OPINION: Residing deliberately after lockdown

As we seemingly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, my head has been stuffed with ideas buzzing round about how society has modified and can proceed to alter. Whereas it was below dire circumstances, life in lockdown might need shone a lightweight on a constructive way of life.

I wish to preface this with the truth that the negatives of the pandemic had been nothing however actually detrimental: from family members affected by the virus, misplaced jobs and total uncertainty resulting in declines in psychological well being.

We’re glad to be again to “regular” within the sense that the unfold of the virus has slowed down, and faculties, shops, eating places and occasions are principally in operation, however the urge to continuously be shifting and going won’t be one thing we would like again. Working from 8 a.m. to five p.m., 5 days per week at an workplace desk, solely exploring the world for 2 weeks out of the yr with trip time, due to this fact resulting in having no creativity, is what people — significantly within the U.S. — have been conditioned into considering is the one technique to stay this factor referred to as life.

However what about how we had been dwelling after we couldn’t do these issues?

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We had been doing yoga, baking banana bread, spending intentional time with household, FaceTiming pals and going outdoors – why did any of that must cease after lockdown was over? We skilled a brand new technique to operate, of caring for ourselves, that we appear to have forgotten as quickly because the stay-at-home orders had been lifted.

After all, getting again to socializing in particular person and never being cooped up in a single place is so essential for psychological well-being and one thing I’m so glad to have again, however did we have to go away behind these fantastic issues we found in that hidden pocket of time?

I really feel as if I’ve whiplash: from rising up with the identical expectations of college, work and doing the issues I get pleasure from, to the slowing of life throughout the pandemic, to being anticipated to go full pressure once more. I can’t catch my breath. The uncertainty of what the long run holds weighs on me, and the urge to do life in a very untraditional manner beckons.

I want our society prioritized dwelling life slowly and having extra time to do issues we get pleasure from. Working from residence has caught round post-pandemic and appears to be a rising implementation for workplaces. Whereas not for everybody, the flexibleness to work the place persons are comfy and even journey whereas working, select hours that work for people, permit individuals extra time to really exit into the world and for the little issues that ought to be loved — that sounds just like the begin to an answer to me.

Maddy Daniels is the Collegian’s assistant arts and tradition editor and a junior in mass communications and graphic design. The views and opinions expressed on this column are these of the writer and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of the Collegian. Please ship feedback to [email protected]