Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
In recent news, MOH has encouraged Malaysian employers to work from home (WFH) amidst rising COVID-19 cases. While many are dreading the return of the MCO, there are a silent majority of Malaysians who feel a little bit differently about it:
Can I tell you a secret?
I kind of miss the MCO days.
No, not the constant MySejahtera scanning or daily COVID case reports. Not like that.
I miss the calmness of daily life. The freedom of an unstructured and flexible schedule.
But most of all, I missed not feeling the social pressure to be out of the house all the time.
To be fair, there’s a reason why shopping malls, cafes and mamaks are so prevalent. We have a huge lepak culture and people love to stay out all day and night.
But that sort of thing doesn’t appeal to me. Given the choice, I’d rather stay home.
Of course I never told that to anyone. Whenever people ask what my weekend plans are and I tell them “I’ll be spending it at home”, they’ll give me this look. Like I’m some weirdo with no friends.
As soon as restrictions were lifted, all my friends just went back to their old lifestyle as if nothing had happened. But I, on the other hand, would only go out with friends if it were convenient and not too far away from my house.
On the rare occasions when I did make an effort to socialise, I would often just listen and nod, secretly wishing I was back home instead.
It’s been a year, and I’m still practising an MCO lifestyle.
For me, the ‘new normal’ was my normal.
During quarantine, many people suffered from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as it was a chaotic time full of uncertainty and misery.
But there were no articles that discussed the way I was feeling after quarantine was lifted. It was hard to explain what it was to people…a sense of loss? For a long time, I felt like I was the only one.
Until one day, I stumbled upon a Facebook group for introverts. And they were just like me: People, mostly in their 30s and 20s, who embraced the comforting monotony of quarantine life.
We were shamelessly content with carrying on this hikikomori-like lifestyle. Here’s what some of them had to say about their experience of the MCO days:
“My biggest fear was when people asked me about my weekends. I was afraid of being judged.” – Lin
Lin used to be a social butterfly. Always on the go, she was the epitome of the Energizer bunny.
“My weekends were always packed. There was always some new place to visit, old friends I needed to catch up with.
“This may sound like a good thing, but it was exhausting, both physically and mentally. I didn’t realise that until the lockdown forced me to slow down.
“Over time I realised I wasn’t really an extrovert, I just wanted people to think I was.
“My biggest fear was when people asked me about my weekends. I was afraid of being judged.
“Covid forced me to evaluate what was more important in life. Once I realised I didn’t have any obligation to impress anyone, all my anxiety melted away.”
“I spent so much money on my home, why would I ever want to leave it?” – Prisheeni
Prisheeni just moved into her new apartment when the first MCO was announced. As a result she had to contend with a bare apartment for several months.
“The down time allowed me to declutter and think about how to maximise the space. It actually gave me more time to think about how I wanted to decorate my apartment.
“If I had moved in under normal circumstances it would have been very rushed and I probably would still have a room full of stuff in boxes.
“Now, my apartment is my favourite place in the world. Especially when I have my two cats to keep me company.
“I picked up quite a few things from Pinterest in the process. If I ever wanted to switch careers, I might have a future in interior decorating.”
“Things haven’t been the same since cinemas reopened. It’s much cheaper to order in and stream a movie these days.” – Syafiq
Syafiq used to be an avid cinema goer. But ever since the pandemic he’s been getting his blockbuster fixes at home.
“Streaming has really changed the way we consume movies and tv shows now. There’s so much content, and that extends to YouTube and Twitch.
“I do miss the cinema experience. But to be honest things have not been the same since they reopened. There’s way fewer selections and show times, and prices have gone up too.
“I don’t think non-digital industries have caught up with how fast technology has evolved. And it has nothing to do with age either. Even my younger brother would rather be home watching TikTok and gaming with his friends.
“Of course I realise that being indoors all the time is not healthy, so I make the effort to go hiking or ‘touch grass’ as they like to say.
“I now understand all the memes about introverts. It’s not only relatable but also practical.
“I don’t care what other people say about how I spend my free time. Call me ‘uncle’ all you want. Times are tough and I have to be conscious about how I spend my money.”
Would you return to the MCO lifestyle?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Submit your story to hello@inreallife.my and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Read also: 5 Types of People During the MCO and How They Are Coping
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