"I'm afraid I just don't like people anymore" — Contemplating life after lockdown

More than two months have passed since lockdown was announced and as we roll into the fourth instalment of the worst sequel ever, we’ve become accustomed to a few changes. Not having to be around people has been a blessing for my asocial tendencies.

For most of my adult life, I’ve been a working professional and functional human-avoider. Constantly monitoring my behaviour and reactions was my routine. A tiring one.

When lockdown happened, I dropped my guard and let my freak flag fly. I could put away my rescue remedy, my inner anxiety-riddled cat was finally at rest.

I hate to be the one to say it, but life after lockdown seems like a task now. I’m going to have to retrain my brain, and my facial muscles, in order to deal with people in the acceptable ways that social etiquette dictates.

Turns out I’m not the only one contemplating the adjustments when we get back to life after lockdown.

Some are questioning society’s judgements of facial hair, others are worried about missing quality time with their loved ones, some are even concerned about going back to human society after being cocooned at home, and others are, well, concerned about having to wear jeans instead of tights.

Is it too evil to want self-quarantine to continue?

Life after lockdown:

The Tweak family reveals what they’ll miss (and what they’re worried about)

“I’ve become very used to having my husband at home. His work requires him to travel a lot and it’s selfish of me to want lockdown to continue just so he gets to work from home and be with me.” – Sabiha Imaan

“I feel like I will walk out of this with Bruce Banner syndrome, that is, pulling a Hulk and wanting to tear out of my bra at every given opportunity.” – Arunima Banerjee

“Wearing underwear will be agony post lockdown.” – Shiamak Unwala 

“I’m only going to talk to people in movie dialogues when life after lockdown begins, with the amount of cinema I’ve been watching.” – Kaajal Khan

“I’m really questioning whether I need to go back to the office. All our work is on laptops, do we even need workspaces anymore? I was so much more productive when working from home without the distractions of something else always coming up.” – Neemani Unnikrishnan

“I’m going to miss my children when we enter the phase of life after lockdown. This is the most time I’ve gotten to spend with my teenager. He goes from school to football training, plus tuition classes, hanging out with friends or movie nights. Even when he’d be at home, he’d either be on his phone, playing video games or watching TV.

Now, we actually get to spend time together. He’s helping around the house, we play games as a family and have really bonded. Yes, keeping up with his schoolwork, my own office work and house chores has been difficult but I’ve really enjoyed this time with him. It’ll all change once this is over.” – Nandini Brar

“I have PTSD from watching dishes pile up in the sink but I love being with my cat. I’m not too sure about her, but I am definitely going to have separation anxiety when I have to go back to work.” – Nikhita Arora

“I’m yet to explore how I feel about my most favourite food ever (pani puri) after COVID-19. It’s essentially a combination of everything you must not do to spread the virus, assembled into a puri that goes into your mouth.

Also, the nature of my job(HR) is talking to people a lot on a daily basis. I’m afraid I don’t like people anymore.” – Sameera Khan

“I have grown very comfortable with my one eyebrow and healthy moustache. I used to be the kind of person that would get threading done as soon a sign of hair growth popped up. Now I don’t care anymore. It sounds frivolous but it’s freeing and has changed my body image on some level.” – Neha Mathur

“I have a fear of crowded places and going out in general. It’s not agoraphobia, but I’m most comfortable at home. I had to adjust going to work and generally avoid parties and clubs. Lockdown has given me peace of mind just being on my own at home with my mom.

She worries because whatever progress I had made (her words) with putting myself out there and being in uncomfortable situations will come undone. I’m back in my cocoon and I don’t want to leave.” – Vedika Sharma

“Even while working from home, my communication with colleagues has been minimal and usually over texts. All client briefs and changes (I’m an illustrator) are done over email.

If this goes on much longer, I’m going to forget how to do official business meetings and act professionally. I might talk to my colleagues like how I talk to my dogs.” –  Stuti Gatkare

“Post lockdown, I won’t complain about not having enough to wear. I have a cupboard full of clothes that have been re-virginised from unuse.

I’ve also realised that my kids and I can cook and bake better than we think. From bread and cookies to handmade pasta and burrito bowls, we have tried making everything from scratch with success (mostly).

I have renewed respect for my domestic helpers who keep our lives running smoothly. Also for teachers who have to not only deal with their own kids but educate ours too!  I’m excited about school reopening so my kids can meet their friends, eat, play and learn together and come back home with stories for me. Stories that zoom classes cannot create. 

Quitting my full-time job was the best thing I did. Unfortunately, my husband is thinking of doing the same and that’s scary at multiple levels. The main one being having to deal with him the whole day in the house. 

I am happy to see green trees, hear birds chirp and breathe clean air even if it is through a mask. I fear when this is over, that humanity will go back to its over-consuming and wasteful ways.” –  Amrita Sudheendran

“We have to accept the fact that quarantine, social distancing, maintaining good hygiene, wearing face masks is the new normal.

Post quarantine we will be afraid of giving our friends hugs, we will still maintain social distance. We’ll probably do ‘cheers’ with our wine glasses using a 6-foot pole.

People from around the world will make new human connections without touch and smell. You will feel emotions telepathically, you will be able to connect with people with just an online conversation.

Connections will be deeper. Superficiality will end. It’s the end of Tinder and a lot of these superficial apps that allows you to swipe left and right in order to get love and intimacy. That is over. Intimacy takes on a whole new meaning, relationships take on a whole new meaning.

This is a new era of conversations and real human connections because we’ve realised we all have limited time. So, you want to use that time and energy towards things that matter.” – Dimple Jangda

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