious time together, which many kids will remember for a long time.
The importance of spending quality time as a family is one of the most important things many parents will take away after the lockdown. Of course, everyone's life is hectic when life is "normal", but for many parents, the desire to be present for kids and take time to be there for them will be bigger than ever after experiencing the lockdown.
It's important to mention that children were affected by the lockdown as much as their parents (if not more)—the real value of hugging their extended family or seeing their friends will be more significant after the lockdown. Many will appreciate the friendships they have and the important interaction with their peers. Hopefully, many will also enjoy school and seeing their teachers more, although this is somewhat questionable, as many children actually enjoy staying home and not going to school.
As we know, kids strive for structure and know what to expect. Taking good habits from the lockdown (like Sunday family walks) and including them into the post-lockdown life in a structured way will benefit children and the whole family really.
Unfortunately, it is easy to fall back into the usual busy life which was before the lockdown and get caught up in the sudden craziness of it all. It is important, though, to remember that we can take good from our lockdown experience and utilise it in our post-lockdown life for the better.