I had a similar experience not wearing masks. Every time I didn't put one on, I felt much better about being out and about and especially talking one to one with other people who's masks were not being worn. It was particularly convenient going to a crowded restaurant as the food could be inserted into my waiting maw without delays of any kind. There were some interesting times too, when I visited a hospital and was granted access to the non public areas, I discovered doctors sitting at their desks with surgical masks not carefully fitted to their faces, in fact they were nowhere to be seen. They smiled and seemed completely at ease, which I consider the greatest of all the effects you can expect from not wearing the mandated facial coverings. The regular washing of masks in a machine wash at high temperature was a routine I was able to forgo entirely by not setting reminders on my phone, which was something I adapted to immediately. During lockdown, not stopping frequent meetings with personal friends was something I found easy to maintain throughout. Being willing to not take the hit to my morale at all was emotionally lifting. I would not urge anyone reading this to follow with the government regulations, but would suggest not keeping a close eye on their ever changing details. If I can help just one person, it would have been worth all the lack of effort.