Half of Britons plan to continue with lockdown habits after restrictions are lifted, poll claims

Many feel they have 'changed their ways for the better'

Geographical distance has shaped many of our relationships with our grandchildren (Getty)

Half of people in Britain plan to continue with their new-found habits and activities after lockdown is lifted, according to a poll.

A survey of 2,000 adults found 43 per cent felt they had "changed their ways for the better" and planned to continue with their "improved" behaviours after the restrictions are lifted.

Technology has proven to be the cornerstone of these new habits, as more than half of respondents said they could not live without their laptop, phone or TV.

This was attributed in part to watching more TV series and films with family and learning a language online while stuck at home.

Starting their own podcast, editing videos and learning to code were also among some of the skills they wanted to take forward.

It was also found that one-fifth planned to sleep more than they did before when life returns to normal while one in 10 will watch more YouTube tutorials.

The research, commissioned by LG Electronics, found two-fifths felt these new habits were better for their wellbeing, while more than one in four found it easier to relax and keep a better routine.

More than one-quarter believed their new ways of living had even saved them money.

The research found that since social distancing began, video calls have become a primary method of keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, with 45 per cent talking to family and friends more than they had before social distancing.

The average person is spending two hours and 50 minutes on a week video calls.

And 48 per cent planned to keep this up post-lockdown, or even do it more often, suggesting a more permanent change to the way in which we connect and socialise.

Hanju Kim, IT product director at LG UK, said: “It’s both encouraging and uplifting to see some of the positive things coming out of this challenging period.

“The fact that many people are forming productive and healthy new habits is testament to the nation’s ability to adjust.

“The nation is working from home and has an appetite to continue working flexibly even after offices reopen.”

The poll also found that despite offices and other non-essential workspaces being shut, half of those polled were still working, with the average professional using at least two different rooms in their home on a typical day.

As well as changing their personal habits, one-quarter of those polled, via OnePoll, also planned to work from home more often after offices reopened.

SWNS