Earlier this week we reached the landmark of 100 days since our lives changed dramatically overnight when the Prime Minister announced the UK lockdown and instructed us to #stayhome to help contain the spread of the pandemic.

From daily Joe Wicks workouts to DIY haircuts, lockdown has been an experience few of us will forget in a hurry and our daily life has changed beyond recognition – for better and for worse.

Even simple tasks like going shopping or meeting up with friends have completely changed and we have all had to adapt to a “new normal” in a bid to suppress the deadly coronavirus.

In today’s article, we take a look back at 100 days of lockdown and reflect on the ways our lives have changed during this time.

Working from home

As businesses across the UK closed their doors, working from home became the new normal, bringing with it both mental and physical challenges including troublesome Wi-Fi connections, disruptions from family members (including pets) or juggling home schooling duties to name but a few.

But there have been some benefits to working from home.

No longer do you have to endure that busy commute in the morning – you could wake up later and no-one would know.

Haven’t done the ironing yet? No problem. Unless you’re faced with video conference meetings, you can work in your PJs and no-one would bat an eyelid.

But safe as we are now in our homes and our new ‘workplace’, we often reminisce fondly about the coffee breaks, the takeaway lunches and the hangouts with work buddies.

When the lockdown ends, people working remotely will undoubtedly be glad to leave their homes again but now working from home has been tried and tested, will we really go back to working in the office full time?

Daily walks

Being shut up indoors during lockdown has been tough on everyone and with gyms and fitness centres closed, there has been little in the way of structured exercise.

But from the very beginning, the Government did allow us one daily walk, later increased to unlimited outside exercise (provided social distancing could be in place) and it has now gone so far that there is almost a feeling of guilt for not leaving home for a daily walk.

Supermarkets

If we had been asked this time last year whether or not we’d be willing to queue for long periods of time before we even got into a supermarket, we’d probably just have laughed at the thought.

But needs-must, and the UK public obliged. Wind, rain or shine, car parks of our favourite supermarkets became filled with zig-zagging queues of people as they all waited two-metres apart to get inside.

And let’s not forget the battles for toilet roll and hand sanitiser back in March. Did people suddenly think they’d be going to the bathroom a lot more than normal????

Thankfully, things have calmed down in that respect and the shops have replenished their stocks.

Baking

During lockdown, everyone suddenly decided to take up some form of home baking  – emptying the supermarkets of flour.

Flour production had to increase 10 fold to keep up with our ambitions to become the next Mary Berry, with millions of photos tagged “sourdough” popping up on Instagram.

Online pub quizzes

Covid-19 has changed the face of traditional pub quizzes and they will never be the same.

Pints and pub quizzes have been replaced with Zoom calls…….and who knew we were all so competitive.

Interactive quizzes, over a few drinks, from the comfort of your own living room are now set to become the way of the future.

Virtual Fitness Classes

Fitness coach Joe Wicks has become the nation’s most popular PE teacher and has got millions of people moving while they are cooped up in their houses, thanks to the power of the Internet.

Once we resume our busy lives, will we try and return to gyms, or will we carry on streaming our favourite classes into our living rooms?

Lockdown haircuts

As hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons remain closed during the coronavirus lockdown, many people opted to cut and colour their own hair.

Some even took the plunge to try a new look by shaving their heads completely – with many raising money for charity at the same time.

And others simply just let it grow…..and grow…..and grow.

New Vocabulary

Do you know your “R number” from your “social distancing”?

Across the world we have all had to learn a new vocabulary of virus-related words and phrases – like “flattening the curve”, “herd immunity”, “PPE”, “self-isolation” and “shielding”.

The Oxford English Dictionary now includes 20 coronavirus words, including “elbow bump”.

Clap For NHS/Key Workers

Last but not least, this look-back would not be complete without a reminder of the brave members of our community who continue to risk their lives on the frontline to help others.

Our Thursday night claps were important – but what’s equally, if not more, important, is that our respect and admiration for our hardworking NHS and key workers continues long past 100 days.

This pandemic has changed us and although being in lockdown has been a challenge, at the same time, living like this for months now, has offered us a rare opportunity to reflect on our lives and, potentially, to reset them.

Remember, #tomorrowwillbeagoodday