Hey guys! This is something a bit different to what we normally do with our blog. I post informational and interesting content, without adding too much of my own personal thoughts. Then, why am I running my mouth about the lockdown anniversary? Because it’s the day where we remember how things have changed, the things we’ve lost and the things we’re gaining. This is obviously a sensitive subject for a lot of people, so I understand if you want to click off and view something else. If you’re still here, maybe I can try to be open with you and make you evaluate your own lockdown life. Trust me, no matter what you’ve been doing to fill your time, I won’t judge you.
I can’t deny that the lockdown is an absolute emotional rollercoaster for us here at DMS. Can you believe it’s been a year now? Neither can I. Little did we know in December 2019, when talk of COVID first started emerging that things would get crazy. I regularly get asked why I opened my business during the start of the pandemic, the lockdown writing was on the wall. Thankfully, I didn’t listen to the initial naysayers and now we’re doing very well, even considering the lockdown implications.
Lockdown Anniversary: What Was Difficult?
I know, it’s a lot easier to focus on the negatives, especially with the lockdown anniversary. Let’s be honest though, the world would have been much happier if the pandemic never appeared at all. I find it difficult that I’m not able to spend time with my family or meet and check up on my friends. There’s also the impact that it’s having on my own work-life. You see, I meet clients in person and I don’t really think that there’s a truly effective substitute for sitting down with someone. Especially for an informal chat on how I can help their business. There’s the fact that I am limited in my ability to see my team, who are amazing to be around. They make work much easier.
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Then, of course, there’s the general business impact of lockdown. I definitely felt it at the beginning of the pandemic. I had numerous clients which I had been doing business with as a freelancer, suddenly turn around and tell me they either didn’t have the budget, or their business was closing down. Hearing this from people that I’d worked closely with in the past was devastating to hear. So many people that offer fantastic products and services are being squeezed by the pandemic, even now. With the IMF stating that the loss on production would stand at $28 Trillion, the impact is unsurprising.
What Do We Have To Be Happy About During Lockdown?
Despite all of the doom and gloom that has been going on with lockdown, there’s still reason to be optimistic. In the UK, we’ve vaccinated more than 50% of the adult population. Most of the most vulnerable have already been vaccinated now. When the virus emerged last year, I thought it was going to be years before a vaccine came about. The hope being provided by this is enough for us to maintain some positivity. Especially when you consider the fact that deaths and total case numbers in our country are steadily decreasing.
Another reason why I’m personally still happy about how life has gone in lockdown is the way Driven Media Solutions is growing. When I started the company, it was just me on my lonesome. Since then, we’ve grown our team to include four different people and I’m actually on the lookout for a new Account Manager to help with our media function. The growth within the company has given me something to aspire to, I’m actively working to get success and my team are too. Without the support of my team and the advent of the country’s vaccination programme, I would be in a much more pessimistic place.
Lockdown Anniversary: Outlook For The Future
So, what does the outlook for the future look like on the lockdown anniversary? I know there’s a lot of reasons to be positive. For example, as I mentioned before, the UK’s vaccination programme is going incredibly well. If the current trend continues, (although April doses are estimated to be fewer), then I think we’re going to be seeing the backend of this crisis soon. Of course, this is also dependent on people following the rules whilst we’re in lockdown. Although I haven’t had my vaccination, many people in my family have and it definitely brings a feeling of ease.
Furthermore, in looking at the outlook for the future, it’s likely that once the pandemic is defeated, we will see a massive economic rebound. I’m hoping that this means businesses are going to start being able to make more money, bring staff members off of furlough and start going back to a new normal. I’m really looking forward to being able to meet up with you guys, see my family again and most importantly…getting down to the pub with the lads. What are you looking forward to in the future? I’m also going to book my holiday abroad.
Conclusion
So, in summary, I think it’s safe to say that it’s been a very difficult year and lockdown anniversary for a lot of us. Some people have certainly had it worse than others, but we’ve all felt the effects. You might feel like it’s been going on so long now that you don’t remember The Before Times. I get that on some days and it’s definitely okay to not be okay. Despite this, we have reasons to be optimistic, both for you and the team here at DMS. I hold out hope that the UK’s vaccination programme is going to continue to be as effective as it has been so far.
I’m looking forward to the future, where we can safely meet up for a pint and a plan, hug our loved ones that we haven’t seen and just go about our days. Remember to speak out if you’re feeling low, you’re not alone.
Mental Health Charities