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There Was Also A Good Side To The Pandemic, Here Are 27 Things People Miss That Are Proof Of That
We don't have to tell you that the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented time in our lives. You probably read many similar headlines saying something like this at the time. It was also a pretty scary time in many ways—with risks to our health, jobs, and basically, life as we know it.
Now that almost five years have passed since it started, people are seeing the period with different eyes. Some even miss certain aspects that we no longer have. That's what this list is precisely about—folks online sharing which pandemic-related things they wish were a thing now, too. So, let's jump in and see whether we agree with them or not, shall we?
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Our planet Earth getting a break for the first time in a long time.
RELATED:
#2
I live in Yosemite National Park. No visitors were allowed in during the initial lockdown, so it was only the employees who lived in the Park that got to enjoy Spring that year. No one on the Mist Trail on a fine spring day in May. No cars at Tunnel View for sunrise. No gumbies at Swan Slab. No careless influencers trampling the meadows. The birds were loud, the bears were comfortable, the dogwood blooms didn't get picked and ruined. I miss that--I miss having the Valley to "myself". It's so selfish. But man. What an experience.
#3
Being left the hell alone.
No matter where you lived in 2020, you experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in one way or another. And, well, the whole world was impacted significantly.
It impacted the global economy, putting tens of millions at risk of poverty, disrupting food systems, and leaving countless individuals vulnerable to undernourishment and so on.
Then there’s its influence on the public's physical health, mental health, and the healthcare sector. Many people got COVID-19, and while some recovered without too many repercussions, others suffered for a long time (some still suffer) from long-term effects like fatigue, memory problems, trouble with taste and/or smell, shortness of breath, sleep issues, and many others.
#4
Empty streets.
DennyS (denzoren) 1 week ago
I worked during the pandemic and it was the quickest I've every gotten to and from work, fresh air, no smoke and just clear streets.
#5
People keeping their f*****g distance. It took a bit, but now people are right back to hovering over your shoulder in line.
#6
Common courtesy if people were ill. People staying home or masking up when sick. Now we’re back to disgustingly ill people hacking and coughing all over with zero regard for others. It’s gross.
Unfortunately, many people lost their lives due to this illness, too. According to the Worldmeter, over 7 million people have died from the virus as of December 2024. Additionally, complications (and deaths) were worsened by the coronavirus or pandemic restrictions, as people faced delayed diagnoses and help.
At the same time, even though the pandemic was a horrific time for health, society, and the economy, some people still hold positive sentiments toward it. After all, even though it is human nature to focus on the negatives, some people try to find positivity in every horrible situation, as that is what drives them forward.
So, when one Reddit user asked netizens to share what they miss about the pandemic, many (to be more specific over 12K people) were quick to answer. We've compiled this list for your convenience, to show you what people had to say.
#7
Not feeling bad for sitting in my apartment all day and night. No FOMO.
Kelly Scott 1 week ago
You know, it really says something when the pandemic didn't change your life one iota.
#8
The Pace of life almost felt like how life should be ? Less traffic, less crowded streets, less noise , more time to appreciate people at home , some jobs could commute, even people who had a variety of opinions on the pandemic details, seemed to have a community of sorts within their said beliefs… It just feels modern society is chaotic for no good reason, and the pandemic slowed things down for a short minute.
Doodles1983 1 week ago
Nope. NHS here. Busiest time of my life. Unfortunately, we all picked up the pace out of necessity. And it's become the expectation. Now being met with burnout and people leaving in droves.
winterwidow87 1 week ago (edited)
Working in healthcare post pandemic is a nightmare. We're expected to mantain the pace we got during the emergency and people are just leaving. I have so many ex colleagues that have left healthcare completely and now do a different job because of this. I am hanging by a thread because i still love my job and was relatively new to it when the pandemic started, but we are all burnt out and management just doesn't care, they keep expecting us to meet their impossible standards. If something doesn't change the quality of healthcare is only going to get worse in the future.
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Hey! 1 week ago
I love this one. Unfortunately, my husband was working 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emergency Management Office.
