Remember what you learnt during lockdown

Amongst the sheer tragedy of the pandemic, there has been some valuable lessons. It would be crazy to not grab the glimmer of goodness and to forget the lockdown lessons. It turns out that going back to basics for a while doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

We are capable of accessibility

At the beginning of lockdown, the UK started working from home practically overnight! This radical, but simple, shift enabled many businesses to continue working. Yet it also is something that many disabled people have requested over the years. Unfortunately the most common answer suggested that homeworking wasn’t feasible.

I’m not suggesting that every disabled person should work from home, let’s not perpetuate segregation. But, flexible working could open up employment and allow people to better manage their disability or condition. Not to mention the potential benefits it could offer many other people.

Aside from work, technology has revolutionised how we stay connected. If you were unable to socialise in the traditional fashion, lockdown meant you could access weekly quizzes, move nights or video calls. We’ve also been able to access the GP without leaving the house. Even theatres streamed shows online. This allowed people to experience the arts from the comfort of their own home and view it at their own pace.

As normality returns, we cannot forget the access the pandemic has given to so many people.

Find those odd jobs

Is Netflix’s the best use of your time? Most definitely! But bear with me on this one. Watching TV can serve a big purpose to help us relax and unwind. Not to mention that fact that bingeing a series on a Sunday afternoon is time well spent.

After a while this can become monotonous and the need to do something might start to kick in. Do you have a mental list of jobs that might seem slightly insignificant and never seem to get done?

Lockdown was the perfect opportunity to sort out your wardrobe, organise the house and try to complete that project you started far too long ago. Life has never been busier and it can often be the smaller things that get left behind. The chance to slow down has shown the importance of those small things.

Disabled people are the isolation pros

When we realised that staying at home every day wasn’t all it’s cracked up to, who did we turn to? Disabled people who already had years of experiences. Being confined to their house (or even a room) was pretty normal. I’m not saying this is the reality for everyone, yet it seems too important to dismiss the experiences of so many.

Also, we must remember that the end of lockdown doesn’t signify the end for some people. Now, potentially more than ever, disabled people could be isolated, without the support and care they need. To stop all elements of accessible contact is taking a major step backwards.

Yet we still don’t know the full story. Please be mindful not to compare your 4 months of isolation to someone who has been stuck at home for significantly longer. Despite us not knowing when, lockdown promised you an end, not everyone has that luxury.

You don’t always need to be productive

Make time for the things you enjoy, even if it doesn’t achieve anything. I’m guilty of needing to always be productive. In the words of Heather Small, what have you done today to make you feel proud? Even if you cannot think of anything, the fact you got to the end of the day is enough. You are enough. The productivity trap is so easy to fall into. Taking things slow is not a crime or sign of weakness, it’s actually vital.

During lockdown my mum and I spent about 4 hours on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, only for it to be put back in the box the next day. So what was the point? Surely I could have used the time to be productive? I could have done, but I’m glad I didn’t. I enjoyed doing the jigsaw and that is enough.

~ Chloe x