After the lockdown roadmap was announced on the 22nd of February, an exuberant nation may be longing for the future (already planning their holidays). But before we move on from this strange phase of our lives, I think it is important to reflect on a positive tone and recognise the pandemic for all its blessings in disguise.

For most, lockdown was a turbulent time filled with many ups and downs, but I wanted to uncover how individuals felt about their experience amidst a pandemic. So, I initiated an online survey to find out more people’s experiences with lockdown. 66 out of 106 people (62%) of people said that their overall experience of lockdown was either positive or neutral, a further 90% said that they had experienced at least one positive aspect from lockdown.

When asked what was a positive about lockdown, a multitude of individuals said it was great for their mentalities – “Personal growth and establishing my own interests without the influence of others” and “I got to focus on myself and try to better myself”.

Another common response included better sleep - “Got more sleep”, “Slept more”, “extra sleep” and more. As well as better rest, more people were able to bond and reconnect with their family and friends, focus on their hobbies (such as painting and baking) and spend more time researching topics of fascination, for example astrology.

A lot of responses also included their ability to pursue a healthier lifestyle. One person even said that they had undertaken a running challenge, in which they would run 365km over a year, averaging out to 1km daily and they added “I’m already ahead of my goal thanks to lockdown!”.

Another person mentioned their appreciation of their local area. “It was great to go out on walks and explore the neighbourhood as I had just recently moved into a new house. I was also amazed at how the pandemic had brought the local area together with the weekly NHS claps and amazing support to the elderly.”

However, it is crucial to remember it was a tough time for many; the pandemic brought about the destruction of so many lives with an incomprehensible number of losses So I would like to dedicate this article to all those who sadly passed away during this pandemic; may they rest in eternal peace.

Stepping forward from this lockdown will be a difficult task but with an optimistic approach, perhaps the easing into normality might be easier.