StrangeOne 6 days ago (edited)
I hated this. Not only was anything barely open, I got harassed by mall security over carrying a bottle of water on a very hot day, and then accused of "mall walking" because I didn't know the mall opened an hour later. The security even tried grabbing my reusable water bottle to throw it out.
Hassel Davidhoff 2 days ago
This. We aren't supposed to hustle all the damn time. I know it was different for everyone but in my job when the pandemic first hit we were sent home with pay for a month. Then after that month they put us back to work (with masks distancing and all kinds of things). That month (for me at least) was precisely what I've wanted my whole life: my own time.
#9
I miss having optimism that life would get better post pandemic. Somehow things have gotten worse and Elon f*****g Musk is making decisions that have potential to f**k s**t up even more for me and my income.
For instance, some people missed how empty the streets were due to the restrictions. For example, in this Bored Panda article, you can see how empty the streets of Krakow looked back in 2020. In comparison, here’s what driving through the streets of Krakow looked like in September of 2024—way busier, isn’t it? And that’s just one city; any other could probably be used as an example, too.
So, it's no surprise that some folks miss such emptiness. It seemed so quiet and calm, didn’t it?
#10
The beginning. When we were all in it together. Then it devolved into the whole mask/no-mask and vaccine/anti-vax b******t. Ugh.
Stephanie A Mutti 1 week ago
It was so nice to be on the same page for a minute. We used to sit outside for "happy hour" with the neighbors. We were all in our little deck chairs sitting away from each other and other neighbors would be out walking. It was the most pleasant spring in our neighborhood. AND the weather was glorious that year. It's too bad it took a health crisis and so many didn't make it.
#11
The quiet. In the big city where I live there are various lakes / ponds around, and during the pandemic I could hear the frogs chirping like crazy in the evenings instead of traffic.
#12
Not having to talk to people.
Having time to do extra stuff around the house. .
Speaking of calm, since people were ordered to stay at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, Earth got a well-deserved break. In 2020, Bored Panda wrote about how satellite images revealed a dramatic drop in pollution over Italy due to the lockdown.
Voa News reported similar things, too. Smog, which had been choking New Delhi for decades, began to clear up. Nitrogen dioxide pollution decreased by 30% in the northeastern United States—you get the gist.
#13
Time, I had time, I was just starting to understand myself as I'm an addict and that time gave me the ability to actually look inward and make strong necessary changes to essentially grow up and become a better person.
#14
Not being obliged to shake hands. You could just nod at each other and go on.
#15
Pretty much everything except the people dying.
DennyS (denzoren) 1 week ago
Also, persons who live paycheck to paycheck and lost their income.
Basically, during the pandemic, we were able to see how strenuous we humans are on Earth and how quickly it regenerates once we slow down a little. It's no wonder some folks miss it, especially now that everything is back on. We continue to strain the planet, even though it’s the only one we have.
So, while the pandemic was a scary time, there were some positives in it that some of us are starting to forget. Maybe this list will serve as a reminder and a motivation that, even in the darkest times, light (even if just a small one) can be found.
#16
Working from home.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 week ago
This is when we, as a society, figured out that many jobs could easily be done from home without a loss of productivity or efficiency. Which of course means that middle management is entirely useless and far overpaid.
#17
Clean supermarket baskets. Actually just clean stuff in general. The moment it was no longer mandated, everything went back to being filthy
Your would think there would be minimum standards of hygiene in places that sell produce... I mean, I'm pretty sure a corner grocer would get in trouble for having baskets as gross as Woolworths baskets always are.
#18
I miss the ability to avoid people and tasks of other peoples….people got very selfish and demanding post covid like they’re more important than anyone else
Edit: Wow I didn't expect this comment to get so many upvotes. It's amazing to see how many of us think alike. And thank you for the awards.
Janelle Collard 1 week ago (edited)
Right? The entitled A**H**es seem to have multiplied exponentially!
#20
Hand sanitizer at gas pumps. Pandemic or no, some folks just don’t wash their hands.
DennyS (denzoren) 1 week ago
The handwashing stations here were removed the second it was lifted. I made sure our office kept the sanitizing stations. They're still being used.
#21
- peace and quiet
- actually having no stress and being able to just exist and mind your own business
- being rested and getting enough sleep for the first and probably the last time
- not working for 5.5 months.
