This week, New Zealand moved from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3. And while for most of us little has changed, lifting the draconian restrictions of the lockdown still feels like a breath of fresh air. A few more weeks of self-discipline and precautions and, hopefully, life will get back to normal. But what really is this new normal and how different will our post Covid-19 life be from what we’re used to?
In the past few months, at least half the world has been under some sort of lockdown, New Zealand included. But now we’re at a stage where many countries are starting to slowly move back to a more habitual routine.
Recently, the World Health Organisation published a list of criteria for countries looking to lift their restrictions. These criteria include:
- Transmission is controlled.
- Health system capacities are in place to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact.
- Outbreak risks are minimised in special settings like health facilities and nursing homes.
- Preventative measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go.
- Importation risks can be managed.
- Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the ‘new norm’.
The ‘new norm’ is a phrase we hear again and again. We all know that life after the Covid-19 outbreak and worldwide lockdown will hardly ever be the same. Yet, no one can properly explain what this new life will look like. And after all the worries and anxiety of the first few months, this uncertainty about our future definitely doesn’t add to our overall confidence and wellbeing. We’re dealing with a completely unknown scenario here, we get it. But can we, please, at least have a sneaky peek into what to expect?
Well, here are a few predictions from the experts.
What life post Covid-19 lockdown might look like
- Social distancing will remain in place for many more months. There are no specific dates, of course, but the most optimistic estimates say that social distancing rules will be essential till the end of winter at least. Yes, we will be able to go back to shopping malls, libraries and cinemas at some stage but it will be our responsibility to stay safe and protect people around us by minimising non-essential contacts. Some even say that the way we greet each other may change forever. Just like it was normal to spit in public in the early 20th century and then this habit just disappeared after the 1918 flu pandemic, our normal handshakes, hugs and kisses might now be also replaced with something less close. Though we, of course, hope it won’t go that far!
- Way more people will work from home. To be honest, remote workplaces became a trend way before the Covid-19 outbreak. Look at all the fancy, crazily successful start-ups – their employees either work from home entirely or have flexible schedules that allow them to divide their working hours between office and home. In fact, recent studies prove that working from home boosts productivity and efficiency while working from an office is better for brainstorming. Now that many specialists have had a chance to prove their ability to work better and harder while staying in a familiar environment, specialists predict many more companies will choose a remote model of work, not only to increase their productivity after the lockdown, but also to save money they would otherwise spend on a lease, electricity and coffee breaks.
- People will be more concerned about safety and hygiene. Not surprisingly, after surviving the virus that spreads so easily, we will be paying more attention to keeping our homes and public spaces clean. Here are a few tips to help you keep your house clean from coronavirus. Some specialists are already talking about installing UVC lights that are currently used in the health care settings to sterilise tools, everywhere in public spaces. Specialists in robotics are predicting the spike in popularity of cleaning robots – the ones that have driven our pets crazy, remember? These machines can clean spaces without human operators and can be used overnight.
- People will become dependent on their devices even more. Zoom video-conferences, online doctor’s appointments, at-home tests, supermarket deliveries, IVY League online courses, etc. If we’ve learned anything from the lockdown, it’s that almost every part of our life can now be controlled via our phone or computer. So, why not take it a step further? Specialists predict that various gadgets and apps will become a huge part of our new normal. The New York Times recently published an article about a small device called a pulse oximeter that’s as easy to use as a thermometer, but it measures oxygen saturation and has been a huge help for doctors amidst the Covid-19 outbreak by providing an early warning. App developers are now talking about creating an app that would look like a Waze, only instead of fellow Wazers travelling somewhere, it will show people with various infections (of course, only if they decide to share this information voluntarily!), so that you can decide whether you want to go somewhere where your life might be at risk.
All these predictions might or might not become a reality but what we already know is that ‘going back to normal’ will mean not going back to how we used to live but, rather, going back to knowing what will happen tomorrow – to predictability and a structured life.
Tools that will help you get back to normal
First of all, we suggest re-watching this amazing video with Angelena Davies, who gives four tips to ease anxiety and remain calm.
Uncertainty and new daily routines make us unsure whether we’re making the right life choices – whether we should be more productive or allow ourselves to sleep more, whether it’s OK to feel happy while everyone feels scared, whether we should be reading more books, working out more often and whether it’s OK to feel helpless.
Life coach Angelena Davies explains how to deal with your emotions and figure out what the ‘new normal’ means for you.
Secondly, if you can’t wait to get back to a structured, predictable life, you can start now! Don’t wait, order our new Daily and Weekly Planners now to recreate a routine, gain new habits and feel more confident in what and how you do things on a daily basis. For just $10 you’ll receive a day-by-day planner that will last you a month and for $15 you’ll receive a Weekly Planner for a year. After not knowing what will happen tomorrow, that’s quite an impressive stretch of time to plan!
Finally, if you feel like talking to someone and discussing your fears and goals, if you want to leave uncertainty behind and look forward to all the achievements ahead, you can now purchase six one-on-one coaching sessions with Dee Collins with an impressive discount. Coaching can be done online or in-person in Tauranga (as soon as it becomes possible).
