There’s no getting away from it – 2020 was not a great year. COVID really did kick its arse. And for many people, 2020 has been a year of loss, hardship and disappointment. I have been extremely fortunate and not suffered greatly at the hands of COVID. My family has (touch wood) escaped its clutches, we have all kept our jobs and my children even managed a whole term at school.
So whilst home schooling and working full-time is not an experience I wish to repeat and I have missed spending time with friends and distant family, I feel I should focus on the unexpected wins and good times that 2020 did bring.
1. Family mealtimes
Pre-COVID, the only times we tended to eat together as a family were at the weekends. Both children had school dinners and then just want something small for tea. So my husband and I tended to eat later on our own. But when the schools closed and I had to get better at meal planning (see point 5 below), it was just easier for us to all eat together.
And although it does restrict what we eat (my youngest is not quite as adventurous as the rest of us when it comes to food), it has been good for us as a family to spend that time together. Admittedly, to begin with, we tended to have the TV on but it did result in a family love of Escape to the Chateau! Once our kitchen was done though we stopped having the TV on and have had some lovely mealtimes together.
We also introduced Saturday night pizza and movie night, taking it in turns to choose a movie. And although this often resulted in at least one child sulking because they didn’t like the movie the other child had chosen, it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening. (A note to anyone considering doing this, always check the age rating for the movies, particularly the older ones – I swear I don’t remember Tom Hanks’ Big being quite so raunchy!)
2. More family walks
Pre-lockdown we rarely all got out for a walk. But lockdown meant that we were keen to get everyone out of the house so we started daily walks . The kids would go on their bikes, while we walked with the dogs and it’s something that has stuck. And the added bonus of lockdown was my youngest finally nailing riding his bike.
We even managed our first family bike ride to a local pub. (A slightly terrifying experience even though we stuck to the quiet country lanes!)
3. Having time to work on the house
Although we moved into our house in July 2019, there was, and still is, plenty of work to do. So we were never stuck for something to do. There was plenty of wallpaper that needed stripping and walls to paint.
And having nowhere to go meant we couldn’t get distracted and so I believe we have made much more progress than we would have done had it been a normal year.
4. No commuting
Pre-COVID I only went into the office three times a week and then the commute was only 40 minutes. But working from home has meant that I have gained four hours a week. It has also meant no trips down to London or wherever else my work might take me.
Yes, the time gained was lost in trying to teach my son maths in between conference calls. But since schools reopened it has meant time to exercise in the morning and made the evenings feel so much longer. And it has also meant that I have been able to walk my son to school every day, listening to him chatter on about his latest Roblox escapade!
5. Meal planning
I have always resisted the idea of meal planning. I think it’s the lack of spontaneity I’m not keen on and the fact it just feels like more effort than just popping into the supermarket on the way home. However, lockdown meant that I had to get more organised. I was lucky to be able to get a regular online shop pretty much throughout the whole of lockdown. And it forced me to sit down and plan the meals for the week.
Not only did it save time in the long run as there were fewer “quick trips to the shop”, it also resulted in less food waste and, overall, more balanced meals. And although it did feel like we were spending more money on our weekly shop, given the whole family was now eating all their meals at home, rather than paying for school dinners or lunch from M&S, the end result was that we probably saved money too.
And meal planning is something that has stuck. Admittedly, Friday nights tend to be “TBC” and I do miss perusing the aisles for inspiration, but I have seen the benefits and am officially a meal planner convert!
6. Newfound appreciation of hugs
I would never have said I was a “hugger”. Not until I was told I couldn’t. It was really hard, in the early days, not to greet friends with the usual kiss and a hug. Now a lack of touch has become so much second nature than even an accidental brushing of hands elicits a feeling of shock from both parties.
And an illicit hug from a friend while we were on holiday when I was feeling particularly miserable after three sleepless, wet and windy nights under canvas, is a moment I will forever cherish.
7. Innovative social gatherings
What is great about my circle of friends is that a worldwide pandemic is not going to stop us having fun together (in a COVID-safe manner I should add!) Most of these have centred around food – there was the amazing homemade curry we all shared over Zoom, the virtual wine tasting (with snacks, obviously) and the rotating summer BBQ. And when we were able to meet in person, we really did appreciate the time we spent together.
8. Trying new things
There are definitely a few (good) things I’ve done this year that I don’t think I would have done had it not been for COVID. For one, I took up cycling – something I didn’t think I would ever do, having a distinct aversion to being seen wearing Lycra in public. Not only do I now don Lycra and jump on my bike, I wear what can only be described as an adult nappy too! (For non-cyclists out there I am referring to some padded shorts that apparently any serious cyclist is required to own). In the interests of transparency, I am most definitely a fair-weather cyclist and have not been out on my bike for a good two months!
My husband and I also ordered in the Stein at Home Lobster Box for our annual “Christmas party” – an extravagance I wouldn’t have envisaged splurging on pre-COVID. It was great though and we really made an evening of it. And whilst not quite the same as going to a fancy restaurant, something we would definitely do again.
9. A slower pace of life
When lockdown hit in March, life slowed down dramatically. Weekends were not spent taking children swimming or to tennis or ferrying them to see friends. Social engagements stopped and no-one was rushing out the door to school or work.
And whilst I missed the social side of things and I know the children missed spending time with their friends, after what feels like years of non-stop running around, it was nice to take a few months off the merry-go-round. Weekends felt longer and like more of a break from work. And time opened up to allow some of the other things on my list to happen.
In the spirit of complete openness though, I must confess that I am not very good at relaxing or just chilling out. So although a gem of 2020, I’m looking forward to stepping back on the merry-go-round in 2021, albeit at a slightly slower pace.
10. Gratitude
One thing that 2020 has taught me is the importance of gratitude and to not take anything, or anyone, for granted. I am extremely grateful that I am able to write a post about the hidden gems of 2020 as I am only too aware that an awful lot of people out there would not be able to do the same.
I am grateful for the extra time I have been able to spend with my husband and children and that they have been kept safe from the clutches of COVID (touching wood again). I’m grateful that the vast majority of friends and my wider family have fared well in 2020 too – despite the frustrations of not being able to see each other, having to home school, cancelled holidays and stressful work situations. So many people out there have not been so fortunate.
And I have a new found gratitude for the things in life that I previously took for granted and only realised how much I appreciate them once they were taken away. The shared Sunday roasts with friends, the Saturday morning dog walk and quasi-therapy session with one of those friends, the trips to see family and friends further afield, the pre-Sunday dinner drink in the local pub, the hugs, the brainstorming and planning sessions sat in my local café, the trips abroad, the face-to-face time in the office…The list goes on!
So, there you go, that’s my list of hidden gems of 2020. And although I have this list of positive outcomes of the year, I do confess I am looking forward to things hopefully getting back to normality, or at least whatever the new normal looks like. I will though be bringing some of these gems into my new normal way of life.
What positives have you been able to take from 2020?
I'd love to hear your thoughts