Lockdown Roadmap Anxiety

Day 7001 of the Coronavirus lockdown and the Prime Minister has announced a roadmap to normality…with that dreaded asterisk!

Don’t get me wrong, this is great news for all, but in the same respect, why do I feel so anxious about returning back to normality?

Vaccinations

Before I talk about the proposed roadmap, we need to talk about the vaccination programme that is helping make this possible. I have said previously, the roll-out has been really successful. Praise has to be given to the professionals, and the volunteers that help roll this out. It really is amazing, when you have experienced people doing the work.

I’m vaccinated

I’ve had my first vaccination already, and I have experienced no side-effects. The whole process of booking, checking in and being vaccinated was slick and quick.

I was asked a few questions, and then I was stabbed. You then sit in a designated area while you are rebooted & hey presto, Bill Gates now controls me! But it’s a small price to pay, don’t you think?

These last few years, with the likes of QAnon and shit, conspiracy theories are taking off like a house on fire. I don’t know whether I should laugh at some of the crap I’ve read, or be worried that there are people that actually believe it!

Everyone has a right to have, or not, the vaccine. That is your prerogative, but sometimes you do have to stop being selfish and think of others who are more fragile and at risk.

Firstly, the vaccination will not stop people from getting infected, but it will reduce the probability. Just like flu jab, help reduces infections and deaths.

We, as a country, are mainly proud of the NHS, just as much as the Tories are proud of trying to eradicate it. So, if having a vaccination will help reduce hospital admission, then that’s a good thing, right?

But, if you don’t want to have the vaccine, then so be it. Just don’t complain if you’re asked to pay for tests to confirm you’re negative. Or that you can’t travel to some places. Or get a job! Even if the restrictions are temporary, then you chose your bed, and now you have to sleep in it.

Fact is, the early indication is showing how successful the vaccination rollout is with a huge reduction in hospital admissions and deaths. Which can only mean one thing…release from lockdown jail!

Roadmap announced

With the news coming from #10 that the vaccination programme is all positive, people were starting to get itchy feet for freedom. So it wouldn’t be long before they’d have to communicate stuff to keep people abiding by the rules.

Understandably, the government are being cautious. I mean, it’s only taken them over a year and over 100k deaths to get them to be cautious, but it’s a start!

So Boris has provided a roadmap, on how to get everyone out of lockdown, but there is always small print (that asterisk), that the dates are the earliest and could change.

* Earliest possible date (Source: BBC News)

However, the government has done so many U-turns delaying anything would be political suicide. But it is also predictable, so I’m not counting my chickens…just yet!

Initial thoughts

As the lockdown roadmap was announced, I was hit with two main emotions…disappointment and dread!

Why so long?

I knew 2021 wasn’t going to be a normal year, but I had hoped that we’d get some normality a lot sooner that the roadmap gave.

Knowing that 4 months were left before the shackles are removed, filled me with the dread. I’ve got another 4 months of this shitshow! And I really don’t know whether or not I can continue with it as is.

Granted, that isn’t true. The roadmap is easing the restrictions over the 4 months, so it means that I can start seeing friends and family again.

All these people!

When listening to everything, and hearing that all restrictions would be lifted and normality resumed by June 21st, I felt sick.

The thought of mixing with strangers makes me anxious as it is, but knowing that everyone will want to get out and party means that it’ll be super busy, and me super anxious!

For me, my main priority for this year is family and friends. We will go out, but I am in no rush to go ‘out out’. Not for a while anyway.

And I know as the roadmap restrictions are eased, the anxiety of being around other people will also ease, so come June I hope it won’t be that bad. But still, feels too soon…for me!

Manchester Pride

As soon as the roadmap was announced, it wasn’t long after that Manchester Pride announced that this year’s event is going to continue…with some additional precautions. Personally, I feel it’s too soon to be organising big group events, like this.

I know that there are people who are looking forward to it, and I fully understand that and why. But for me, it’s just too much too soon and I’m not ready for that just yet.

So for the first time in 20 years, I will not be attending Manchester Pride. Instead, I am hoping to get away for the weekend. Chill with friends in a hot tub, and basically do fuck all!

Going forward

Don’t get me wrong, the roadmap is clearly a good thing for us all. After over a year of being cooped up, it’ll take some people, including me, to get used to normality again.

However, do I really want to return to the old normal? The answer is no, and I think that isn’t exactly came the anxiety.

I am enjoying working from home, as it has given me the opportunity to exercise during my lunch break and also do the occasional house chore here and there. I just feel like I’ve got a better work/life balance. Thankfully this isn’t really going to change much, as I will mainly be a home-based worker, with the occasional trip to the office.

During the lockdown, I’ve stopped smoking/vaping and it’s not something that I really want to return to. And I fear that this may happen if starting to go ‘out out’ again.

There are other little niggly things that are worrying me, but there is one thing that I can’t wait to get back to normal…and that’s the gyms re-opening. As much as I don’t mind the running, and will likely continue this as part of the fitness programme, I need to get some muscle back pronto!