By this point in the year, I’d usually be drenched in festive cheer (and potentially wine as a result of my clumsiness), reflecting on all the triumphs and tribulations that have occurred over the last twelve months. But 2020 has been a tad different.

Like the rest of the British public (and much of the world), I’ve probably spent more time inside this year than I had ever done at any other point in my life. Although I’ve missed social contact (that doesn’t involve seeing four square boxes on Zoom) and spending long afternoons ambling around London, I have learned a lot throughout what is surely one of the most memorable years in history.

The magic of saving

Whether it’s because I’ve never had a goal to save towards or I’m a slave to instant gratification (more likely this), I’ve never been able to get a handle on saving. Well-intentioned, I’d put money aside each payday, only to sneakily transfer it back into my current account three quarters of the way through the month.

However, the lockdown and the resultant lack of social contact has not only given me the opportunity to save money but has also provided me an insight into how much money I was spending and what on. ASOS and Wetherspoons pubs came up as the top places where I was haemorrhaging money; my inability to resist Cat Protection League adverts also seems to have done some damage. As someone who loves socialising, I spent an excessive amount on going to dinner and hanging out with friends. With all of that temporarily being on hold, I’ve been able to engage in cheaper activities such as going walking or cycling.

Now that I have more of an overview of what I’d been spending, I don’t intend to go back to my previous lifestyle. Although it’s great to be able to explore London’s selection of restaurants and bars, the lockdown has shown me alternative ways to hang out with my friends that don’t leave me strapped for cash at the end of the month.

Making use of resources

Working from home has been challenging, mainly because I enjoy the social aspect of work. I like being able to discuss ideas and projects with the people I’m working with and hear their opinions on something we’re working on. I also feel that you learn a lot when you’re interacting with others and this is something I’ve really missed.

To help with my career growth, and so I don’t feel like I’m remaining stagnant, I started using online resources. This year, I’ve learned to use Adobe InDesign (admittedly you need a license for the software but there are lots of free tutorials online), got myself to intermediate level in Spanish (using Babbel) and enrolled on a digital marketing course (courtesy of Google Digital Garage). If you’re feeling up to it, and have spare time, there are so many resources out there that you can use to develop your skillset. I recommend Google Digital Garage if you’re looking for short bite-sized chunks of knowledge.

The value of a digital detox

While pretty much everyone was watching a series about an aptly-named exotic animal owner during the first lockdown, the second lockdown was characterised by the launch of the documentary The Social Dilemma.

The documentary explores the impact of social media on our society and looks at how big tech companies are fighting for our attention through the design features on these platforms.

Like many people who watched the documentary, I deleted my apps the minute the credits rolled up. I’d previously completed a digital detox and came off Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for a month during 2019. However, when I redownloaded them, I was back with a vengeance, constantly scrolling and consuming meaningless content. This time feels a bit different. As someone who works in marketing, I’m well aware of the amount of advertising that occurs on these platforms, but it was only when I watched the documentary that I realised that much of what keeps me hooked on these apps was not my desire to see what my friends were doing, but how they’ve been designed. Features such as the infinite scroll and the constant notifications kept me coming back.

Having been off social media for a little bit, I’ve noticed I’m less inclined to internet shop (no Instagram influencers showcasing what I should buy) and I generally feel more positive. Whilst I still use my phone to check the news, it’s far less depressing than seeing arguments on social media where the conversation isn’t designed to have a meaningful impact but results in a battle of ideologies in which no side is content until the other person’s opinion is obliterated.

Obviously, I don’t think I’ve completely expelled social media from my life. I see the value of it for businesses in that it helps to reach a wide audience in a cost-effective and relatively easy way. However, I have learned that I’m not missing out on anything that important by taking a few days away.

New conversations

Going on your state-approved walk of the day is a typically sober activity (though I don’t turn my nose up at those making their coffees Irish). As a result, this year has been one of the best years for conversation.

Whilst many people might have felt that there isn’t much to talk about except COVID-19, others – myself included – have found that we have everything to talk about. Our everyday lives have changed and as such, no one is doing anything particularly interesting meaning we’ve had to turn other resources. For me, this has been great. Although I love hearing my friend’s funny anecdotes and what they’ve been getting up to, I’ve really appreciated conversations about books people have been reading, ideas they’ve heard on podcasts and documentaries they’ve been watching. From this, I’ve learned about many different topics and had the opportunity to read and listen to some things that I wouldn’t have explored otherwise.

Although it’s been a strange year where ‘social distancing’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘tier-three’ have become part of our everyday vocabulary, for many, it has been a time to reflect on the value of our lives. The lack of social contact has forced us to find other ways to socialise. Ultimately, it has been a tricky year with many lessons learned. Here’s to a brighter – and less distanced – 2021.

Words by Emma Chadwick