Let's admit it.
Eating, studying, traveling, buying a pair of shoes online, as well as relationships with others have now become actions that can be attributed to the new format, known as the New Normal. So let's see what the real pros and cons of the 8 Post-Covid trends are.
Since the Covid pandemic began (way back in 2020!) we have learned new habits through multiple restrictions, often going so far as to say that what we are experiencing now will be the new normal.
Of course, it is not only ordinary people who say this, but fleets of expert psychologists, analysts, economists and scientists, who intermittently repeat the usual mantra to us. And there is no denying the evidence, since everyone's lives have clearly changed, but not in the sense of an improvement, if anything a worsening.
The so-called New Normal seems to be the only way out of the difficult situation the world is facing. But what is also omitted is that in its obligatory entry into people's daily lives, this option does not seem to be entirely 'normal'.
The new paradigm of guarantee as the transmission of a model of future collective life, in fact, overlooks questions of individual choice and constitutional freedoms and rights, and moves towards new paths focused instead on:
digitization, sustainability and post-human forms of communication.
Understanding what has in fact already changed, serves us both as a warning to face future challenges, and as an objective demonstration of a "Pre-Covid " no longer usable except to be argued in intellectual and purely academic discussions. We therefore dedicate this in-depth study to all those nostalgic for the "Before covid", but also to those who willingly accept to be part of the New Normal Community, even if unaware but confident; not excluding, finally, the large number of people who resist the change underway and do not even want to hear about the new normal.
The intention of OUSTIDERPOST is instead to analyze the issues surrounding the post covid, regardless of which category you belong to, so that the free and critical debate on the reasons, doubts and possible benefits of the New Normal can be undertaken and addressed.
So let's see which are the 8 main 2021 trends, which have now become our daily reality, with all the pros and cons generated by the New Normal model usable in the Post-Covid era.
#1 The Restaurant at home
"Man is what he eats."
Ludwig Feuerbach
Deciding at the last minute to go out for a pizza with friends and not coming home for dinner, in the days of Covid, becomes a choice not to be taken lightly. Indeed, the succession of lockdowns and curfews has seen restaurants and bars closed to the public for a long time, with no longer the classic 'table service'. The restaurant or pizzeria moves directly into the home, where the only contact with the outside world is through the courier who delivers the food ordered online. And yes, because in the new "stay at home" formula, all of life takes place within the four walls of the home.
Pros: the undisputed convenience of receiving your favorite food through the App online formula is something among the new habits that are now well established and much appreciated. There is no queue to wait for a table, you avoid unwelcome company and, above all, everything is 0 km, remaining still on the sofa at home;
Cons: Missed mobility certainly does not bring benefits in the long run. Yes, because apart from the online factor, the journey to your favorite restaurant, the wait and the atmosphere are still priceless. Not to mention the reality of the restaurant industry, which is obviously in sharp decline. The litmus test will be the re-openings (which have already begun), to see if these activities will resist the trend of home delivery; and with the hope of being able to return to the experience of eating on site and in full social contact. We hope so..
#2 Working at home
"We like to give people the freedom to work wherever they want, safe in the knowledge that they have the drive and expertise to perform at their best, whether they're at their desk or in the kitchen."
Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of Virgin
Some people call it Smart Working, using an Anglophone term, or others prefer to use different words such as teleworking or even 'agile working'. But it goes without saying that, beyond the terminology, working in one's own home space, using fractionated hours and the use of a personal computer, if at first glance it reduces the costs of transport to ordinary work and does not presuppose a strict standing as in the classic workplace, on the other hand it presents some unknowns on the social and other aspects. Here is some food for thought:
Pros: even in the case of 'smart working', the advantage is above all linked to the convenience of moving within the four walls of the home, without the obligation of uniforms, make-up and hair. One feels freer in productivity, without having the eye of the envious colleague or the demanding boss on one's back, although supervision maintains its rules even in the new 'smart' format. The favourite word around the new type of work is certainly that of rediscovered independence, with clear savings on: petrol, extra expenses. The good mood also returns, because more time is spent with the family;
Cons: relationships worsen or even disappear due to the physical distance and where you interact with videoconferencing, detachment and misunderstanding are the order of the day, with a consequent decrease in both individual and group productivity. Working at home also reduces the space for distinguishing between duty and pleasure and for considering other family members. Finally, the absence of mobility of movement lags both the body and the mind.
#3 The sustainable transport revolution
"That Oscar Hepburn won in 1953 for 'Roman Holiday' should have gone to the Vespa, because while Gregory Peck was courting Hepburn, the whole world was falling in love with the other Her."
