by Zoe Zorka
Image by SplitShire from Pixabay
The covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we live our lives. It has changed the way we work, the way we shop, the way we greet people, and the way we socialize. While some things will go back to how they once were, for example, we will go back to doing quizzes in person rather than just on Zoom, we might one day go back to working in an office again and one day we may go shopping without wearing a mask. But what about the way we spend our time? Lockdowns have forced us to spend more time at home and less time traveling. So, if the pandemic ever does end or we get back to what is called a “new normal”, then will it have changed how we spend our time?
Socializing on Zoom
As mentioned, when we can people will definitely go back to socializing in person, going to the pub for the pub quiz, and going round to other people’s houses. However many people have now seen the benefits of family get-togethers on Zoom, they have enjoyed this way of getting together when they can’t actually be together and realized that you can still have a good time this way. Parents have also realized that they can socialize with their friends without needing a babysitter and kids are so used to video chatting now that they’ll just grow up with this as the normal way to speak to their aunties, uncles, and grandparents.
More Time Outdoors
When lockdown allowed us a limited time a day to go and for fresh air and exercise, for many people it forced them to get outside and go for walks when they wouldn’t normally have done so. Whether it’s going out for walks, going for picnics, exercising outdoors, working outdoors, or socializing, more and more people are doing it regardless of the weather. They are not only seeing the benefits of spending more time outside but they are enjoying themselves and noticing things they wouldn’t have noticed before. Even if it is raining or when the sun is beating down on us again, you can get a good offer and a 7 day delivery for shade sails so that you can entertain outdoors or if it comes to it again then you can take homeschooling outside too.
More Time Watching TV
It’s no surprise that people have spent more time watching TV than ever before and that’s not only because there is so much choice now with Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Apple TV, and Disney+ to name a few, but if you look back at history and what people have done during previous economic recessions, it looks as though this time watching TV will continue. According to Market Watch: “we will spend more time watching television, including streaming since for the next year or two fewer of us will be employed. That is especially true until live events with no limits on attendance are back, and that won’t happen any time soon.” It also makes sense as the cinemas and theatres are still closed and sporting events are being held in empty stadiums, so with less choice of what to do, people will likely spend more time ordering food and eating it in front of the TV.
Sleep More
History also tells us that in bad economic times people sleep more—and that’s especially likely to be true if they are stuck at home during quarantines. It can be a tiring day spent at home doing nothing and people do find themselves having naps in the afternoon or they have simply got used to having a longer sleep at night because they don’t have to get up as early to commute to work. If things do go back to some sort of normal, people will likely have a better work/life balance and will make more time for sleep.
More Cleaning
As there is less to do outside the house, people are spending more time cleaning and maintaining their houses and apartments. That is especially true as it has been difficult for those who employ cleaners to have them in their house during lockdowns. This has also meant that people are less stressed because having a tidy house (and lots of sleep) makes people more relaxed. As people get used to living in their cleaner homes, even if they do have to go back to work, they will likely keep up this cleaning standard.
Shopping locally
The pandemic has highlighted the struggle that local businesses have and people have realized just how important it is to support them. This is another thing that is likely to continue, although those local shops might need to have an online presence to help them.