image from pexels.com
How COVID-19 is Changing Life as We Know It
(And How It's Not) by Jennifer Scott a guest author.
Please welcome Auntie Steph's first guest author: Jennifer Scott.
There are many good links listed at the end of the article, and Auntie Steph
will be working to make the links within the article work. So far, if you
would like to know more, please visit the end of the article at your
convenience and paste and go.
How COVID-19 is Changing Life as We Know It (And How It's Not)
After months of staying in and working from home, life before the pandemic is starting to feel like a distant memory. While some of the changes we’ve made during the pandemic will be short-lived, others are expected to stick around long after COVID-19 ceases to be a concern.
Here are key ways COVID-19 is changing life as
we know it — and how it won’t.
We’re donning masks
Face masks quickly became a wardrobe staple
during the pandemic, and with stores out of stock, many of us are dusting off
our sewing machines to make our own.
Don’t throw out those cute patterns just yet. Experts say we’ll be wearing masks for at
least a year in public to slow the spread of the virus, per Today. If you’re
still frustrated by foggy glasses, try a new mask design.
We’re cutting our own hair
The closure of non-essential businesses has
left some of us rehashing childhood forays into DIY haircutting. The key to
cutting your own hair is good shears, going slow, and sticking to trims
rather than trying a new style mid-lockdown. Luckily, with states re-opening,
your favorite hairdresser will be accepting clients soon.
We’re planting victory gardens
Our hair isn’t the only thing growing during
lockdown. People are also digging up their lawns and planting victory gardens to
keep their families supplied with fresh food during the pandemic.
The National Garden Bureau explains that a
kitchen garden is easy to start if you have a backyard, but
don’t expect to keep your fridge stocked if it’s your first try. For fresh food
minus the grocery store, consider signing up for a farm share
instead.
We’re buying less
It’s not just the grocery store that people
are avoiding. Americans are spending less across nearly all categories
during the pandemic. While it remains to be seen if these new saving habits will
stick around, people say the pandemic has put them more in touch with their
finances overall.
But we’re still buying homes
You can delay a new furniture set or car, but
there are some things you can’t put off. Families are still welcoming new
babies, remodeling to move in aging parents, and in some cases, even packing up
and relocating entirely.
While home sales are down during the pandemic,
people are still buying and selling homes with digital technology like video chat
walkthroughs and 3D listings. When sellers do host in-person walkthroughs, many
are requiring face masks and shoe covers. Expect high-tech tools like these to
remain mainstays even after open houses resume.
We’re learning how to work from home
Whether you’re moving or staying put, there’s
a good chance you’re learning how to telecommute for the first time — and it’s
not all pretty. With remote work likely to stick around for the long run, it’s
worth finally investing in a proper desk and an ergonomic office chair.
And working to learn from home
Kids are working from home too as schools
shift to e-learning to finish out the school year. E-learning has been a
challenge for parents, especially those who have to juggle kids with working
from home.
Currently, CNN notes experts are hopeful that school will reopen this fall. But
in the meantime, it’s not a bad idea to brush up on your e-learning skills and hone in on effective homeschooling methods.
We’re socializing from a distance
Technology isn’t just for working. We’re also
socializing with friends, going on dates, attending church services,
celebrating birthdays and holidays, and mourning losses remotely during the
pandemic.
Luckily, with restrictions lifting, we’ll be
able to socialize again soon — carefully, that is. While we can’t stay isolated
long-term, experts stress the importance of assessing risk before being social. So while
you might visit your local friends in a park, it may be some time before you’re
traveling to visit elderly grandparents.
The truth is, there’s not much that hasn’t
changed during the pandemic, which can be a strain on our emotional well-being. But while some of the
big changes like working from home are likely to stick around, it won’t be long
before we’re leaving the house (masked, of course) and finally visiting our
favorite places once again.