The New Normal: How life has changed due to COVID-19

Over the past few months, we’ve experienced an unprecedented shift in our way of life due to COVID-19. 

Even when society starts up again, there will still be restrictions and we are facing fundamental shifts to our way of life. So, what does a New Normal look like? Here are some thoughts (and realities) below.

THE WAY WE LIVE IS DIFFERENT

Masks and gloves may be commonplace, depending on where in the world you live.

Queuing is now the norm, be it when visiting health professionals, going to the shops, or even getting in a lift.

Public transport looks very different, with social distancing in place and commuters wearing  masks and gloves.

We do a double-take when we hear someone cough, sneeze, or sniffle. We’ve been conditioned these past few months to be hypervigilant for these symptoms, but hopefully this might also mean that higher standards of hand and personal hygiene will continue.

We’ll start to holiday more in our own backyards due to travel restrictions, which can only be a good thing for local economies as they cope with the decline in overseas and interstate tourist numbers. Wanderlust for overseas exotic locations will also be on the rise, and Instagram will no doubt fuel those desires.

The small things that make up our community have changed. No more sausage sizzles at Bunnings, no community sports, no lingering over brunch with friends at the local cafe, and  salons have closed due to the pandemic. We’re hoping our local small businesses – our hairdressers, barbers, cafes, restaurants, health professionals, newsagents, boutiques – make it through the other end (so be sure to support your local small business!)

The larger sporting landscape has also changed. Sporting leagues have paused but are cautiously eyeing a return, and national and international meets are near impossible given travel restrictions. Sport has also been hit particularly hard by coronavirus in the year of the Summer Olympic Games, which have now been postponed to 2021.

THE WAY WE WORK OR STUDY HAS CHANGED

Education as we know it has change. Schools and universities have moved online, some blending face-to-face with online lectures. Universities around the world are feeling the impact from the absence of International Students. Conferences will be paused, and international collaborations and sabbaticals now look very different to previous years.

Work has also change due to social distancing. So many of us shifted to working from home to minimise travelling on public transport and gathering in groups at the office. Zoom meetings even became our New Normal. With restrictions easing, we may cautiously rotate back into working at the office in shifts, or embrace working from home on a more regular basis.

With travel restrictions in place, families and loved ones are being kept apart and having to make do with online catch ups.

THE WAY WE SOCIALISE AND CONNECT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT

Social distancing, social distancing, social distancing. No more packing in large crowds when we all have to have a personal bubble of over a metre. We have said goodbye (for now) to attending concerts, plays, movies, festivals, museums, etc., but hopefully they are able to return soon.

Not seeing loved ones…for their benefit. Elderly parents and grandparents, pregnant friends or new parents, or those with health conditions that render them more vulnerable to coronavirus – we’re staying away to keep them safe. In a time when it’s more important than ever to stay connected, this can be particularly challenging for all.

No visits from loved ones from interstate or overseas. With travel restrictions in place and unlikely to lift for the foreseeable future (particularly international travel), families and loved ones are being kept apart and having to make do with online catch ups.

Social greetings have morphed. Gone are the days of greeting friends and extended relatives with handshakes, hugs, and cheek-kisses. Friendly gestures like these are now being curbed, to be replaced by elbow bumps and foot-shakes, or waves from a (social) distance.

The way we ‘dine out’ has changed. Many restaurants and cafes may only be serving takeaways at the moment, but even when they reopen for us to dine-in there will likely be restrictions around how many are able to dine-in, social distancing will be in place, and shared plates may disappear for quite some time.