FINAL IMAGES AND INTERVIEWS
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss going to peoples houses! It’s such an intimate thing to see the space where someone lives.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
I definitely feel like I’ve gotten closer with certain people and distanced myself from others. I wasn’t able to see my boyfriend in the last lockdown and we ended up breaking up, probably wouldn’t have happened if we weren’t in lockdown.
Q: What’s the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
I’ve had so much time to focus on myself and reconnect with nature, going on long walks, yoga, cooking, reading and exploring new music have all been such positive changes for me. Having more time to focus on myself and move slowly through life has been a blessing.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
This pandemic has really affected everyone differently. I’ve seen some of my friends thrive and others are battling their demons harder than ever.
Q: Any additional comments.
Additionally it’s kind of like how drinking has increased a lot over lockdown but at the same time more people did dry January this year than ever before. So I would say everyone Is taking things differently.
CAL
EM
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss the spontaneity of just being able to do things without thinking or planning too much.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
I think breaking up with my boyfriend was sped up by COVID and only made me see the bad side of the relationship when there was no ‘normal’ life to distract me. But in terms of friendship I haven’t really lost anyone its actually only brought me closer to people.
Q: Whats the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Learning to enjoy my own company and being okay on my own and just enjoying the smaller things in life rather than been swept up by work and life plans and relationships.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
I’ve become so much closer to my friends and I truly appreciate every one of them because I feel I’ve had the time to speak to them more and have proper conversations rather than just going out to the pub and getting drunk. I feel like the communication has been so much better. We’re not all friends just because we socialise but because we actually enjoy what that person has got to say.
ANTHONY
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
The freedom to see family and friends without complicated scenarios or in some cases not at all – for example Christmas 2020.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
No losses.
Q: Whats the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
No positive change in myself because of lockdown.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
Yes- positive is I am valuing relationships more – for example making more effort with my brothers through zoom calls.
Q: Any additional comments.
The way I work has probably changed for good in terms of travel, offices etc. If lockdown hasn’t of happened I probably wouldn’t have achieved as much work as I got done to the house.
HENRY
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
Definitely miss being able to go out and socialise and make new friends.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
Yes and no- lockdown really showed me how loyal some friends where and I reckon that could happen anytime with or without lockdown.
Q: What’s the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Being able to work on myself mentally and physically.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
Definitely have seen the true sides of friends and family which has been a weight lifted off my shoulders.
WILL
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss the human contact of being in someones company. COVID has made relationships even more digital than they where already and it doesn’t sit right with me. If you have a girlfriend or close mate you want to see over lockdowm your stuck with facetime which isn’t the same as being in someones company.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
Not losses exactly but ive grown apart from people I work with because I guess we connected at work and never really outside of that, without the social workplace I do feel slighty more alone than prior COVID and I think if life was normal that definitely wouldn’t have happened.
Q: Whats the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Probably starting to actually pay attention to my health, I found work distracted me from being healthy and in lockdown ive found that I want to eat better and beat my lift records and just workout more. Generally just having more time to excersise is the main thing .
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
Mostly negative sadly, Ive grown to dislike who I live with more and more because I see them more frequently. Ive not had similar experiences with friends but a positive experience would be for example meeting you( HEN) and talking to someone I don’t live with, so I guess there have been ups and downs. However each lockdown has differed from each other in those said ups and downs.
Q: Any additional comments.
Lockdowns a messed up time for people with limited social connections, I am one of those people so I cherish the time anyone gives up to see me because being autistic social interactions are important for me to have all the time or I spiral down hill mentally ( which happened last lockdown). So in conclusion lockdowns are mentally draining for people like me when I cant see and interact with people.
ELLA
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss being able to see all my friends at once and going to clubs, gigs, festivals etc because that’s how I used to spend time with my friends before COVID.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
When the pubs aren’t open I don’t see specific friends very often as they are people I only socialise with on nights out but I wouldn’t say I’ve had any losses directly down to COVID other than not seeing specific relatives.
