Lockdown has become a different chapter in everyone's life. For most, it's a total new way of living. Most British people in today's world, have never lived during a time where we've had our freedom to an extent taken away from us, or been told to adjust the way we go about our day by order of the government. Yes, I know there will be at least one smart arse that says we always live according to the law, but you know what I'm getting at.
I saw a really good meme recently about this feeling like Mother Nature has sent us all to our rooms to think about what we've done. As a species that acts like we own the planet, this is the first time for many of us, where our civilisation has been under threat by an external factor which we have no control over. It's made us feel smaller than we ever have before.
So whilst we've been in our bedrooms thinking about what's happening out there, it's given us all a time unlike any other where we've been able to reflect on how we live, what we do, and what really matters. This will be different for everyone, but I'd like to take the time to share the 10 things I've learned over these last 8 weeks and what I intend on changing when this is all over...
1) I need to do my part to look after the planet
I am so bad for not recycling, buying 10p Tesco bags every time I go food shopping despite having a drawer full of 'em at home, and buying plastic water bottles weekly... and it's all so unnecessary. There are people out there (and massive hats off to them) who will only use sustainable bottles, always recycle and never waste food. If everyone behaved that way, instead of the way I have, what a massive difference that would make to the world. Whether or not you agree with the plastic tax, the government has made some progress on the issue, so I need to stop being a stubborn little selfish cow who is set in my ways and consciously and positively contribute. I also know this means changing my diet too. I've always thought about being Vegan but been deterred because of the planning and inconvenience it can be. Again how very fucking selfish of me. I know I won't change this overnight, but I am going to do everything I can to progressively get to the point where I am minimising the harm I cause to other animals and the planet itself.
2) Life is too short to not wear what you want
I think we can all be guilty of this unless you have the confidence levels I aspire to be. It's one of those things people dread. The question of "where are you going?" and having to explain that actually you just decided to make some effort today because you felt like it. It's the judgement some of us fear. In my head, I hear "who does she think she is?", "why is she so dressed up?", "why is she trying so hard?". That inner critic talking over the other voice which says "I want to wear it because it makes me feel nice". I need to listen to that voice more. I've missed dressing up and I'm annoyed I haven't worn the nicer clothes in my wardrobe more, and when I had the chance. If I want to look the best I can, when I want to, why shouldn't I? I still will have days where I can't be fucked and roll up to work with my hair in a top knot, leggings, trainers and the comfiest jumper I own, and that's OK too. But if I turn up to our casual office dressed a little nicer, or trying out new make up and feel good doing it, when that person (if, I mean, it could be me again) "where are you going later?", I will reply "home" and that will be the end of it.
3) Friendlier London is so much nicer
There's always going to be murderers, rapists and criminals to watch out for in a big city like this, but my god, how nice has it been that people smile and say hello now? How good has it felt on your only walk of the day, to include a good morning from a delivery driver? How much more aware has being told to socially distance made you of the other people in shops, queues and streets? Enough to say "Hi" and not blindly walk past people like they are invisible. I've gotten to know my neighbours more during this time too, which has been lovely. I feel like while we've been made to limit our radius' we've found so much more closer to home. So I really hope we don't lose that sense of community in a city where you can never run into someone you know..
4) I am a Morning Person
My whole life I've told myself I'm not a morning person. It's not so much that I don't like the morning, but more of a case that I love my sleep and that means waking up when I want to. Stripping back to working from home, going no further than the local park, and having no social occasions to attend, I've changed my sleep routine, and put in structure. I'm asleep by 11, and up by 8, and the quieter world at that time has felt great. I know when we go back to pre-lockdown life, it will be busy at 8am, but I think I'm going to adjust this to even earlier. Walking my dog with the birds singing and no one around is a lovely way to wake up. Having two hours before work to get ready, meditate, enjoy my morning cuppa and set my intentions for the day, makes my day feel even better. This is something I'm going to work very hard at keeping when we all go back to the way we were.
5) Travel is a privilege
I am extremely lucky to have travelled as much as I have. A combination of having the financial independence to do so as well as a job which actively encourages and sometimes takes you away, has meant I've seen some beautiful destinations and in the most beautiful ways. Tuscany, Cairo, LA, Vegas, Jamaica, St Lucia, Mexico, Singapore, Sydney, Barcelona, Budapest, Paris, Krakow, Dubai... like seriously how lucky am I?!
