2020: lessons learnt

What a year 2020 has been. I’m sure you’ve heard that one before. But it’s true. 2020 has been a year of change unlike many others. Change to our routines, to our perspectives, to our understanding of the world. Christmas was the epitome of this - a time that was challenging for many, with many families not being able to meet and spend time together in the way they usually would. If you're reading this now, I hope you still managed to make the most of it.

As a vaccine roll-out slowly begins, there is hope that things will slowly improve towards the mid-half of next year. But before we rush back to things being “like they once were” and 2021, a year that “can only get better”, it’s helpful to take a moment to pause, stop and reflect on the unprecedented year just gone. From this year of change, there have been a number of insights and lessons learnt.

Here’s my take on a few.

We learnt that we could have our routines disrupted - and adapt better to it than we thought 

11am, somewhere in March, before the formal lockdown began. I am sat in a meeting room. There are only around 5 other people on the entire floor. I am speaking to a colleague on the phone. She tells me to expect to work from home for “at least 12 weeks, so they are saying”. I feel a wave of anxiety – 12 weeks without seeing people? Without socials and coffees and dinners in the way we know it? At the time, it felt like a momentous ask.

Fast forward to December and it has now been almost 12 months, let alone 12 weeks, since our routines were disrupted. And that very disruption has in many ways become part and parcel of the new reality. Christmas was perhaps the most difficult disruption, whereby previous traditions had to be adapted for a quieter, more modest period. But in terms of working from home this year, I never would have thought it would have been okay. Yes, it was difficult at times, but we did it. The same can be said for all the parents who were looking after young children – “how ever will I manage?”, many asked themselves back in April. But we did. You did. And that’s a lesson learnt – how humans may not like to change their routine, how when forced to, we do a pretty ok job at it.

We learnt that mental health is even more important during challenging times

A virus we hardly knew about, rising death rates globally, lockdown and a lack of physical contact all took their toll on many. But we knew and recognised the strain it would put on us. We learnt how important it was to take care of our minds, now more than ever.

Joe Wicks took to at-home PE lessons, Zoom socials with our friends became common-place and we tried our very best to make banana bread. Movement became important, as did talking to people. Companies that thrived were those that cared for the employee: that created coffee roulettes to help colleagues stay connected, that informed people on the wellness resources available to them, that encouraged a culture of asking “how are you? – no, but really, how are you?” 2020 accelerated the spotlight on mental health. And for anyone who doubted its importance before, they realised how critical it is now.

We learnt that we could do without public transport (and work from home just fine)

Another, more practical, lesson learnt was around public transport. Most of us who could work from home had to forgo the tube. And did we miss it? I know many friends who have invested in bicycles, or who have enjoyed walking to places, and hope to continue this healthier form of transport going forward. C02 emissions significantly dropped from less cars, taxis and Ubers on the road. We learnt that the time spent on public transport (which for some people, equated to almost 4 hours a day) could instead be spent on reading, family time, cooking, meditation or exercise. It wasn’t easy – the temptation to log-on earlier or stay later was there, but on the whole we learnt to make better use of the commute time saved. We learnt that working from home for extended periods was possible (thank you technology) and that we could flex our days in ways that weren’t previously so possible. For me, I was able to carve out exercise much more than I was able to previously. Jubilee line, I do not miss you.

We learnt that kindness costs nothing and coming together as a community is powerful

I remember receiving a note under my door from my upstairs neighbours. It read “Hey Niluka, just wanted to pop a note in case you end up having to self-isolate, drop us a note if you need anything or if you go a bit stir-crazy!” It was at that moment I felt a real sense of looking out for each other. A sense that 2020 was a year when we were all going through the same thing: not just locally, but also globally. The weekly clap for the NHS was another example of this war-like camaraderie here in the UK, as were all the remarkable people who volunteered to help deliver food and essential items to the elderly and those shielding. 2020 was the year we learnt to put “We” over “I”.

We learnt to make do with the little things

And finally, 2020 was the year we learnt that the little things mattered. Cinema trips, shopping sprees, tourist attractions, restaurant outings and holidays were all put on hold. We learnt to entertain ourselves, with lockdown becoming a catalyst for creativity and new forms of entertainment based in the home. Suddenly, experimenting with a new recipe became a most pleasurable activity, as did those who took to new hobbies like cross-stich, painting, coding or learning a new language. The little things – a call with a friend, or a run outside – meant so much. And the biggest one for me? Nature. 2020 made me realise how fundamental it is to our overall sense of (well) being. Previously, I very much took many of its benefits for granted.

2020. What a year.

As we move into 2021, it's worth a moment to stop and reflect on the year that’s been like no other. Because this will be a moment in history that one day, we will all look back on. These are just some of my own reflections and thoughts on the year. What are yours?

? Niluka Kavanagh