What Is The New Normal?

There’s no getting away from the fact that life as we knew it has changed. It might only be the small things: maybe it’s been a complete lifestyle overhaul, but no one can deny that we’ve all made adjustments over the last couple of years. 

Maybe we’ve surprised ourselves and really embraced a new normal. Perhaps we’re still coming to terms with what feels like an unwelcome upheaval. For most of us it’s probably a combination of the two, with a bit of confusion and a sense of being out of control, to add to the mix.

So what has changed? Which aspects of our old life are but a distant memory? And what new gems have the changes brought with them?

What has changed?

Work life

Frontline workers aside, most of us found ourselves confined to our homes.  Our previous sanctuary became home, work, school and holiday destination all in one. We became masters of ‘Zoom’ and were homeschool heroes.

For many, working from home is their new normal, as companies around the world have embraced the idea. It seems that flexibility really works for many employees, and productivity has remained the same for employers. 

Family life

Roughly one third of families reported a negative impact on their daily lives, due to lockdown restrictions. The changes were forced upon us, not chosen by us, which might account for some of the dissatisfaction we felt.

Some enjoyed the initial honeymoon stages, spending time together, baking banana bread and bringing out the board games.

However, boredom soon set in as we drifted into a seemingly endless stretch of snacking and snoozing. Our new normal has largely returned to the old normal, with the added benefit that we are all a bit more savvy when it comes to the correct ratio of flour to banana!

Social interaction

Do you recall the time when we got excited about being able to meet, socially distanced of course, another person outside of our family? 

Thinking back, it’s incredible how we overcame obstacles just to get some human interaction. Be it a quiz night on Zoom or a family get-together in fancy dress on a Friday night, we were pretty creative when it came to maintaining contact with the outside world.

Unexpectedly, this has been the catalyst to helping us develop a better understanding of the virtual world and online interaction with friends and family. The use of social media platforms also experienced a dramatic rise in our attempts to remain connected. This seems to have stuck, too.

Mental health

This is one of the changes that has had a lasting impact on society. It probably wasn’t at the forefront of our minds when we entered lockdown, but it has certainly become a hot topic of conversation amongst all social and age groups.

The fact that we find it easier to discuss is a great step forward. The stigma, particularly amongst some age and gender groups, has gone. Sadly, demand far exceeds supply in this area, and getting treatment is an incredibly slow process.

Children and young people are experiencing mental health issues on a larger scale, too. Did we wrongly assume that all children would be delighted about not having to go to school? Isolation from friends, lack of freedom and endless hours of homeschooling took their toll.

The new normal in the mental health arena is going to be an uphill battle to provide care and support to those in need. It may take years to tackle this issue, but the positive to take from it is that awareness and understanding of the condition has greatly improved, and we are all a little better for that. 

Confidence 

When you consider where our confidence comes from it’s not surprising that it took a dip during this time. Our self-confidence comes from many sources. It may be from friends and family, from doing a good job at work, or maybe it’s just from how we view ourselves.Maybe we started working from home with the full intention of donning a business suit every morning. But it’s highly likely that we ended it in comfy joggers and a relatively smart top (for those unexpected Zoom meetings)!

Our personal grooming also took a hit. With hairdressers and beauty salons closed for the foreseeable future, we improvised! The results of hideous home haircuts and self-tanning tragedies were proudly displayed on social media for all to see. This was great news for salons and beauty clinics that were delighted to be open once more, often working late into the night to accommodate clients.

Treatments like Botox and fillers were in demand once more too, and there has been a steady incline in the popularity of more invasive treatments, particularly breast augmentations. It seems that we want to make the most of what we have more than ever before, and maybe taking a ‘seize the day’ approach has something to do with this. But be sure to take time to carefully consider something like breast enlargement. It’s a major operation that carries with it a substantial recovery period.

Not only do you need to factor in your surgery time, you also need to be prepared to be a little incapacitated for a while. Make sure you understand the recovery phase, the time involved and the help you might need.  You’ll need to invest in recovery garments to help you along your way, so don’t expect to be in those pretty lingerie sets straight after such a procedure. 

Support bras are an absolute necessity. They protect your breasts during the weeks following surgery and allow them to settle safely. But don’t worry, you’ll be able to display your newfound confidence soon enough.  Whether it’s a new set of breasts or just a new hair colour, Instagram is ready when you are.

Whatever our opinion about the pandemic, lockdowns and the country’s approach, it is unlikely that most people were not affected in at least one negative way. 

As we work to re-establish the new normal, without restrictions, with our freedom reinstated, we can look back and take comfort in the fact that we made it through one of the most mentally challenging times in history. Your new normal need not be the same as anyone else’s. You have the opportunity to adjust your work / life balance like never before. So make the most of this opportunity. Really think about how you want your life to be. 

There has never been a better time to make a few adjustments, or plan a complete life overhaul. If the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s that we are capable of more than we think. So spend a bit of time considering your future. 

What is your new normal going to look like?

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