#22
Staying at home and having a family time almost every day like eating together, watching movies together.
KittyGaming 6 days ago
Personally not me, both of my parents got sick and I stayed in my room all day only leaving to get food or go to the bathroom, everytime my parents talk about how sick they were they always mention watching me dashing from my room to the kitchen and back, I'm glad others got closer though
#23
Sitting one person per pair of seats on the bus. Hate it when someone sits next to me.
#24
Getting paid to stay home and do, essentially, nothing. Spending tons of time with my kids.
Also my kids loved that the school gave us school food for them to eat at home, so I miss them being excited for us to go pick up the weekly school food.
Geoffrey Scott 6 days ago
Our district delivered, by bus, 1 daily meal. Got us (janitors, food service, and drivers) back on the clock. Also was able to do a deep clean of the buildings in the spring so bigger maintenance items could be done in summer.
#27
Being 4 years younger.
Sara Frazer 6 days ago
I just turned 31 yesterday and and I'm liking it. My 30s have already been significantly better than my 20s
What do you think ?
Joanne Earle 1 week ago
Actually I LOVED quarantine. I'd been training for it my whole life. I loved it that we were forced to be housebound. I do feel bad for the restaurants and businesses that couldn't rebound. Also wasn't crazy about the lack of TP and other things.
Cool crow 6 days ago
TP shortage wasn't my worry. Coffee! Can't run out of coffee! I still like to make sure I have plenty.
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sturmwesen 1 week ago (edited)
The magical time: WFH, no social contact you don't want, silence (minus neighbours kids), reduced hours, f****ing clean streets..besides health/death/jobloss for other people I only hated Corona Puppies...so damn many untrained / socialized puppies from puppy mills
Libstak 6 days ago (edited)
If my parents had not, first by some cosmic coincidence become sick and injured with a host of age related downturns like seizures, stroke, broken hip, vascular dementia in the first year which meant I saw more ambulances, hospital waiting rooms, hospital beds and covid measures that meant I had to wear disposable gowns, plastic face covers, gloves, masks and sometimes paper shoes to see them every day and care for the other at home I might have loved covid. The 2nd year? They both got covid one day apart, I did not. I was their single designated visitor after 2 weeks quarantine on 2 different floors, same hospital. I had to hand feed my dad who lost his capacity to swallow solids without choking and ate very little of the hospital food. So I made and blended soups every night and cereal and milk or porridge and took it to him. Mum could and did eat, even liked the hospital food but had a slow recovery and fears she wasn't breathing properly. It was crazy and exhausting for 2 yrs
Elle Lian 6 days ago
When someone talks about honoring parents, this is what they’re talking about. Idk if you’re into religion, but the Bible calls you blessed for doing such an unselfish thing. The world needs caring individuals like you, but I’m sorry it was so hard. I hope you are doing well now and life is good for you.
Load More Replies... Bill Evs 1 week ago
It actually worked out quite well for me, a lot of things advantageously fell in to place at just the right time. Before lockdown kicked in I had just finished paying off two quite big loans. I also had been promising myself for years I would get fit but had always put it off simply because work took up a lot of my time and any free time I had I was simply too tired to do anything strenuous. All of a sudden I had extra cash and bags of free time (even though I was WFH). Fast forward two years after the initial lockdown and I had dropped 29kg in weight, taken up running (which I still do today) built up a nice pot of savings and got a lot of those niggly jobs around the house ticked off.
Nikki Angulo 4 days ago
I lost weight during the pandemic! Both times we were on lockdown! The second time when I came to choosing between eating lunch or having a nap before going back to ‘work’ I chose a nap! lol
Lara Verne 6 days ago
I miss when people make jokes about covid and quarantine and antivaxers were quiet for once.
Nikki Angulo 4 days ago
I’m guessing from your name and your comment that you work in health care? lol
Load More Replies... 
