In previous year’s we might have thought that a country where people wore face-masks as a routine procedure was a nation of hysterical people. Now face coverings are part of our pre-departure checklist wherever we go.
COVID’s effects on what we do and how we do it reach far further than that though. Find out more about ‘coronavirus culture’ and how it’s crept into your life.
Work isn’t What it Used to Be
Work etiquette’s taken a whole new route nowadays with several new norms introduced to the ‘workplace’. Now, Zoom etiquette is no longer reserved for top executives on international trips – it’s something almost everyone’s had to master as they work from home.
New micro-decisions like when to raise your hand, type a message, or talk during an online meeting are a part of the daily grind.
Businesses have discovered that they never needed half the office space that they have, and everybody’s realised that pyjama pants were fine for meetings after all.
We’re only realising now how stressful commuting to the office really is, and how to better spend the time once guzzled up by traffic jams.
Our students have had to realise that academic achievement is all on them and just how resourceful they can be without their teacher’s constant supervision.
Beyond Work and School
As it’s swept across the globe, the coronavirus has brought new social norms along with it too.
Now while out in public, we need to know who to elbow bump and who to fist bump, and unsolicited hugs are a thing of the past. We’ve all learnt to smile with our eyes.
Wherever we go, we’re faced with new questions. Who passes first in a narrow aisle? Where’s the closest ‘dot’ or ‘stripe’ in this queue? Should I say something to that person without a mask or just give them a dirty look?
Is it okay to stop and chat while shopping?
Community Issues
Our experiences have at once expanded and shrunk. An increase in time spent online means we’re more in tune with global events than ever before, yet, we haven’t seen any of our friends from out of town for months.
We’re on first name terms with our corner shop and our homes have truly become our castles, where we hunker down away from the forces of evil gathered outside. This is reflected in a massive upsurge of home improvements and domestic pursuits like cooking and cleaning.
Family time’s no longer a special occasion – it’s almost all the time.
The Newly ‘Rich’
While big business reels under the impact of coronavirus, many small entrepreneurs and freelancers have thrived. For these people, ticking along at their usual pace, and those who still have jobs minus the expense of commuting, holidays, and eating out, the pandemic’s been a financial bonus.
Thousands of people have lost their jobs and they’ll have to survive somehow. Will the gig economy become big business in these strange new times?
Only time will tell how much COVID’s effects will impact society. For now, focus on today, do what you can to stay safe and productive, and spare a thought for those less fortunate than you are.