45 life lessons from lockdown
Work, romance, new norms, and tech - my revelations from the past 10 months
Is January over yet? It always feels like such a long month, but this one really is dragging its heels.
That’s why I thought I’d lighten things up in my newsletter this week and provide you with a few moments of respite from the worry and uncertainty we’re all currently contending with.
So grab a cuppa and join me as I reflect on all the things I’ve discovered from my day-to-day life over the past 10 months - three national lockdowns and many tiered restrictions later!
Daily life
Postal deliveries will always brighten your day
…and you needn’t worry anymore about what Hermes class as a ‘safe place’ to leave your parcel.
‘Cardboard dismantling’ is the life skill you never knew you needed.
Endlessly expanding your ASOS wishlist is a legit lockdown hobby.
You finally understand the meaning of a capsule wardrobe.
Getting glammed up to just sit in the house on your own is as exciting as your weekends will get 🏠
Netflix, Now TV, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video…you’ll still never find anything you can be bothered watching.
Working from home
Replacing your morning commute with a yoga sesh is just wishful thinking.
You’ll lose count the number of times you’ve rolled out of bed five minutes before having to log onto your laptop.
You’ll always end up staring at your face on a video call (but try to pretend otherwise).
Sending random GIFs and emojis to your colleagues (and manager) via Teams is completely acceptable, and encouraged 👍🏻
You’ll tidy up your WFH space, but only the bit that’s visible in virtual meetings.
Working in your pyjamas is everything you’d always imagined it would be.
Food
Happiness comes in the shape of a Greggs sausage roll being delivered directly to your front door.
Claiming a supermarket home delivery slot is the new 9am scuffle to bag concert tickets.
Sometimes, you just want to eat frozen food…every night for two weeks.
Homemade fish finger sandwiches are the new ham and cheese.
That first McDonald’s after they re-opened…😍
You’ll channel your Mary Berry at least once during lockdown and make something from scratch.
New norms
It now goes like: mask, hand sanitiser, purse, keys and phone.
Face coverings and glasses don’t mix 😷
Hand washing - the habit we all really should have been doing regularly since day dot.
Touching door handles, screens, and buttons in public spaces now feels gross.
We’ll all be acing pub quizzes post-covid.
Bubbles are your new best friend, whether it’s the bath-time, cork popping or supporting kind.
Romance
Dating in lockdown is the 2020/21 equivalent of a pen pal service.
Dating apps (still) suck.
Guys will still ghost you and blame being “too busy” to text you back.
You’ll try to visualise what every guy looks like underneath their face mask
…and now find eyes really sexy.
A weekly date with your wheelie bin is the only thing a single girl can depend on in a global pandemic.
Social distancing means no awkward goodbyes at the end of a date 💏
Nature
Heading outdoors is the new going ‘out out’.
Walking through a park is an underrated pleasure.
Watching the seasons change has never been so magical 🌱 🌸 🍁 ❄️
You can never take too many photos of a sunset from your living room window.
Spritzing leaves with a plant mister is highly satisfying and addictive.
Being a plant mum is filled with anguish.
Media and tech
You’ll never tire of seeing inside celebrities’ homes.
Reality stars on Instagram have never been so tone-deaf.
Too many cookies - and not of the chocolate variety.
House Party notifications were never okay 🎈
News headlines are best consumed once a day, not 20 times an hour on Twitter.
Watching the daily press briefings will always leave you with more questions than answers.
Graphs. You’ll wish you’d paid more attention in maths class now…and perhaps the government should have, too.
What other wonderful, annoying, and weird things have you discovered during lockdown? Tweet me at @alexis_r_f 👋🏻
January 18 mixtape
Book of the week
This past week, I’ve been reading Hashtag Authentic by blogger and social media guru, Sara Tasker. It was actually published in 2019 so I’m a little late to the party, but I love the book so much I wanted to tell you all about it! It’s a gorgeous ‘coffee table’ style book with beautiful photography, and plenty of advice and inspiration on how to really up your game on Instagram. You’ll also find a selection of exercises peppered throughout to help you set things in motion.
Quote of the week
This week, I’m treating you to not one, but four quotes and they all come from Angelica Malin, award-winning entrepreneur and editor of About Time magazine. Just this month, Angelica has also unveiled her new book, She Made It, filled with tips and insights on how to ace being your own boss.
Podcast of the week
I’ve been dipping into episodes of The Editing Podcast, which was recommended by one of my colleagues. If you’re a writer, then this is one to definitely subscribe to. Created by two pro editors, Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle - the podcast covers tips, tools, and guidance on both writing and editing. It’s just like grabbing a coffee and having a little natter with your work bestie!
Until next Monday
Alexis 💕
www.alexisforsyth.com
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