The pandemic made profound changes in the way we live our lives. It compelled us to adapt to remote work and deepened our appreciation for human connection. While the worst of the pandemic may be in the past, its enduring impact remains palpable. According to a Gallup poll, 53 percent of adults in the United States anticipate that their lives will never fully revert to the pre-pandemic norm.
What are the key changes that we as individuals and society are experiencing? Do you relate to these common and omnipresent experiences?
The Value of Life
Possibly the biggest impact the pandemic has had is how we look at life in general. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.3 million people died as a result of the pandemic, but “we are likely facing a significant undercount of total deaths directly and indirectly attributed to COVID-19.”
Loved ones, friends, and co-workers were taken from us quickly. In the early days of the pandemic, there were many deaths where loved ones were not allowed to be with the stricken during their final hours. Stories of intrepid healthcare workers holding phones up to patients so they could speak or see family before they succumbed were common.
This kind of experience has lasting impact.
The Workplace Has Changed
Many people were laid off from work or lost their jobs permanently. Those lucky enough to retain employment often did so from home. According to an article in Forbes, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model.
Working from home, full-time or part-time, has become far more normalized than it has ever been and might become the new normal permanently.
How We Look at Work has Changed, Too
Apart from the remote work surge, the pandemic has reshaped the dynamic between employees and employers. Since March 2020, millions of Americans have opted to leave their current jobs in favor of positions they perceive as offering a superior balance between their personal and professional lives. This trend has become so substantial that it has been dubbed “The Great Resignation” by experts in the field of workplace dynamics.
This goes hand in hand with people reevaluating what is important. Work might have been a priority before; now it is family and life outside of work.
Clothing & Fashion – Comfort is Key
As we stayed home, there was no need to dress up. Casual, comfy clothing became the daily wardrobe. Even now with some people going back into an office environment, clothing has become more casual. There are exceptions, of course, but priorities have changed. Our literal lives and health are more important than what pants we wear.
According to McKinsey research, it was estimated that up to 75% of apparel and fashion companies could face large debt challenges due to losses brought on by the pandemic.
Online Shopping Has Surged – In Some Arenas
In an effort to steer clear of crowded spaces, more and more people turned to online shopping and ordering for everything from food to household necessities. Most purchases had to do with indoor activities and those focused on self-care. Clothing, however, did not receive the same boost. When you aren’t going anywhere, you don’t need new clothes.
According to a government census poll, e-commerce sales increased by $244.2 billion or 43% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, rising from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020.
Post pandemic, the online shopping trend has continued and shows no sign of abating.
Bring That Bucket List Into Reality
As we realize that our lives can be shorter than we previously thought, many people are fulfilling their bucket lists. Pre-pandemic we might have wistfully spoken about that fly fishing trip to Montana, hiking Machu Pichu, or visiting an ancestral homeland. Or maybe it is a simpler idea, like making sure we see our loved ones on the other side of the country at least once a year. More and more people are making sure they do these things, not just wish for them.
Savoring Small Moments
Small moments have become large and important. Many people report being able to be more present and in the moment than before the pandemic. Priorities have changed. Before, focus might have been on getting a raise, or buying a new car. Now seeing our grandchildren wiggle their toes has as much, if not more, significance.
Movies, Concerts & Large Live Events
Large events with large numbers of people put us more at risk for illness. This was true before the pandemic as well, but the nature of COVID-19 brought this into a new light.
Many smaller movie theaters closed permanently. Productions were halted during the pandemic, and some were never resurrected.
Forbes reported the global theatrical and home/mobile entertainment market totaled $80.8 billion in 2020, which was the lowest figure since 2016 and a decline of 18% from 2019. In 2020 the sharpest decrease was in theatrical revenue, from $42.3 billion in 2019 to $12 billion. Theatrical entertainment accounted for only 15% of the total global entertainment revenue, compared to 43% in 2019.
Will it rebound? Time will tell, but streaming services have changed the landscape.
Streaming Services Have Flourished
In conjunction with the pandemic, there was a notable surge in the introduction of fresh streaming video platforms by renowned studios like Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros., entering into competition with established players such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.
This expansion allowed individuals staying at home to access premium television shows and movies through a multitude of screens and service providers. Although industry experts had previously observed the beginnings of this trend, it is widely acknowledged that the pandemic significantly accelerated its adoption rate.
Telehealth Is Here To Stay
A positive trend emerged in medicine, specifically with telehealth. Being able to speak with and see your medical doctor or health professional via Zoom or Skype became widespread and is continuing.
According to MedicalEconomics.com, the amount of telehealth appointments during the pandemic tripled from previous numbers. It has since decreased by remains about double what it was pre-pandemic. Interestingly, 23% said they were more likely to seek out mental health practitioners due to telehealth.
Some other stats: Black and Hispanic patients were 20% more likely to use telehealth services than White patients; and younger, female physicians practicing primary care and behavioral health were most likely to adopt telehealth. Male physicians were 24% less likely to leverage telehealth.
Jessica Sweeney-Platt, vice president for research and editorial strategy for Athena Health declared, “The benefits of telehealth will far outlast the initial impact of the technology during the peak of the pandemic and, moving forward, we’ll continue to see telehealth thrive as a pivotal tool in advancing care for all.”
Workers Leave the Workplace and The Workplace Needs Workers
A seemingly curious dichotomy has appeared in the U.S. economy. Many people are choosing to leave their jobs, or alter their relationship with their job. At the same time, many people are out of work, looking for work, and not finding employment simultaneously to employers saying they cannot find employees…while also not hiring.
Many industries are changing the way they conduct business, most likely permanently. Self-checkouts are proliferating. Certain industries have cut back staff number, and/or are adding more digital interfaces, removing human interaction.
What Is On An Upswing?
Here are trends that are on an upswing:
- Weddings are on the rise.
- Travel has resumed (although is often choked by pilot shortages for the air industry).
- Restaurants and various types of food service is growing.
- Home delivery systems, such as Door Dash, are also growing.
- Smaller cities are thriving.
- Retirees are receiving an 8.7 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, the biggest in decades.
- Fear of death has fallen.
- Older segments of the population, particularly 60 +, are saying they are very happy.
- Depression is lower in higher age groups, according to AARP research.
The Pandemic Left These Animals Homeless – But Malls Have a Solution
Animal shelters are finding new homes for their furry friends in a place you might not expect – malls. As part of an effort to alleviate the burden of increased animal intakes during quarantine, malls across the US are offering empty storefronts to animal rescue groups for free or at a steep discount. The collaborations between malls and animal havens are gaining popularity and have been widely successful in finding homes for pets.
READ: The Pandemic Left These Animals Homeless – But Malls Have a Solution
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hotdogs of indeterminate age, and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine, or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need. Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat. Read 6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
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