1200 Words
As the world struggles to stem the tide of the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions have been imposed worldwide to help prevent the spread of the virus. One unexpected benefit of these restrictions has been an increase in the cleanliness and tranquility of neighborhoods across the globe.
For starters, cities, towns, and suburbs have become a much quieter place as restrictions on movement and gathering limit activities that generate noise. For instance, roads are less congested with fewer cars and electric scooters, and restaurants, bars, and other nightlife spots are having to remain closed – meaning late-night street gatherings, car racing, and blasting music has all but become a thing of the past.
Coupled with these changes is an increase in the cleanliness of these same neighborhoods. Without the presence of the usual busy downtown streets and nightlife areas, the opportunity for people to litter and graffiti has been diminished, resulting in streets that are considerably cleaner than before. This is good news for both locals and visitors alike, making for an aesthetic and enjoyable experience to many of our communities.
In addition to the tangible benefits of a cleaner and quieter neighborhood, there are also mental and emotional benefits to be found. For example, the peace and quiet can be great for mental wellness, allowing an individual to take breaks from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It can also be calming to the mind to wander around an otherwise silent space and appreciate the beauty of rural or suburban life.
Finally, although the current climate may not be ideal, it could also provide us with a unique chance to reconsider our relationship with the environment. With society having reduced its footfall, this could provide us with the opportunity to finally engage in some much-needed conservation work. This could mean taking part in organized cleanups or setting up recycling bins in public places, all of which can go a long way towards making cities safer, and healthier, places to live and visit.
All that being said, the transformation of our neighborhoods is a result of restrictions that were imposed out of necessity. The effects of these policies, however, stand as a testament to the fact that when we come together and make changes in the right direction, the environment – and our mental clarity – can benefit in ways we never expected.
900 Words
As the world struggles to stem the tide of the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions have been imposed worldwide to help prevent the spread of the virus. One unexpected benefit of these restrictions has been an increase in the cleanliness and tranquility of neighborhoods across the globe.
For starters, cities, towns, and suburbs have become much quieter as restrictions on movement and gathering limit activities that generate noise. For instance, roads are less congested with fewer cars and electric scooters, and restaurants, bars, and other nightlife spots are having to remain closed – meaning late-night street gatherings, car racing, and blasting music has all but become a thing of the past.
Coupled with these changes is an increase in the cleanliness of these same neighborhoods. Without the presence of the usual busy downtown streets and nightlife areas, the opportunity for people to litter and graffiti has been diminished, resulting in streets that are considerably cleaner than before. This is good news for locals and visitors alike, making for an aesthetically pleasing experience.
In addition to the tangible benefits of a cleaner and quieter neighborhood, there are also mental and emotional benefits to be found. For example, the peace and quiet can be great for mental wellness, allowing an individual to take breaks from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It can also provide a sense of calm to wander around an otherwise silent space and appreciate the beauty of rural or suburban life.
Finally, although the current climate may not be ideal, it could also provide us with a unique chance to reconsider our relationship with the environment. With society having reduced its footfall, this could provide us with the opportunity to engage in conservation work. This could be taking part in organized cleanups or setting up recycling bins in public places – all of which can contribute towards making our cities and towns healthier, and safer, places to live and visit.
The transformation of our neighborhoods is a direct result of the restrictions that we’ve had to put in place to limit the spread of Covid-19. But the positive effects of these policies stand as a
