While I intuitively like the notion of this period being called ‘the slowdown’ it really does come from a position of privilege. Ppl referring to it as that tend to have wealth, health, relative stability (flex jobs, employers, space at home).

Perhaps we should try naming not from the position of the academic elite. Try ‘the speed up’ for most in our public services or ‘the fear’ for people working in healthcare, care homes or who are in poor health or struggling financially? Would be more apt imo and less romantic.