What lockdown taught me
L
ockdown is something that a lot of people weren’t prepared for, and I won’t pretend it hasn’t been hard. It has felt incredibly unnatural to be stuck inside, and I’m aware it’s led to struggles within relationships due to the distance between people. Partners, friends and grandparents were forcibly separated and communication became difficult. However, there have been positives to come out of lockdown in the lessons that it has taught me.
A focus on creativity is not a waste of time
Don’t stress the little things
In a time where entertainment has to come from home, these activities are so valuable for my mental health. I’ve even been reading for fun, something that felt wildly unfamiliar to me as an English student.
If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that the little things in life are not worth stressing about, as there are always things bigger than you.
Over the years, it’s been instilled in me that activities like watching Netflix, drawing and colouring are extremely unproductive when it comes to being a university student. I have spent much of my two years at university believing that these were all time-wasters and felt guilty whenever I’d indulge in a bit of colour by numbers, but lockdown has taught me that these are actually beneficial.
My introversion is a blessing, not a curse That phone call where you stumbled over your words slightly? Not important. That bicker you had with your friend last week? Not important. It’s put all my little anxieties into perspective. Stressing about minuscule things, like arguments and embarrassing stutters, seem entirely irrelevant when something so big and so scary is on the minds of everyone in the world. So, from now on, I know not to stress about little mistakes I make day-to-day. My relationship with family is so important Despite how much I’ve sometimes felt frustrated at the lack of freedom when being stuck with my parents and brother, it’s made me realise how close we actually are. We’ve had political discussions, watched so many films, taught each other a lot and learned a lot together, and it’s brought me closer to them. Although I am excited to get back to university and live independently, I will continue to appreciate my time with my family and our close relationship more.
My relationship with my introversion has always been complicated, as it’s something which has sometimes impacted my social life negatively. Whether it be leaving socials early or not feeling like I had enough to talk about, I’ve always loved my own company and my own space, and what better time is there to be an introvert than in a nation-wide lockdown? I will no longer get frustrated at my introversion. Though I may not be the most talkative of the friendship group or the best host with visitors, I am so glad to be comfortable in my own company. Lockdown has taught me that introversion is something which I should be proud of, rather than ashamed of. Despite lockdown’s challenges, I’ll look back on it as something that’s taught me important life lessons that I’ll have in mind into the future.
WORDS BY GEORGIE HOLMES IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SMYTH
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PANDEMIC
