Picture this familiar scene
You’re awoken to your progressively irritating alarm, no matter how melodic and full of birds it is.
You proceed to potter around your house, shattering the morning routine you swore you’d stick by. The kettle goes on, the spoon goes into the coffee jar like a shovel and you look at the cup, deciding that won’t be enough to give you the buzz you need.
Looking at the clock, you realise you’ve spent too much time in the grey area where time was on your side. You’re dashing out of the door, juggling keys and coffee, scrambling to beat the traffic.
The roads are like car parks, you’re already groggy so you attack the coffee flask you were stoically saving for work. The instant coffee cocktail leaves you wincing after every mouthful but “there wasn’t enough time.”
You get into work, knowing this is going to repeat itself tomorrow. But you’re fixated in the mindset, so it becomes your life.
I’m overly exaggerating there, but i can imagine this is how most peoples days started prior to lockdown. The ‘rat race’ as it used to be: a gnawing, grinding, monotonous process of rushing from point A to B, whilst enduring the odd, dull caffeine spike.
I know I'm preaching to the masses when it comes to how coffee should be. How does a mug of a supermarket's own brand freeze dried granules seriously contend with a cup of freshly brewed Maximum Charge.
The analogy is in the process, the small intricacies that are synonymous with how we conduct our daily business. However you like to brew your coffee: cafetiere, stove top (moka), aeropress etc. Opening the bag, letting the aroma hit you, levelling out your scoop, slowly working the coffee or just living in that short figment of time (without trying to sound too existential), pouring it into your cup and not needing to fool yourself that you’re actually enjoying it.
Lockdown has given us that opportunity to slow down. To reevaluate our priorities. I believe for many people, it exposed them to a side of themselves they’ve not had the chance to see in a long time.
The non-reliance on rushing, and enjoying the times where life seems to be suspended in animation. With more companies and workers adapting to the prospect of ‘Working from Home’ becoming more commonplace, the days of rushed car journeys; sardine tin train carriages and unpredictable buses seem to be edging further from our sight.
Productive routines, better mental health and roast to order coffee are things we shouldn't sacrifice moving forward. When the dust of coronavirus settles and an emergence of normality returns, we should remember the little things we used to take for granted and were able to fully appreciate in the lockdown and work towards ingraining them in our regular life moving onwards.
Of course, this won't apply to everyone. Many of us are more busy and stressed than ever - Nurses, Teachers, Emergency Services and other Key Workers. Plus people trying to look after kids whilst working. For many this virus has been absolutely unrelenting.
My point is if you are someone who has seen things slow down, then instead of bemoaning the restrictions, instead celebrate the opportunity to feel less rushed. (And be grateful for the extra time not having to commute gives you to make proper coffee)
This blog was guest written by top Cannonballer Liam Patient