Forbes
In addition to the iconic scooter of Vespa and Lambretta, today an experience that gratifies above all the environmental consciousness and physical body comes from the use of electric bikes. But the reasons for choosing an environmentally friendly means of transport are actually related to the Lockdown, which reserve some legitimate questions before purchasing (or renting) in order to understand if it is the best means of transport to be able to use at all times, regardless of the restrictive measures even after the end of the possible Pandemic, or if there are preferable alternatives in the case. We understand better:
Pro: moving around in an environmentally friendly way is an increasingly popular action, which is based on the idea of eco-sustainability. Preferring the bicycle to the car is becoming first and foremost a trend and then a lifestyle, which puts one's own health first and saves on petrol for multiple journeys;
Cons: Not all cities are the same, and this consideration stems from the idea that even scooters and bike sharing have costs that must be considered, such as rental, maintenance and disposal; all important factors that point to an ideal eco-sustainability that is not yet concretely usable. There are also very few roads and routes; therefore, the danger of such vehicles, or of those who do not see them at all, is a sensitive issue that should definitely be addressed, given the growing number everywhere. Where possible, the best option would be to opt for public transport, both to further reduce pollution and to get people walking, rather than always and only moving around by scooter or bicycle.
#4 Travelling all safe, vaccinated and screened
"What is more important, global connectivity or the malaria vaccine?"
Bill Gates
With the almost positive data of recent weeks and a significant number of vaccinated people in Italy almost reaching the 40 million doses, the desire to travel and have fun is growing. The aim is to re-establish a point of contact with pre-Covid normality, giving people hope for the future. But let's take stock of what 'safe travel' means in the post-Covid era.
Pros: while tourist destinations become the undisputed abodes of safety and constant hygiene, for those who travel, in addition to being vaccinated or recovering from tampons, better protection is guaranteed on any cancellations or change of date, now more than before. This is a change for the better, therefore, given that the focus is on careful attention to the customer, to whom we want above all to give a wonderful experience; and there is no shortage of super offers, of course, but just follow some advice;
Cons: There is always talk of checks: before leaving, during and after the trip. The scrupulous or perhaps a little obsessive attention to safety rules does not make tourists feel free to move around. And if, in order to go on holiday, we accept the distance and the mask (where it is still compulsory) even at high temperatures (e.g. 38 degrees), we do not realize that the very idea of a holiday in freedom is only a distant memory, while Covid takes its place as the main protagonist of our thoughts, both at the seaside and in the mountains.
#5 The virtual reality of E-commerce
"Watch out for small expenses: a small leak sinks a big ship."
Benjamin Franklin
One of the most acclaimed slogans has been that of 'best price at low price' in which e-commerce multinationals have tripled their turnover in 2020 alone (not counting the current year). Who doesn't admit that at least once they have bought online, perhaps not making a great deal, even if only out of boredom or because it is a must have at all costs. It is obvious that the other side of the coin with respect to the convenience of buying, concerns those many merchants who are not multinationals, but who have lost their jobs because of Covid or who have difficulty in emerging, given the boundless and uncontrolled monopoly of the big e-commerce companies. Let's see the pros and cons:
Pros: the motto of 'easy, fast and cheap', is in the preference of choice in recent times. And the trend still holds true, even with the reopening of shops and shopping Mall, where competition is increasingly fierce. Through e-commerce, if something doesn't go well, in fact, you can always return it without losing your money. Satisfied or reimbursed is the mantra acquired with the explosion of e-commerce, which will certainly remain a reality even after Covid;
Cons: buying online, completely excludes a series of emotional experiences that can only be lived in a shop; even if the saleswoman has not been kind, you can leave feedback or perhaps recommend a brand rather than another, through our Live visit. Moreover, choosing the shop means helping those small shopkeepers and not only the multinationals.
#6 The School of the future
"I am skeptical that distance learning based on asynchronous Internet technologies (e.g. pre-recorded videos, online forums and e-mail) is a substitute for live classroom discussion and other in-school interactions. Distance learning students cannot raise their hands to ask teachers questions or participate in discussions. Teaching assistants do not always respond to e-mails and online class discussion forums can be overlooked by both students and teachers. In this sense, the 'dialogue process' is actually limited by technology."
Ian Lamont
Let's face it: not everyone was always happy to go to school every day. Maybe because of the fear of being questioned if you weren't prepared or because all those hours on the desks listening passively to subjects that didn't involve us from teachers who were sometimes bored themselves, reminded us in our imagination of the meeting with an infamous Captain who, like "Dead Poets Society", would save us and inspire us from the depths. But in the mortal boredom of those school days there is perhaps something worse. And that worse is summed up in an aseptic mode, based on distance learning, in which interaction takes place via the PC screen, in which dialogue is unequivocally more distant. But let's figure out which school of the future awaits our children. Or "if it was better when it was worse". Exactly.
