S/O - New “normals”?

I'm more aware of cleaning my hands with sanitizer after being out in stores and will continue to do so.

I will wear a mask if I have a cold and am around others, and vice versa. I will no longer feel odd wearing a mask now and then.

Oh yeah, hand sanitizer.

I don't get highlights in my hair. I did my all over color myself this morning. I've been doing that for years. If my hair stylist ever gets her vaccine, I might start with highlights again. She's one of those people who is 'waiting to see what happens' to the rest of us who got vaccinated.

The only other change is grocery pickup. I have now been in Walmart a couple of times but for the most part, I'm ordering online and picking up my groceries just because I can.

New normal - setting better boundaries. Other people’s emotional states and expectations don’t dictate how I feel or live my life.

My father in law tends to get us Walmart gift cards for birthdays and Christmas because he's not sure what else to get us.

We absolutely detest the Walmart in our area just because it is always PACKED. I've come to love Walmart delivery. Easiest way to get things without a trip out. I'll still go out to get groceries, but having things like wipes and cat litter delivered is so nice!

My new normal will be.....

Double what I had in my savings account. Once I replace what I used for survival/to supplement my lesser part time income this past year(since March 2020), I want to double what I used to have in my savings. I estimate, that it is going to take me at least a year(or two) to replace the savings money that I had to use. 

I will always have at least two extra packages of toilet paper, paper towels, tissues.
I will always have extra cans of soup and extra pasta.
I tend to be more simple and minimalist, but when it comes to food and supplies, I am going to increase my on-hand cupboard/storage closet quantities and keep a full "pantry". 

I will never again take for granted, and I will humbly appreciate and be grateful, for >> being able to go through a drive thru, pick up take out, go out to eat, stop for a milkshake or ice cream cone.
These things were commonplace in my life, prior to this past year. I took it for granted that I could treat myself every couple/three weeks or so.
When I was facing less income due to no work, then part time work and having to supplement with my savings, I tighted up my budget to needs only, and went on strict spending restriction and watched every penny. It made me realize how lucky I had been to treat myself. Reality made me see things differently. What I spend on one take out meal or one restaurant meal.....I could literally eat for a week(pb&j and a loaf of bread or pasta and butter) on one take out meals money. Not healthy, but it couold be done, if I had to do it. 

Before 2020, I never would have imagined that something as simple as  In-N-Out burger would be a coveted treat, and no longer considered a regular part of daily life. I feel like when I was a kid and going to McD's was a big treat, wearing my Sunday dress, my one pair of good shoes and being on my very best behavior.

I know this too shall pass....but it feels like it's taking forever.

Yeah. No. Not going to embrace the gray hair. After going to the dentist, it was the next appointment I had. I have, however, embraced really short hair. I have fine, thin hair and not much of it. It looks better and is easier to take care of, so short it will stay.

We have stopped eating out. I doubt we will go back to it. We have only been to a sit down restaurant a total of four times over the last 14–15 months. Once a month or so (at most) we will have carry out Pizza or Chinese. We keep hearing all of the stories from friends and family about the trials and tribulations of eating out. Everyone keeps running into restaurants that are extremely short staffed, long wait times and smaller, limited menus. It’s just not a pleasant experience. Plus many restaurants have raised their prices to the point that even the people that used to love to eat out are doing more carry out.

I wear leggings in public. Yes, old, fat lady me. I now choose comfort over style and I really don’t care what other people think. It’s really quite liberating.

I’ve also abandoned most makeup. A little powder, a little blush and I’m good to go. Mask wearing put an end to lipstick and lipgloss.

I’ve simplified my life over the months and really don’t want to go back.

Oh and toilet paper. We have lots and lots of tp on hand now. THAT will never change. LOL

You look great! 

I don't like having to "do stuff" in the evenings anymore. I like to exercise after dinner and then chill. Unfortunately, when school goes back to normal it will be back to evening sports practices, orchestra performances, Back-to-School night etc. I wish my new normal could include keeping my evenings to myself! I had two or three Zoom school things I had to go to for my kids last week and it was just annoying to have something scheduled during my "me time."

Less eating out unless we can order online and bring it home. I am annoyed that curbside pick-upping restaurant food is started to not be a thing anymore around here, at least at the places we were going to...

I've gotten really good at planning our meals for the week and only buying ingredients for those things, curbside picking them up, and making the planned dinners without running to the store for something else because we changed our minds...

Daily exercise (see above) I hope, is my new normal...

I agree with this. Last week we had two events and this week we have another one. I miss getting my shower at 4pm and knowing I dont have to go anywhere at night.

I may never go to an in-person continuing education class or office meeting again.

I am also good with permanent grocery delivery.

One good thing that happened is that DS started coming up for 2 or 3 weeks at a time to work from our house. We loved all those weeks with him. We have two card tables pushed together and an office-type chair so he brings his laptop plus 2 monitors. Our bonus room will probably forever have his space! Even when his office goes hybrid, he's going to try to still come up for weeks at a time.

The other good thing is that DH took over cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming and mopping the carpet/tile. It was a big load off my shoulders.

I continued to grocery shop ~ just fewer visits. Now I go whenever I want but I wear a mask.

I’m hoping my school district continues with online meetings so I don’t have to go to other sites.

I’m also hoping that my social people seeing desire will come back. I don’t like to people anymore.

I love being home and crafting or doing puzzles with the family.

I don’t miss eating out but I know DH does. We rarely ever do takeout.

I will continue doing order online, pick up in store/delivery. I went to 4 stores on Friday and not a single one had what I was looking for (5” inseam denim shorts, tank tops, 8x10 black frames that weren’t crazy expensive). I used to really enjoy shopping, nope. Not anymore.

And hanitizer is always with me.

eta: DH cuts my hair (long and straight so easy to trim), I was embracing the glitter strands before the pandemic and will continue to do so, never wore make up and don’t plan to start to.

This was my main thing too. I learned a lot from what I didn’t miss as well as from how happy some people were to ignore me when I set boundaries.