It’s been five years today since the world stopped. Five years since we watched in disbelief as schools closed, supermarket shelves emptied, and life as we knew it disappeared overnight.

At the time, it felt temporary, like life was just on pause. A strange, slightly surreal break from reality. We baked banana bread. Stood in socially distanced queues outside Asda in the rain. Clapped for key workers. Navigated homeschooling. Zoom meetings with our families and friends.

It felt hopeful, almost. Like we were all in it together, and maybe, just maybe, things would be different when it was over.

They aren’t.

If anything, they’re worse.

The Cracks Got Bigger

Back in 2020, there was this incredible sense of community. People checked in on each other. Neighbours became friends. For a little while, it felt like we might come out of it kinder, stronger, more connected.

Now? That feeling has gone.

The cracks that were there before the pandemic are even wider. Services are stretched to breaking point. Prices have soared. People are struggling more than ever. It’s hard to ignore the tension in the air, like we’re all holding our breath, waiting for the next thing to go wrong.

Anti-Social, Me?

Before the pandemic, I was the kind of person who’d strike up a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket queue. Now? Not so much.

These days, I’ve got my head down, avoiding eye contact like my life depends on it. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve lost the energy to people, or because the past few years have changed me. Probably a bit of both.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love spending time with family and friends, but I’m more protective of my energy now. I crave peace and quiet a lot more than I used to.

It’s strange how much life has changed, how much I’ve changed. Some of it’s been for the better, but a lot of it just feels heavier.

Life Looks Different Now

So much has changed in the past five years, not just in the world but in our little bubble of life. The pandemic was a turning point for us.

I’d thought about home education before, but lockdown learning gave me a glimpse of how different learning could be. It wasn’t perfect—not by a long shot—but it planted a seed that it’s something we could do. A few years later, we decided to take Harrison out of school, and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made. We’re still on that journey, learning and growing together in ways I never imagined.

Work has changed, too. More people than ever are working from home, ditching the commute for coffee at the kitchen table. juggle my business, the blog, and home education from my laptop, usually surrounded by kids and chihuahuas. It’s chaotic, but it works.

The Tough Bits

Not everything is shiny and positive, though. The cost-of-living crisis hit hard after the pandemic, and it feels like we’ve been playing catch-up ever since. Food prices have gone through the roof. Energy bills are a joke. Every week, the food shop seems to cost more for less.

Mental health struggles are more visible now, but services are so stretched that it’s hard for people to get the help they need. The impact of the pandemic is still there, lingering in the background. We’re all a bit more anxious, a bit more cautious, and a lot more aware of how quickly life can change.

What Now?

Five years on, we’re still finding our feet. The world looks different now. I feel different.

There’s still plenty to be grateful for—my family, our home, the chance to do things our own way. But I’m not sure life will ever feel quite the same again.

And maybe that’s okay.

We’ve learned how to adapt, how to keep going. We’ve learned how strong we can be when it matters.

And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that we’ll keep figuring it out. One day at a time. One cup of coffee at a time.