[benreesman]

It’s obviously better when there’s good data. People like myself who frequent HN often do because they want to hear an expert cut through the propaganda with the inside baseball on the real science.

And I hope someone does on this thread.

But in the absence of a qualified expert interpreting the inside data laypeople are as always thrown back on the thoughtfulness arbitrary creative force gave a rock and anecdata.

And this rings insanely true. My life never changed back from COVID lockdown, maybe that says more about me than the biggest natural experiment in arbitrary and sweeping human confinement probably ever: but I use more of everything from nicotine to caffeine to adderall now than when I was partying with a purpose ten years ago.

More substances more screen time more all of it. Being trapped on an island with 100 people sounds like a vacation from either the glass box I live and work in or the empty-seeming bars and coffee shops and comedy clubs in the half dozen cities I’ve traveled to this past year.

Lockdown was boom time for screen companies. Anyone got a vested interest in leaning on the delicate pressure points of really resuming IRL life?

[captainkrtek]

Think COVID has caused many of us to reflect on life, and how choose to resume it now that the situation has improved.

Working from home for so long definitely removed a social element from my life, but I've replaced the time I would be commuting with exercise and time outdoors, which has been a massive life improvement.

[SoftTalker]

It sounds trite but just do it. Go out. Go to bars, go to the gym, go to the coffee shop, go to wherever people are congregating. Living cooped up in a box is no way to live. Unsurprising that the study in TFA found that creatures living in unhappy circumstances seek mood-altering substances more than those living more freely and naturally.

[benreesman]

As I said: maybe I’m an outlier and my N=1 study is one of those dots in the corner.

But historically I’m a rabid extrovert on paper in terms of coffee shops and bars and comedy clubs and music shows. Before the risk was that I’d meet some cool people and talk until I had to race to the morning’s first meeting.

And when I say “empty-seeming” I don’t mean there are no people exactly, but rather that walking up to someone and introducing yourself seems to go over about as well everywhere as it historically has in Paris.

Now one random guy having a bad time socially isn’t data, but I thought it was worthwhile to throw out in case I wasn’t the only one.

[ethanbond]

Another consideration is that you’ve gotten older during the pandemic.

Especially given many people’s description of “time distortion” through lockdown, it’s easy to forget you got 2-3 years older, so did all of your friends, and 2-3 years is plenty for some formative changes depending on how old you were.

I left New York for the pandemic and came back after a few years just to realize that I’m too old for this shit now, or at least for what I loved about NYC previously.

[yieldcrv]

and the 21 year olds completely missed being 18, 19 and 20

really all the teenagers missed 2-3 years of social development in line with what the older crowds they coexist with experienced

I’m down to play, but just something to be aware of

[cstejerean]

Try traveling to other parts of the world if you can. For example I was just in one of the greek islands for a week and everyone was incredibly friendly. Meeting cool people and chatting late into the night is precisely how I'd describe my time there.

[htag]

All of the things you loved about life before COVID are still out there. Caffeine, nicotine, and adderall shouldn't prevent you from being able to experience the world.