Amelia Jade 6 days ago
Despite the under current of fear, it was a nice time for our family. Long lazy days of board games, and puzzles. We spent a lot of time on our backyard patio just having long conversations. We built a massive blanket fort in the living room that was up for ages. We'd hang out in there and listen to podcasts. My oldest and I drove around doing a scavenger hunt we found online--just things you point to from the car window. We live in Vegas and one afternoon we all piled into the car and hit the strip. It was a complete ghost town. It was eerie. We were FINALLY able to visit the Welcome to Las Vegas sign because there was no one there. I sometimes miss it, but have to remind myself that it was also scary.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 week ago (edited)
I was working from home already 10 years before the pandemic and I live alone with my 1 dog at that time so not much difference there. What I miss most is walking my dog with hardly anyone else around. I was able to off leash her. I now have 2 dogs; the 2nd inherited.
SkippityBoppityBoo 5 days ago (edited)
While the food and loo roll shortages weren't fun, neither was being stuck with my violent ex still living right downstairs in a different flat because noone could go anywhere and two court dates being adjourned? Then being dramatically extracted out of my flat with Spinal Bruising, Covid and taken into hospital... I will say that for that little while I was still at home, the air was a lot clearer due to less traffic, it smelt weird! Ahhh right! Hardly any cars etc! Seeing random wildlife from my high up bedroom window that you usually would never see wandering the empty streets... I did use to look out of that window and once saw a group of police officers walking down the road, I whistled and waved and they waved back! Dunno where they were going but it was just nice to see other human beings! Ended up seeing too many other human beings and police officers once I was in hospital! 😄 But at least I had those quiet times watching the random wildlife on the empty streets.
Beak Hookage 5 days ago
I'm an anxious person who always had to get up and rush out the door every morning. Being forced to stay home also forced me to learn how to just be still. When I started to get cabin fever I'd go and sit in the garden and just watch the grass and leaves blowing in the breeze and the little birds flitting about, and the pressure would leave me. (It also showed me, like so many others, just how goddamn unnecessary going into the office at 8am sharp is). And one very charming bonus was that every single day I could hear the happy laughter and voices of local children who were staying home. Local families even set up a bunch of outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts, and someone put up a swing down by the creek which was there for years. The kids definitely enjoyed that whole thing the most!
Liz The Biz 5 days ago
When we were told to do social distancing and I realised I've been doing it for years anyway. Not having to go anywhere or see anyone is my idea of pure heaven.
Auntriarch 6 days ago
The quiet was nice, and people's politeness. But I hated not being able hug my parents.
Ruth Watry 4 days ago
Downside (college professor here) is our students still suffering. Cannot figure out how to interact with people in person, how to be in a classroom with other students, develop a romantic relationship, etc. It is sad to walk down somewhat quiet hallways in-between classes because 3/4 of students are on their phones.
Kathleen Pearlman 4 days ago
We're retire and introverts. Nothing new with us... Masked up - and cashier people in the necessary grocery and d**g stores were, too. WIN_202110...a194c3.jpg 
Teachzebra 6 days ago
I don’t think we should ever look at it as being a good time. Let’s remember that literally millions of people died. Yes I too enjoyed the peace and quiet to a certain extent. But not at that high of a price.
Pencil 5 days ago
I think it's healthy to be able to separate one from the other and look back on the positive things with fondness. It doesn't mean we'd wish it to happen again. Of course, it was far too high a cost. And we haven't forgotten that it was a global tragedy. But that doesn't mean that we can't have nostalgia for the small things that were good.
Load More Replies...
Hassel Davidhoff 2 days ago
I've been opposed to the concept of being forced to work your a**e off just to barely survive since was a young lad. For the most part modern work is just exploitation and I'm against it. It allows our most precious resource (our time on this planet) to be stolen form us. We only get one life and we're forced to spend it hustling because some robber baron needs to make more money next quarter. It is especially egregious that a lot of the "work" done today is just busy BS that isn't even necessary. So when the pandemic hit and everything in this shïtty capitalist system just stopped I genuinely felt relief for the first time in my life. It was wonderful. I really wish the system could just come to damn halt. Permanently. I wish we could all just stop competing and be at peace. The pandemic, for me, was the closest I've ever come to experiencing that and it bummed me out & made me more misanthropic that we learned not a thing from it and went back to the same old BS so quickly.
