Lessons from 100 days of lockdown

Lessons from 100 days of lockdown

As we approach a full 100 days in lockdown, we reflect on the things we've learned while mostly stuck at home

I was so blasé. Ten days before lockdown I casually said on a podcast that I still ride the tube, still see friends, still keep calm and carry on like the British Way (from 22m here).

Little did I know that the entire country would shut down just a week and a half later. Peter and I cut short our stay in London and drove back to Richmond, where we had spent the last 100 days - something of a record for two people who travel for a living.

The initial novelty of a blank calendar quickly wore off, and as we approach a full 100 days in lockdown, we're looking forward to a return to normality - or an incarnation of it. Aside from the obvious importance of friends and family, lockdown has taught us a number of things. Below, we share the lessons we've learned while mostly stuck at home.

Artists are integral

In my experience, there is widespread cynicism towards art and artists. Being a “creator” is seen as a pleasure; the preserve of the privileged or those too lazy or precious to do “a real job.”

I've been writing professionally for 14 years and while I believe there is value in what I do, I also find it a bit of a luxury. I accept low wages and overdue bills as immutable facts of the job—as if writing were an act of charity or penance.

alt="100 days of lockdown: books are mandatory">Atlas & BootsLiterature, music and cinema offer comfort and variety in difficult times

However, during lockdown I realized that art – and artists – are essential to our society. In quiet or lonely moments, so many of us turn to literature, music, and cinema, much of it written by a freelancer who doesn't get paid until he sells his work.

Lockdown has taught me that writing books is not a luxury. It serves a valuable function and deserves to be paid like any other job.

The flow of language quickly decreases

As travel bloggers, Peter and I are used to traveling the world. On any given day, we may speak to a dozen strangers and are used to doing so with ease.

However, after 100 days in lockdown, we seemed to have lost some of that fluency. We find ourselves at a loss for words when communicating something more complicated than a takeout order.

More worryingly for me personally, I seem to be struggling with my native Bengali language more than ever. I only speak it to my mother, and since I haven't seen her, I stumble over words during our rare phone calls. It's really amazing that fluency can decrease so quickly.

Nature is a panacea

We're pretty evangelical when it comes to getting outdoors. We've enumerated its many benefits and are working hard to attract newcomers to the outdoors.

alt=“We spent 100 days in lockdown in Richmond”>Atlas & BootsWe spent 100 days in lockdown taking long walks around Richmond

Lockdown has taught us how important this is. On days when we stay at home, we feel restless and nervous about going into another long evening. However, after taking a walk along one of Richmond's many pretty paths, we come home feeling calmer and more relaxed.

We are lucky to live in a city with such easy access to the great outdoors. We hope that communities in overcrowded cities will invest more in their valuable green spaces after the lockdown ends.

Bad hours can swallow up good ones

Like most people, my productivity has been significantly impacted by the global pandemic. The constant updates via Twitter and rolling news are extremely distracting. Over the weeks I've managed to find a rhythm, but there are still days when I get to 4pm and realize I've accomplished next to nothing.

I'm tempted to keep banging my head against the page and forcing myself to write, but bad times can so easily swallow up good ones if you don't know when to stop. Lockdown has taught me that it's much better to switch off, step away from your desk and try to enjoy the rest of the day.

We shouldn't get a dog (yet).

Peter and I really want a dog. He's crazy about them and has won me over over the years too.

Halfway through lockdown we seriously considered getting one. We saw people on Twitter proudly showing off their new puppies and thought it might finally be time for the rescue dog we've been talking about for years.

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Pure joy

The thing is that the lockdown is finite. It will end and life will become busy and full again. We'll be on the road for a large part of the year - and then what? Leave our dog in the kennel? Fool it on a neighbor? No. We're not ready to give up traveling yet, which means we're not ready for a dog yet. One day, but unfortunately not these 100 days.

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