Curbside pickup, working from home and more things Chicagoans want to hang onto post-pandemic

We asked readers what things that have become part of our new normal thanks to COVID-19 they hope will stick around once this is all over. Here’s what they said.

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Wouldn’t it be great if you could still get curbside pickup at most places even after the pandemic is over?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could still get curbside pickup at most places even after the pandemic is over? That’s one of the things readers told us would be their top picks as pandemic holdovers.

AP file

Post-pandemic, some things might not go back to how they were beforehand. We asked readers: Tell us something that’s changed this past year because of COVID-19 that you hope stays with us. Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

“Slower pace of life. Spending more time at home. Enjoying the simpler things.” — Shelly Lynn Rivera

“Normalizing mask-wearing and staying home from work, social gatherings, etc. when you have any symptoms of not feeling well. It used to be normal to ‘power through’ not feeling well at work, and I hope that will not return post-COVID.” — Carolyn Tomecek

“People standing six feet away from you in line at the checkout. The biggest pet peeve of mine before the pandemic was folks not understanding personal space in line.” — Bennie Woodell

“Working from home! Pre-pandemic, my employer said it was a liability for us to work from home. But they surely found a way for us to do it now. So no going back for me.” — Alexis Danielle

All the restaurants that have outdoor dining now. And, equally, working from home.” — Robin Perko

I hope people will wear masks when they are sick but not sick enough to stay home — when they have a cold. It’s really the considerate thing to do, but, after a year of wearing a mask in all public spaces, I doubt most will do it willingly. We should be protecting the vulnerable all the time, not just during a pandemic.” — Cheryl Wisniewski

Colds and flu are not as bad as previous years. People are washing their hands and masking up, so the germs are not being spread.” — Nancy Britt-Riep Campise

“Actually taking sick days when we’re sick rather than ‘powering through’ to infect those around us. No work is more important than our health.” — Mara Rosenbloom

“Regular deep cleanings/sanitizations of stores, gyms, restaurants and workplaces.” — Baylee Steelman

The opportunity to attend events and things virtually now that we know it is extremely and entirely possible! I think it’s important for those with certain conditions or disabilities that may sometimes inhibit their ability to actually go to a physical location where an event is being held.” — Minmin Marie

No more shaking hands with strangers or hugs with people outside your circle. Wearing masks during flu seasons. Partitions at restaurants and nail salons.” — Pat Christian-Moore

“The curbside services at stores and restaurants. Or even the option for some places to be able to pick up an order when they didn’t have that at all before.” — Ewa Dziadkowiec

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