You can’t get through a conversation these days without the phrase “new normal” being mentioned in some way.
And it got me to thinking about just what will the new normal be? I mean really be?
As we navigate through a coronavirus quarantine and figure out ways to work, eat, recreate and, live, there are some aspects of this new way of living that will likely become permanent. And many of these changes may be by ‘want’ and not necessarily ‘need’.
While we will naturally and gladly return to many of the ways of our ‘normal’ life, there are some aspects of coronavirus life that are actually better or at least make some good sense.
So here are some of my predictions, in no particular order, of some of the things, I think, will be commonplace in our ‘new norm’.
- Social distancing. None of us necessarily like crowded places; offices, stores, businesses and schools. Our spaces will be redesigned to allow for more space and distancing, to be more comfortable and safe.
- Zoom, Webex, Facetime to replace phone conversations. Why talk on a landline or mobile phone when the audio quality is improved with video conferencing and, of course, you can see one another.
- Virtual meetings to replace in person gatherings. Why fill-up a crowded conference room or wait for the public to show at a government meeting when you can accomplish the same thing virtually. More people are likely to attend and the technology for supporting documents and videos even enhances the effectiveness of meetings.
- Bye bye cubicle farms. If workers could get their job down in a cube with a computer and a phone, the same thing can be done permanently from home at a much lower cost.
- Routine medical appointments replaced with virtual visits. Why risk health care workers and patients well-being when many of their routine concerns and symptoms can be evaluated and even treated remotely?
- Long hair will be ‘in’. We’re all learning to live with longer hair and many will just get used to it.
- Isolated exercise routines will replace routine trips to a gym. We’ve learned and adapted to workout routines that don’t involve crowded gyms and equipment. Many will take the cost savings and continue their independent routines.
- The signs in bathrooms urging ‘employees to wash hands’ will be replaced by asking ALL to wash hands. Duh.
- Everyone will have a news conference. Because now everybody has discovered they can.
- Home cooking will be ‘hip’. We learned to embrace it during the quarantine and many welcome more control over their meals.
- Take-out takes off. Restaurants discover they can operate at a lower cost and who needs that crowded dining room when you can take the food to the place of your choice?
- Amazon for all. Anyone who was on the fence about online shopping and home delivery has been forced into acceptance. Not so bad, huh?
- Games and puzzles will enjoy a rebirth. A renewed enjoyment for these pastimes won’t just go away.
- Virtual and online religious services will be a normal offering in addition to traditional services. Why not?
- Online learning will expand to become mainstream. Colleges, universities and schools have discovered they don’t necessarily need classrooms and lecture halls.
I’m sure there are at least 15 more, so feel free to let me know @TimWBEN
