The pandemic isn't over, but we've moved through plenty of different stages of the coronavirus era. Though many people have, through the power of vaccines, achieved a new kind of normal, almost everyone's life has been permanently changed in some way by the presence of COVID-19. So there were plenty of responses when redditor u/Spidey729 posted on r/AskReddit, "What's a habit that you picked up from the pandemic and noticed you've kept?" Here are 27 ways that people have changed their lives in response to...well, you know.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1. "I don't know if you can call it a habit, but I started FaceTiming my family, especially my grandma, on a regular basis. On the plus side, she taught me how to crochet. I mean, man, I'm 21 and I'm able to crochet my own hats now. If someone had told me that before corona, I would've said they are crazy. At least Granny and I share a hobby now."
2. "It's not a good habit, but I stay in a lot more. I used to go out to eat, go to stores just to walk around and browse, and sometimes just go for a drive. Now I don't do any of that. I haven't been in a restaurant since prepandemic, and I only go to a store if I absolutely have to. The only positive is that I save a ton in gas money and mileage on my vehicle."
3. "I barely wear makeup anymore. All my makeup expired, and I work from home. I have mascara for dates, but that's about it, and I was a full glam girl every day."
4. "I used to shake people's hands pretty often, and now, because of the pandemic, I haven't shaken a hand in years."
5. "Eating out at restaurants during nonbusy times. Husband and I are in our 30s and will only eat out for lunch at 11 and dinner at 4. After that, it’s too crowded and germy. Also, my husband still prefers to go out and run errands by himself so we aren’t around crowds too much (we have two kids under 5). He’s faster at it, and we don’t have to deal with the struggle of getting everyone dressed and out of the house nearly as often. We also still mask up during flu/RSV season and if any of us gets a cold."
6. "I have completely lost the ability to be on time. I can’t do it. My sense of how long it takes me to leave the house is completely gone. Everything is fine, and then out of nowhere I was supposed to leave 10 minutes ago…every time."
7. "Buying two jars of instant coffee at the supermarket instead of one. I still have shortages at the back of my mind."
8. "Not wearing a bra unless I absolutely have to."
9. "Not necessarily a habit, but I had to do online schooling during COVID, and now, when I register for classes, I actively look for online asynchronous ones because they are a lot easier for me now. I prefer to manage my own time and choose when I do assignments, instead of having to attend physical lectures."
10. "Washing my hands for a good 30 seconds once I get home. I just don’t feel right if I don’t do it. It's like locking the front door."
11. "Wearing only pajamas at home. I'll come home after work and shower, and then it's relaxation time."
12. "I became a serious movie buff from all the movies I had been watching and reading about, and I still have that kinda snobby personality when it comes to cinema. I do apologize for that."
13. "Keeping my circle small. I prefer to invite people over who have kids in the same classes as my kids. If they’re incubating some virus, we’re probably going to catch it at school anyway."
14. "I don't touch public door handles with my bare hands anymore. I always use a napkin or the sleeve of my shirt. Same goes for buttons in elevators."
15. "I wear sweatpants more often than not and almost never wear jeans anymore. I work in a kitchen and wear scrubs; when I'm not at work, I'm usually rocking sweats. It's also nice because the jeans I bought a year and a half ago still look pretty new because they've only been worn a handful of times."
16. "Flossing. I was always really bad about it, but wearing the masks made me notice my breath and got me to develop a habit."
17. "Remote pickup for groceries. I can't fucking stand being packed into a store with people, and ever since COVID, absolutely none are open past 11 p.m., when I used to shop."
18. "Puzzles! I picked up sudoku and started watching Cracking the Cryptic on YouTube, and it was great! I still watch the daily videos and try them myself if I have time."
19. "That it's alright to have a low-key weekend at home and to not be overscheduled. Prior to COVID, we would have two, three, or four events to attend each day of the weekend. Now I'm comfortable saying no to things and taking a weekend for myself."
20. "I still haven’t been on an airplane since March 14, 2020."
21. "I really get anxiety from large crowds now. It's not that I'm worried I'm going to get COVID, it's just that all of a sudden, being in the middle of a large crowd feels incredibly claustrophobic. It didn't before COVID, but now it does."
22. "The pandemic forced me to stay single and not date after my divorce. Now I'm happily single and can't imagine bringing someone into my life permanently."
23. "Seeking out quiet places. Ever since lockdown, when shops were closed and everyone was home from work, I crave a quiet street or park where there's little car noise and people noise. Slightly antisocial, but I love it."
24. "Wearing a face mask in public places is a big one for me. Not just for COVID, but dust and smoke, too."
25. "Sleeping in. I used to wake up super early and have productive mornings before going about my day. Since the pandemic, I put everything off as much as possible. Snooze is my BFF. Really trying to break this habit."
