2020 has been a tough year for millions of us. It feels like everytime you stand up you get knocked back down again. In the news it’s depressing story after story. It’s very difficult to get excited about anything right now and it’s tough to even plan anything due to the ongoing uncertainty of Covid-19.
This year has put us in survival mode. So many people are afraid to leave their houses and society is getting accustomed to working/schooling from home. Six months into the pandemic I’m sitting here wondering, “Is this the new normal?”
Today I want to discuss some changes I’ve noticed in society since the pandemic began.
- More Mobile/Online Orders
Now before the pandemic, I was someone who rarely ordered things mobily or online. I used to love the experience of going out to eat and/or shopping at the mall. People say that shopping is their therapy and honestly, I agree (Warning shopping should not be used as a substitute for actual therapy if you feel you need it).
I used to love going to the mall, grabbing my Cinnabon iced coffee (amazing if you haven’t tried it yet and I don’t even typically like coffee) browsing the stores, and grabbing a quick dinner at Saladworks. While I was doing all this, I felt like I was getting my cardio in. As Carrie Bradshaw once said “Shopping is my cardio.” I enjoyed going to the mall after work on my own or meeting up with a friend to shop/eat on the weekends. This was a whole activity/experience for me. Now, shopping is simply the click of a button. Sure it’s exciting when your clothes/goods arrive but it’s truly not the same as going to the mall.
Prior to the pandemic, I rarely ordered food online. I would either call to order delivery, go to a drive-thru, or sit down at a restaurant. Now, the majority of the food I eat is either home cooked, grabbed from a drive-thru or ordered on mobile apps such as Grubhub that deliver right to my door. Although I do enjoy my food being delivered to my door, I sometimes miss the socialization of going out to dinner with friends, family or my significant other.
- More Time at the House/Apartment
Because of covid-19, people are scared to go out to public places for fear of being around other people and I don’t blame them. Going to a crowded movie theater where people are not wearing masks because they are eating/drinking sounds horrible. That’s coming from someone who used to love the movies.
Going anywhere nowadays (in the US at least) is risky. Staying home makes people feel safe and comfortable. So people are spending more time at home and are coming up with innovative ways to have fun. People are learning new skills, discovering new hobbies, and finding unique ways to work out.
Many companies are also requiring employees to work from home. So employees are adjusting their apartments/homes to become their offices. With a large number of people working from home, people are going out into the world even less (no travels to and from work. And no going out into the public office setting).
- Less Socialization and Human Interaction
With the risk of spreading the virus, less people are getting together with friends/family on a regular basis. Yes there is Zoom and phone calls but nothing beats seeing people in person. In person, you can catch on to people’s body language more easily and just connect better in general with people.
I truly believe that working from home and staying at home more in general will impact people’s social skills in the long run. People may forget pleasantries in the future or may forget how to have general conversations altogether. My only advice in this department is to keep in contact with friends and family throughout this. Instead of texting your friends/family, just call them. This will help you practice your social skills on a regular basis.
- What Doesn’t Kill you Makes you Stronger
Yes it’s cliche to say but it’s definitely true. Erich and I, like millions of others, were laid off for a part of this year. Between that and other issues popping up such as things breaking in our apartment and trying to get our unemployment money, our patience was truly tested. Nothing and I mean NOTHING went smoothly for us this year but I have to say that that only made us stronger and brought us closer together. I now know that if we can get through all that together, then we can get through anything.
- More Appreciation
I definitely think that this year has made people more appreciative of those in their lives. When you can’t see friends/family for months, it really makes you miss them that much more. I have definitely become more appreciative of those in my life during this time. I’ve tried to make it a habit of checking in on friends/family on a regular basis. I’ve also made it a point to let the people in my life know that I appreciate them. If this year hasn’t made you appreciate those around you, then I don’t know what will.
I want to know, what changes have you noticed in our society this year? Also, let me know what lessons you have learned from this year so far. Thank you so much for reading! Stay safe and healthy out there.
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