The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. As we near the end of the 2020 chapter, we have spent more than eight months since the lockdown, most businesses remain closed, while some have been shut permanently due to losses.
Everyone has lost something or the other in this pandemic. Many have lost their near and dear, while a significant number have lost their jobs and livelihoods; some even called off their dreams. But we never gave up hope, holding on to the belief that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
As we move ahead, considering the current situation as the new normal, we must dwell on the significant lessons that COVID-19 has delivered and incorporate these in our lives.
Putting health first
As the signs of the pandemic became clearer, everyone started to focus more on their health. Those who never ate fruits regularly started to buy it from the nearest stores just to ensure that their body was getting enough Vitamin C. Not just that, the gym app downloads surged by 46 percentage globally, especially in India, where it leaped to 156 percentage.
Hygiene became a part of our regular lifestyle
“Wash your hands before you eat” is a directive we have all heard since childhood. It is doubtful how many took that prescription seriously but this pandemic has driven home its importance. Today, everyone washes their hands, not only before they eat, but as many times as possible.
Family is everything
There is nothing more comforting and important than spending time with our own families and loved ones. During the lockdown, people could rarely meet their friends or relatives. But COVID-19 has taught us the significance of a family. And the takeaway lesson here is no matter what, your family will always be there for you, through thick and thin.
Working at our own space and pace
Most of us were habituated to workspaces and going to offices and it was fun to have colleagues around, working together. Yet, that has changed now. Work-from-home has become the new normal, and it has taught us the art of balancing home and work together. That’s not all – it has given us the personal space to sit, think and work at our own pace without any sort of disturbance.
No more polluted outdoors
To prevent the spread of the virus, social distancing norms and lockdowns were implemented in many nations. This caused a noticeable reduction in air pollution levels in the cities. Not just air, experts also pointed to the positive effects of the lockdown on noise pollution, the quality of water, and the state of the seas and oceans.
Reviving the forgotten hobbies
Quarantine, self-isolation and lockdown have pushed us to pick hobbies or pursue lost ones. Guess what? Gardening emerged as one of the most pursued hobbies. People devoted a lot of time and energy to beautify their garden spaces. And the percentage of garden material purchased surged like never before.
Learning and unlearning
In the wake of such a crisis, learning new courses is the only way to upgrade your skills. 2020 reports claim that online learning surged by 320 percentage in Italy, followed by India with 200 percentage since the COVID-19 pandemic. It creates opportunities for those who lost their jobs to add a new skill to their resume. It also teaches us that it’s never too late to learn.
Books, our close friends
According to a World Economic Forum report, there was a 66 percentage upswing in the children’s non-fiction book sales in the US at the end of March 2020. As outdoor activities are rare and difficult due to the virus, books have become their buddies. Some reports claim that reading time has surged for families having children. Thus this pandemic has initiated many into the pleasures of reading while avid readers became even more voracious.