Pro: 'we didn't stop studying, we just changed the way we learn'; among other things, it turns out to be very popular with both students and teachers (as in the case of the video lessons with museum educators on the works of art in the Uffizi Galleries). The new version of the school is therefore an excellent support to the classic model, to be improved, but certainly useful and indispensable for the future;
Cons: Being in the classroom and interacting with classmates and teacher is unparalleled. The rules to be followed for the morning commute and back are good for the body and make pupils more active, even those less keen on school. Attention or concentration is longer than in a session held at a distance, where the eyes get tired looking at the screen constantly. Moreover, the cost of devices (PCs, tablets) is borne by the family, for those who can afford them. And finally, there is growing anxiety among young people and a lack of interest in continuing their university studies.
#7 Tutto il mondo nel mio smartphone
"I used to have a life. Now I have a smartphone and a wi-fi connection."
Anonymous
For the many people around the world who use it, the phone has for many years been understood as the 'best friend ever', or the one who never betrays you except for a dead battery. From the first Apple smartphones designed by the visionary Steve Jobs in 2008 to today, the object of desire has always been the phone. Because with the smartphone you can do "almost" anything, evolving with the times, even in Covid's. But we wonder whether it is really worth opening one's heart to a smart device, without understanding the blurred boundary that lies behind it and that concerns us all closely.
Pro: if you ask young people (but not only) what they can't do without, they all answer in chorus: my Smartphone. Yes, because the phone is no longer a phone, and has been for a long time; we could say that it does practically everything except for brioches. Moreover, if our social life lives expressly within the mobile phone, this object can be considered to all intents and purposes our best friend ever. "You ask and it answers immediately." Better than that!
Cons: What happens if we lose it or it gets stolen? The answer is obviously: total panic. Even if you immediately go to block all data through the sim, the anxiety remains. Our whole world in the smartphone makes us realize what level of subservience we have reached. And that doesn't make us calm, not to mention the privacy aspect, which we won't go into here, but which would deserve another in-depth look. But all in all, panic is useful to open our eyes to the real people around us, beyond the social screen of the Smartphone.
#8 La distanza sociale è la nuova comunicazione
"Easy to be brave at a safe distance."
Esopo
It is above all the mask and social distance that are the new dictates of the New Normal. We are all inevitably bound to them, either because of the legitimate fear of contracting the virus, or because of the obligatory condition that makes us unable to do otherwise. Looking into each other's eyes is an important action and now this form of direct communication of the gaze, together with the handshake and the hug, are becoming impassable taboos, where people are (alas) moving away, forgetting their meaning or getting used to the absence of such languages.
Pro: physical distance, which presupposes greater safety for oneself and for others, is above all the determining factor in not contracting the dreaded virus and is therefore entirely necessary. 'If I avoid, I don't risk' is the motto, so I choose safety responsibly. And if you need to, you can always communicate in other ways thanks to new technologies;
Con: in keeping the other person away, the intensity and quality of relationships and conversations also decreases. This is a dangerous habit that cannot be good for the human being as a social animal, who prefers to interact with his smartphone instead of dealing with people who are different from him. At the same time, anxiety, stress, depression and loneliness increase.
Virtual affection as the new actual reality?
"Do you want to come up to me and break the safety distance?"
Anonymous
How did we get to this point? You may ask. How can we imagine a world of relationships where social ties are missing, and at any level.
If life is turning into a mere illusion consolidated by virtual affections considered real and by fictitious and appealing images that represent our personal world to others, which we keep at a physical distance but remain socially close, well, then we can say that we are already well and truly done!
If the Virus has introduced new rules of life with the New Normal, this does not mean that we stop living the life we really want. The real opportunity, as Scott Galloway, author of the beautiful book "Post Corona: from crisis to opportunity", points out, lies precisely in the middle, between warning and hope in equal measure, in being able to recognize the true benefits and negatives of each new trend, in order to re-establish our idea of a "better life". Really recommended!
We reiterate that with regard to the case of the New Normal, of the possible impending future pandemics (which we hope will not be repeated!) and of the averted alien attacks, it is however and only WE who decide to believe, accept and resize the topic with a more constructive, critical attitude and akin to our way of being. There is no better tendency than that of following ourselves. Believe me! Word from OUTSIDERPOST.
OutsiderPost recommends:
"Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity", by Scoot Galloway, (English Version)