Mary Gillis 4 days ago
I had to work all through it so it was no biggies for me other than the roads were clear of traffic but then had people driving over 100 miles per hour because of no traffic.
All profits to charity 5 days ago
I’m speechless at this one. A bunch of people died and others lost their businesses or homes but hey! I didn’t have to smile?!?! The streets were empty? What the…seriously? Am I the only one that feels this is disrespectful and disjointed from reality? All my sympathies to those that lost family members. Apologies for this.
Pencil 5 days ago
Well thanks for helping the pandemic last so much longer than it needed to. Those of us from the cities really appreciate that.
Load More Replies... Joanne Earle 1 week ago
Actually I LOVED quarantine. I'd been training for it my whole life. I loved it that we were forced to be housebound. I do feel bad for the restaurants and businesses that couldn't rebound. Also wasn't crazy about the lack of TP and other things.
Cool crow 6 days ago
TP shortage wasn't my worry. Coffee! Can't run out of coffee! I still like to make sure I have plenty.
Load More Replies... sturmwesen 1 week ago (edited)
The magical time: WFH, no social contact you don't want, silence (minus neighbours kids), reduced hours, f****ing clean streets..besides health/death/jobloss for other people I only hated Corona Puppies...so damn many untrained / socialized puppies from puppy mills
Libstak 6 days ago (edited)
If my parents had not, first by some cosmic coincidence become sick and injured with a host of age related downturns like seizures, stroke, broken hip, vascular dementia in the first year which meant I saw more ambulances, hospital waiting rooms, hospital beds and covid measures that meant I had to wear disposable gowns, plastic face covers, gloves, masks and sometimes paper shoes to see them every day and care for the other at home I might have loved covid. The 2nd year? They both got covid one day apart, I did not. I was their single designated visitor after 2 weeks quarantine on 2 different floors, same hospital. I had to hand feed my dad who lost his capacity to swallow solids without choking and ate very little of the hospital food. So I made and blended soups every night and cereal and milk or porridge and took it to him. Mum could and did eat, even liked the hospital food but had a slow recovery and fears she wasn't breathing properly. It was crazy and exhausting for 2 yrs
Elle Lian 6 days ago
When someone talks about honoring parents, this is what they’re talking about. Idk if you’re into religion, but the Bible calls you blessed for doing such an unselfish thing. The world needs caring individuals like you, but I’m sorry it was so hard. I hope you are doing well now and life is good for you.
Load More Replies... Bill Evs 1 week ago
It actually worked out quite well for me, a lot of things advantageously fell in to place at just the right time. Before lockdown kicked in I had just finished paying off two quite big loans. I also had been promising myself for years I would get fit but had always put it off simply because work took up a lot of my time and any free time I had I was simply too tired to do anything strenuous. All of a sudden I had extra cash and bags of free time (even though I was WFH). Fast forward two years after the initial lockdown and I had dropped 29kg in weight, taken up running (which I still do today) built up a nice pot of savings and got a lot of those niggly jobs around the house ticked off.
Nikki Angulo 4 days ago
I lost weight during the pandemic! Both times we were on lockdown! The second time when I came to choosing between eating lunch or having a nap before going back to ‘work’ I chose a nap! lol
Lara Verne 6 days ago
I miss when people make jokes about covid and quarantine and antivaxers were quiet for once.
Nikki Angulo 4 days ago
I’m guessing from your name and your comment that you work in health care? lol
Load More Replies... Amelia Jade 6 days ago
Despite the under current of fear, it was a nice time for our family. Long lazy days of board games, and puzzles. We spent a lot of time on our backyard patio just having long conversations. We built a massive blanket fort in the living room that was up for ages. We'd hang out in there and listen to podcasts. My oldest and I drove around doing a scavenger hunt we found online--just things you point to from the car window. We live in Vegas and one afternoon we all piled into the car and hit the strip. It was a complete ghost town. It was eerie. We were FINALLY able to visit the Welcome to Las Vegas sign because there was no one there. I sometimes miss it, but have to remind myself that it was also scary.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 week ago (edited)
I was working from home already 10 years before the pandemic and I live alone with my 1 dog at that time so not much difference there. What I miss most is walking my dog with hardly anyone else around. I was able to off leash her. I now have 2 dogs; the 2nd inherited.