Q: What’s the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Being away from negative/ toxic people who I wouldn’t have been able to avoid had there not been a lockdown.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
I’ve made a lot more friends since the first lockdown and going to certain events( that wouldn’t have been on if there weren’t restrictions in place) where I met a lot of new people. Also with unis being mostly online having more of my friends stay in bath meant I could see them a lot more and we have become a lot closer.
YAZ
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss having easy access seeing family and friends that live far away. For example my Dad lives down in Devon so I’ve seen him about three times in the past year which can cause strain in your relationships and highlights the isolation you have from your family.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
I haven’t lost anyone close to me to death but due to the circumstances I am distanced from both my parents due to both Brexit and coronavirus travel laws which the latter could have been avoided if covid didn’t exist.
Q: Whats the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Spending a lot of time alone and learning to enjoy my own company and occupying myself with hobbies and tasks.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
I’ve had both positive and negative changes in all aspects of my relationships. I’ve learnt to not be so dependent on others( especially my parents) while still remaining in a healthy close relationship with them. However with friends its been hard being so distant from them as when lockdown was implemented I have no one living remotely close to me like in the same city therefore I had to deal with feeling lonely at times but due to building a better relationship with myself it was a good learning curve.
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
Before COVID I would always go to my grandparents for a sleepover. It is such a happy place to me and I always love spending time with them both . They used to take me and my cousin to centre parks for the day and we would go out for dinner and walk around the forest. We always watched the chase with them which I surprisingly now love. They always make the best food at their house and feed me and my cousin very well. My grandma makes the best cakes so I always look forward to cake and tea in their garden when I’m over there. Since COVID I've not been able to go over which is sad as I know the more time passes the less likely I will be able to keep making these special memories with them.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
I feel I’ve lost a closeness in some of my relationships. I’ve really drifted from some friendships but I’m not sure if this was down to COVID or it was going to naturally happen anyway.
Q: What’s the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
I think lockdown was a wakeup call for me. It made me realise what I want in life and taught me to appreciate the little things. Like everyone else I started trying to change my lifestyle. I did all the home workouts and went on countless walks. I kept a journal which helped my organisation and was also a way to vent my feelings. Lockdown gave me time to work on myself and reflect on things Id never took into account before.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
I think lockdown has made me realise who my real friends are based on peoples effort on communication. A lot of my friends were so amazing and we kept in touch regularly. My family got closer than ever before by doing quiz nights and also facetiming. When I think of negative changes through friendships and family I don’t think I really had any. I just think I’ve grew closer and grew stronger bonds with the people around me that I love.
HOLLY
INDIA
Q : In terms of relationships what do you most miss about life pre Covid?
I miss being able to hang out in large groups and house parties, even if people weren’t my friends it was just nice to be surrounded by people I kind of known in that environment. I also miss going out to restaurants, being able to sit inside and eat and talk for hours with friends is something I loved to do.
Q: Have you had any losses in relationships due to covid that you think could have been avoided if life was “normal” ?
One of my best friends got stuck out in Bali during the first lockdown and after spending a year there she’s decided to move there permanently. It’s amazing to see her thrive and be the happiest she’s ever been but it’s going to suck only seeing her maybe once a year at most. I’ve also had a bit of a wedge put between me and my larger friendship group, I’ve tried to be as careful as I can with the whole pandemic which means I didn’t go to any of the house parties or gatherings post lockdown(s). I know it’s completely down to me but sometimes it hurts seeing everyone have fun together when your stuck inside trying to keep your mum safe.
Q: What’s the most positive change you've experienced in yourself because of lockdown?
Probably the appreciation for “normal” life and my friends, having time apart from everyone has made me realise how much everyone does for me and that Id be nowhere without them. I had lots of friends reach out at multiple times over the past year just to see how I’m doing and its shown that people really do care about me despite my anxious thoughts.
Q: Similarly have you had any negative or positive changes in friends/ relatives etc ? If so please expand.
I’ve probably only had positive changes with my friendships due to COVID, its made me appreciate time with friends more and we’ve bonded through the struggles of lockdown life.
