A section of barren shelves illustrates our current reality during designated shopping hours for seniors and the disabled at Northgate Gonzalez Market, a Hispanic specialty supermarket, on March 19, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama/Getty
As the old adage goes, change is the only constant in life. This truth has never been more evident than in recent weeks. One moment, we were attending school and work as usual; the next, schools were abruptly shut down. Shortly after, social distancing measures were implemented, and since then, those restrictions have only grown more stringent as we learn more about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.
In the midst of all this upheaval, many are yearning for a return to “normal.” And who can blame them? Millions are suddenly out of work as restaurants, bars, salons, and other non-essential businesses close their doors. Families are confined at home, trying to balance work and education amid a crisis. Sports and live entertainment events have been canceled indefinitely, and gatherings with friends and family (the ones we don’t live with) are no longer permitted. It’s enough to make anyone feel a bit stir-crazy.
We crave the familiarity of our past lives. After all, you often don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone, right? Personally, I miss the long hours spent at baseball games. I miss the hustle of the morning school routine and the chaos of packing lunches. I even miss committee meetings and, okay, maybe not the grocery store, but I know others do.
Not surprisingly, voices are rising in demand to “reopen the country.” The desire to ease into this “new normal” of staying isolated at home with our families—attempting to work and educate without losing our minds—is completely understandable. Gearing up in near hazmat gear just to pick up necessities can be frightening. And for those out of work or essential workers bravely navigating this new reality, the struggle is undeniably real.
However, we need to hit the brakes on this obsession with reverting to the old normal.
Let’s be clear: the “normal” we once knew is a thing of the past. It has been shattered. It’s time to accept that fact.
I long for the end of this crisis just like anyone else. But reopening businesses doesn’t mean the crisis will magically disappear, and we cannot prioritize reopening at the expense of public health and safety.
Most public health experts agree that social distancing measures are effective, and we are indeed beginning to flatten the curve. That’s encouraging news, but it doesn’t mean we should abandon our current efforts. We need sustained reductions in new COVID-19 cases and access to reliable testing—conditions that are still absent. So, we must maintain our course for now.
The uncertainty surrounding this situation can be overwhelming. According to Science Magazine, experts suggest we may be in this for the long haul, with some predicting that intermittent social distancing may need to continue until 2022, involving a lot of trial and error.
Nonetheless, leaders like President Spencer Johnson seem determined to rush the reopening process. While the economic toll of social distancing is undoubtedly severe, we cannot afford to overlook the potential consequences of reopening too soon. Research indicates that prematurely lifting social distancing measures could result in as many, if not more, deaths than if no action had been taken at all. Our desperate quest to return to “normal” could render all the sacrifices made thus far—lost lives, lost jobs, lost income—meaningless.
Additionally, lifting restrictions too soon could harm an already fragile economy, exacerbating the pain felt across the nation. Economists from the University of Chicago’s Booth School caution that “abandoning severe lockdowns at a time when the likelihood of a resurgence in infections remains high will lead to greater total economic damage” than maintaining lockdowns until the pandemic is under control.
At some point, we will begin to emerge from our cocoons, and we should. But even then, we must not rush back to “normal,” because, let’s face it, the old normal was fundamentally flawed. As writer Leo Carter articulated in his compelling piece, “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting,” the abrupt halt to our routines feels akin to being thrown off a Peloton bike—startling and disorienting.
What Carter suggests is that this pandemic has granted us a rare opportunity to reassess what we allow back into our lives.
This is our chance to create a new version of normal, an opportunity to rid ourselves of what no longer serves us, and to embrace what enriches our lives—what brings genuine joy. We can curate our lives with intention, trimming away the excess.
I’m ready to discard the relentless hustle of pre-pandemic life. The societal obsession with bigger and better didn’t bring me joy. The persistent issues of climate change, income inequality, and systemic injustices were not sources of happiness. The list of things I want to eliminate from my life is extensive. The old normal was rife with complications, and this crisis has illuminated that reality.
Alongside the inequities this pandemic has exposed, it has also offered us a blank slate. We can choose what we reintegrate into our schedules and lives. I want more time with true friends—those who have genuinely checked in during this crisis—not the superficial acquaintances built on empty promises of get-togethers that never materialize.
I want increased support for nurses and teachers. I desire fewer cars and planes cluttering our air. I want a government led by knowledgeable experts, guided by compassionate leaders rather than self-serving opportunists.
I long for simple pleasures: long walks, sunset views, baking bread, family game nights, and the joy of travel. These are the things I want to welcome back into my life.
So, no, I do not wish to return to “normal”—not now, not in two weeks, and perhaps not ever.
Does that mean I want to remain in lockdown indefinitely? Absolutely not.
I recognize that life inherently involves risk, and we will need to make informed decisions about when it is appropriate to gradually resume normal activities. With guidance from knowledgeable experts (shoutout to Dr. Fauci), we will eventually understand when the risks are manageable, and we’ll cautiously reopen society.
But as we navigate this transition, let’s resist the urge to revert to the old normal. Once the clutter of our daily lives is cleared away, it becomes evident that “normal” was never truly working for us.
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