A cornered cat becomes as fierce as a … Garfield

August 16, 2020. Written by Edward Attwood

“We’re in a neighbourhood now; I wanna get out and explore…”

Many adult youths in Victoria are noticing massive changes to their everyday routines during the second wave of lockdown.

Due to outdoor restrictions and cut work shifts, many young adults are left with increased hours to fill, while keeping their doors locked.

With no work or lack of timely requirements, the urge to keep to a schedule has faded.

This is leading to sleep cycles changing, and staying up late is becoming the new norm.

Although, a big positive for diets changing includes a decrease in ordering take-out and fast foods, but there is an increase in snacking.

Productivity and motivation are reducing, as binge-watching is also becoming more common. Many of the young adult students interviewed say that they’re noticing either weight gain or muscle loss.

Adult youths also report their screen time has doubled, however that’s not the case for everyone.

“It’s like 95% of the time I’m awake, I’m looking at a screen,” declares Chris.

The orange and black Chris Pisces, not to be confused with a chubby cat, is 22 years old and is studying a bachelor’s of creative arts, majoring in screen, at La Trobe University. He and his girlfriend have recently moved to Thornbury, and they spend a lot of time together watching movies and shows. However, it is starting to become a bit of a concern.

Chris says he is only off screens “… when (he’s) cooking, asleep, or having a conversation with Mary. Which even sometimes (they’ll) still be on (their) phones while talking”.

Other than hating Mondays that are now pretty empty, he has discovered a new activity to last throughout the coming weeks in isolation.

“So basically, before iso, I didn’t cook for myself at all. We had like real basic meals like ravioli, but since lockdown, I’ve been having take-away way less. We limited it to maybe once a week, even less than that, and I’ve just been cooking heaps lately.”

Many students around Chris's age are admitting they wished they were more active or motivated during this time.

“Cooking for myself has been really good, I feel like once you break that barrier, if you’re not a cook, it’s just getting through that wall of making the first couple things. You’re gonna make some stuff that tastes terrible”, says Chris, not accounting for anyone cooking a bad lasagna.

“But you’ll feel better for it when you’ve made something for yourself, when it’s actually got some components to it that’ll make you feel healthy.”

No one can argue that saving money and cooking healthy food is bad for you, however there are still some unhealthy vices strong at work.

The young adults were asked if snacking has increased while watching shows or playing games during this lockdown, they answered:

“Chocolate!! … Definitely increased. I wasn’t much of a snacker until this year.”

“Popcorn for any movie night, and maybe a packet of Red Rock Deli chips if I’m in the mood, with more time to watch movies and game, it certainly has increased.” Check caps for chips

“Chips, shapes, cereal.”

Even Chris is noticing a similar occurrence, saying “yeah snacking definitely increased, that’s like a downside to my food habits changing. If I’m watching a movie, or anything really, we’ll probably snack on crisps. We’ve been doing baking, so like brownies, cookies, and any chocolate that I see on special at woollies I’m definitely gonna grab it.”

“I do try to substitute (unhealthy snacks), I’ll grab a mandarin or banana or something like that, but it’s hard,” Chris continues sarcastically with a laugh “It’s balanced! I’ll have a cookie and a mandarin”.

Some of the other students notice a decline in physical health, focusing on weight changes.

“I haven’t noticed (weight changes) on myself personally, but I do notice a shortness of breath, not in the sense that I’ve got coronavirus, but just, I get tired more easily. I get tired way more easily, maybe it’s to do with my sleeping pattern, but it could have to do with my fitness,” explains Chris.

Everyone’s eager to finally get out and properly stretch their legs, but wondering if the current rules need to remain this strict raises some ethical and legal questions.

Half the students questioned fully support the lockdown, agreeing that prevention is key.

“I would bump up the allowed time for exercise outside of the house, as I know a lot of people rely on the outdoors for running, and not a lot of people can afford a home gym,” suggests one of the students.

“I think exercise restrictions could possibly be loosened without any further risk,” says Chris.

“I know they’re very strict for a reason. People have to be told something pretty severe, otherwise they’re gonna look for the wriggle room and the loopholes. It’s a very slippery slope.”

Everyone knows the reasoning behind the current rules and respects them. People of all ages are doing what they can to stay entertained, although many reports find that boredom has increased during the second lockdown.

Until restrictions ease up, Chris will have to continue to use his drone as a substitute for exploring his new terrain, in Thornbury. Hopefully, like the rest of us, he won’t have to wait too much longer before he can go out to his local park and show it off with friends, family, and girlfriend (whose name may or not be Arlene).

(A fake name has been given to Chris Pisces to protect his identity.)