It is easy to try and write off 2020 as the year no one wants to talk about. While that may be a harmless way to look at it, you cannot deny that some positive things have happened too!
So let us take a moment to reflect on the good side that happened due to Covid-19. It is a wonderful way of putting things into perspective! Here are 5 things the British found good about the year gone by.
1. The Air Quality Greatly Improved
If there is one thing that improved because of the imposed lockdowns of 2020, it was the air quality. And this not just happened in the UK, but throughout the world! Covid-19 lockdowns improved air quality and the nitrogen oxide in London roads decreased by as much as 31% when compared to pre-lockdown levels.
Even after the non-essential shops and businesses opened after the first lockdown, air quality remained high. This can be attributed to people staying at home mostly and lesser traffic. And news that the Himalayas were visible from northern parts of the Indian subcontinent also warms the heart.
2. People Switched To E-Liquids
With the lockdown, many people were forced to cut back on cigarettes. A lot of them switched to e-liquids. Vapers, who used these, enjoyed 95% more safety than cigarette smokers.
The lockdown taught us to care about our health and the harmful effects of tobacco cannot be denied. With this alternative, it became easy to make the switch because this taste-tested and lab-tested product is known for its purity, flavour and strength.
3. Community Came Together To Fight Child Food Poverty
When Boris Johnson refused to give school meal vouchers to kids over the half-term holiday last year, it was a prelude to a positive community moment. After this happened, Marcus Rashford appealed to the community to come forward and do their bit to fight childhood food poverty.
2020 saw local businesses coming together and standing strong with the children to work together. The government’s refusal to provide free meals to school kids throughout the half-term holiday was used to garner a positive community feeling where people did what they could to help.
When the community comes together, it can be a powerful movement!
4. More Free Time For Sleep, Rest, Gardening, And DIY
If the banana bread craze that took over the world last year is anything to go by, the British people found a lot more free time. With less time spent on travelling for work and other purposes, people spent more time on things that are important to them.
With commuting time almost zero, people found the time to sleep more, rest more, garden more, and indulge in DIY activities more. They also found more time to spend together with their families. People with kids did all the childcare and spent quite a bit of quality time together. With online learning the norm in 2020, parents were able to focus on their child, and they did it with aplomb!
5. Students Won Substantial Rent Reductions
Students all over the world are known for having tight budgets. That is why news of a group of fresher students taking part in rent strikes and winning massive rent reductions is so heart-warming. A few hundred University Of Manchester students went on a rent strike at the start of the last term.
Their issue was that there was very little university support and problems with online learning. The strikes led them to win a 30% reduction in rent for all the students in the university.
Taking the good with the bad is what life is all about. So let’s move on and stay safe by maintaining the health protocols.
