Pandemic Habits


Driving to the cover shoot for this issue, it struck me that the relatively-short, 45-minute drive to the location was the farthest I’d been from home since the start of the pandemic. In 12 months, I hadn’t ventured more than 50 miles.

This shouldn’t have been, and wasn’t, surprising. I made the choice to quarantine, cancel travel plans and isolate from friends in hopes of curtailing the impact of COVID-19. It didn’t take a genius to figure out one of the outcomes of those choices would be a lack of exciting adventures.

Still, as I watched the cars go by on the freeway, I felt like I’d followed all the road signs to go somewhere I was excited about only to end up somewhere else. Instead of being overjoyed about at least a partial return to normalcy with vaccines and declining infection rates, my new looming freedom left me confused.

I realized that 12 months of staying mostly at home, avoiding friends like the plague and worshipping at the altar of Zoom had changed me in ways I hadn’t expected.

Pre-pandemic Ian kept a busy social schedule of meals out and time with friends. Pandemic Ian doesn’t eat after 7 p.m. and votes for take-out over dine-in 10/10 times.

Pre-pandemic Ian rocked fresh kicks and a clean haircut. Pandemic Ian has worn out two beanies and is currently on his second groutfit. For those not in the know, a groutfit is a grey outfit, usually made up of sweats.

I’m kidding, but I’m also serious. To get through 12 of the craziest months on record, we’ve all adapted. The big changes, like wearing masks and working remotely, are obvious, but all the little changes add up, too. Over time they become habits and part of who we are.

As much as I want to get back to seeing friends and going places, a number of my pandemic habits have insidiously worked their way into my routines. On top of that, there still are no clear guidelines on how COVID-19 works and how we’re supposed to interact in our new sorta-post-vaccine reality: Can you still transmit the virus if you’ve been vaccinated? Do you still need masks?

There’s a lot to think about, and sometimes I find myself defaulting to my new COVID habits simply because it’s easier. Instead of plotting out a fun trip or hitting up one of the recently re-opened restaurants I’ve been wanting to try, I end up at home, reading or working and wondering when things will change.

I’d be happy to think I’m the only one who has grown somewhat complacent in the pandemic lifestyle over the last year, but I’ve seen the same trends in friends and I’ve got to believe it’s more common than I’d like.

When will things change? When we decide to change them. That trip isn’t going to book itself. The social gathering you’ve been dreaming about won’t come together unless you send the invites.

We still need to be smart and conscientious, but the vaccines have given us an opportunity to get back to living our fullest lives. It’s worth taking some time to examine your day-to-day and see if you’ve developed any COVID-19 habits you want to kick.

Take action to get back on the road to where you want to go. It’s been a long year and you deserve that satisfaction.


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