SkippityBoppityBoo 5 days ago (edited)
While the food and loo roll shortages weren't fun, neither was being stuck with my violent ex still living right downstairs in a different flat because noone could go anywhere and two court dates being adjourned? Then being dramatically extracted out of my flat with Spinal Bruising, Covid and taken into hospital... I will say that for that little while I was still at home, the air was a lot clearer due to less traffic, it smelt weird! Ahhh right! Hardly any cars etc! Seeing random wildlife from my high up bedroom window that you usually would never see wandering the empty streets... I did use to look out of that window and once saw a group of police officers walking down the road, I whistled and waved and they waved back! Dunno where they were going but it was just nice to see other human beings! Ended up seeing too many other human beings and police officers once I was in hospital! 😄 But at least I had those quiet times watching the random wildlife on the empty streets.
Beak Hookage 5 days ago
I'm an anxious person who always had to get up and rush out the door every morning. Being forced to stay home also forced me to learn how to just be still. When I started to get cabin fever I'd go and sit in the garden and just watch the grass and leaves blowing in the breeze and the little birds flitting about, and the pressure would leave me. (It also showed me, like so many others, just how goddamn unnecessary going into the office at 8am sharp is). And one very charming bonus was that every single day I could hear the happy laughter and voices of local children who were staying home. Local families even set up a bunch of outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts, and someone put up a swing down by the creek which was there for years. The kids definitely enjoyed that whole thing the most!
Liz The Biz 5 days ago
When we were told to do social distancing and I realised I've been doing it for years anyway. Not having to go anywhere or see anyone is my idea of pure heaven.
Auntriarch 6 days ago
The quiet was nice, and people's politeness. But I hated not being able hug my parents.
Ruth Watry 4 days ago
Downside (college professor here) is our students still suffering. Cannot figure out how to interact with people in person, how to be in a classroom with other students, develop a romantic relationship, etc. It is sad to walk down somewhat quiet hallways in-between classes because 3/4 of students are on their phones.
Kathleen Pearlman 4 days ago
We're retire and introverts. Nothing new with us... Masked up - and cashier people in the necessary grocery and d**g stores were, too. WIN_202110...a194c3.jpg
Teachzebra 6 days ago
I don’t think we should ever look at it as being a good time. Let’s remember that literally millions of people died. Yes I too enjoyed the peace and quiet to a certain extent. But not at that high of a price.
Pencil 5 days ago
I think it's healthy to be able to separate one from the other and look back on the positive things with fondness. It doesn't mean we'd wish it to happen again. Of course, it was far too high a cost. And we haven't forgotten that it was a global tragedy. But that doesn't mean that we can't have nostalgia for the small things that were good.
Load More Replies... Hassel Davidhoff 2 days ago
I've been opposed to the concept of being forced to work your a**e off just to barely survive since was a young lad. For the most part modern work is just exploitation and I'm against it. It allows our most precious resource (our time on this planet) to be stolen form us. We only get one life and we're forced to spend it hustling because some robber baron needs to make more money next quarter. It is especially egregious that a lot of the "work" done today is just busy BS that isn't even necessary. So when the pandemic hit and everything in this shïtty capitalist system just stopped I genuinely felt relief for the first time in my life. It was wonderful. I really wish the system could just come to damn halt. Permanently. I wish we could all just stop competing and be at peace. The pandemic, for me, was the closest I've ever come to experiencing that and it bummed me out & made me more misanthropic that we learned not a thing from it and went back to the same old BS so quickly.
Mary Gillis 4 days ago
I had to work all through it so it was no biggies for me other than the roads were clear of traffic but then had people driving over 100 miles per hour because of no traffic.
All profits to charity 5 days ago
I’m speechless at this one. A bunch of people died and others lost their businesses or homes but hey! I didn’t have to smile?!?! The streets were empty? What the…seriously? Am I the only one that feels this is disrespectful and disjointed from reality? All my sympathies to those that lost family members. Apologies for this.
Pencil 5 days ago
Well thanks for helping the pandemic last so much longer than it needed to. Those of us from the cities really appreciate that.
Load More Replies...
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