It’s been interesting to reflect on how life changed during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Here at Fusebox, business carried-on without much disruption. I’m feeling very grateful for that—many are not so lucky. Our days kept a familiar rhythm of sitting at the computer creating work for our clients. Many companies pivoted to communicating with their customers about new logistics, online shopping or promoting digital channels. We were tangled up in all of that.
It was in the subtler feelings of everyday life where I noticed shifts, and I enjoyed the changes.
The pace of life and work slowed during the lockdown. Deadlines were more relaxed, emails less demanding, the phone calls less urgent. Meetings were suddenly online—taking onerous travel out of the picture, but throwing our homes into focus. I saw my colleagues at home: perched up at their dining room tables, or with the ironing piled in the corner behind them. Kids and cats walked about in the background, oblivious.
Phone calls became opportunities to connect and check-in. Conversations seem a little more meaningful.
For the six weeks of serious shutdown I woke up with a sense of peace. Where I live is fairly quiet, but there’s usually a rumble of cars shuttling kids to school in the mornings, or tradies going about their business. What I heard during the lockdown were parents and their kids on bikes, people walking their dogs, and birds. Lots of birds.
When you went out for exercise people smiled and said an enthusiastic ‘hello’. At the time, the fleeting connection seemed to have real importance. The dogs were happy too. They enjoyed the extra company and walks. It was a lovely Autumn, and I actually noticed.
I’m a little nervous as life eases out of lockdown and resumes pace again. But I hope to take the opportunity to recalibrate life a little and find a better way.