Being restricted to my local neighbourhood, I realised the other day that some people have never gone further than that. My Dad hasn't left the country in 15 years and some friends have never flown long-haul. I'm not judging AT ALL, I've just realised in this time of not being able to plan anything, how much I've taken for granted that I've seen more than my own little home world. It's also something I will appreciate even more when it returns. No more moaning about how much I hate packing.
6) Health is Wealth
I think this has been the biggest lesson for us all. There's that famous bit of advice that if you spend your whole life chasing money, you will end up spending that money chasing health. It's made us all take stock of how lucky we are, if we're able to survive this pandemic, and how lucky we are to have the NHS. Seriously.
I don't want to call health workers heroes, because this isn't what they signed up for. They aren't soldiers who took the job on knowing they'd be fighting for their lives with it. But for every person who decided to take a job in healthcare, we have been blessed. Imagine the health bills if you suffered from COVID19 and ended up in hospital in the US? It could bankrupt you for life. Imagine we didn't have the NHS, it would be people with a certain amount of money being treated only. I'd like to believe that the NHS is a national treasure we've all held dear, but if ever there was an example to those sneaky politicians that privatising the NHS, selling it off, or getting rid of it altogether was possible, this has showed them, how much of a literal life-saving institution it has been to our economy. It's made me especially grateful to live in this country.
7) How much I really do value affection
I'm not an affectionate person at all, unless with a significant other. I'm not a hugger and I'm not tactile. Maybe it's because I was brought up with brothers, I don't know. But I cannot tell you how much I've missed a cuddle, and how much I can't wait to squeeze every single person I've missed. I'm also making a promise to myself to do it more.
8) Nature is King
My local parks here in Brixton, have been my sanity over these last couple of months. I've always enjoyed being outdoors to an extent, but I have a new found appreciation for it now. Beautiful weather has definitely helped, but even on cloudy days, the serenity and calmness of being in open spaces, around trees and away from the hustle and bustle of traffic has brought me peace. When this is all over, I want to actively do more outside. I'm going to challenge myself to do another hike (without sunburn), see more of the UK's countryside, and fuck it, I might even climb a mountain.
9) That it's OK to do nothing
I am a pretty productive person, but if you've read my other posts you will also know, I prioritise a day to myself where I have time being a potato on the couch. However in doing this, I've always told myself "I've earned it". It comes after a big gym session. This period of not being productive even as an introverted extrovert, I've learned to stop feeling guilty for it. I've even actively rebelled against the guilt to work out. It's OK to do nothing. You don't need to be on the go all the time. And you don't need to explain it, Being busy doing nothing is perfectly OK.
10) My life is exciting NOW.
The final key lesson I've learned (I could go on for days), is that my life is pretty epic.
I'm excited to see my friends. I'm excited to eat in restaurants again. I'm excited to get glam and go out dancing. I'm excited to go back to working in the office. I'm excited to travel again. I'm excited to plan social occasions and I'm excited to once again do what I want, when I want and appreciate the freedom I'm so lucky to have.
We aren't in control, we don't own the earth, and we don't know what could happen tomorrow and so all we really have is now. We can prepare for the future but we shouldn't be living for it. We need to squeeze as much as we can of life's goods today. Not contradicting doing nothing, but just making sure we are doing what we want. We don't get to get to 80 years old (we might not even make it that far) and decide to do our lives over. We don't get another chance at this. Maybe that's the biggest lesson of lockdown. We are getting another chance, we've been shown how special our previous lives were and how much we can appreciate getting back into it. But we should also try to appreciate this time now. Unless you are a woman on maternity leave (and even then you have a new born baby to contend with), for most people, we've never been given this amount of time to be at home, not commuting. For those furloughed, you may never have this time to yourself again. For those working from home, you may never experience being able to work surrounded by home comforts, your fridge, your dog and your family/friends. Now is what matters and now really is fucking amazing.
I put this out on my instagram recently, but I'd love to hear what your lockdown lessons are too! Please do share, as I'd love to learn even more.
Yours,
Schooled by Lockdown x
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