If you’re like me, at this point you’ve probably written down all the plans you had in mind for 2020, piled them on to a little wooden toy boat, and given them a Viking funeral in your bathtub.  While you’re committing your goals for the year to the halls of Valhalla (where the brave may live forever),  you’re likely beginning to wonder when this madness will end and what it might look like on the other side.  For those of us living in places that have begun to stymie, if not control the outbreak, an idea of “The New Normal” has entered into the public mindset. 

I have been living in China for many years. Except for the lockdown at the onset of the pandemic, we recently experienced another partial lockdown during a second, smaller Covid-19 outbreak in Beijing. Throughout this whole time, my family and friends abroad have been asking if life is back to normal. My hope is that this blog will give you some insight as to what you might expect after infection rates start to go down, especially if you live in a major city as I do.

Getting Your Life Back On Track In The New Normal

The idea of the new normal is worrying. Many businesses have closed down, millions of people have lost their jobs, and traveling internationally is no longer encouraged. Coping with such a great uncertainty has impacted the mental health of many, and has made staying motivated an insurmountable task for others.  

After a lengthy quarantine, restrictions are gradually being lifted in some places. Initially, everybody hoped this would be the end of lockdown and normal life will resume where it once stopped. Contrary to our expectations the new normal might last for quite a while. We’ll still need to maintain social distancing until vaccine becomes available.

We spent the first half of this year waiting, checking the numbers daily, and hoping things would take a turn for the better. By now people have begun to realize that it is time to wake up and get back on track.

After a rather lengthy period of depression and inactivity, the greatest struggle feels like finding the motivation necessary to get life back in order.

Learning to Adapt to The New Normal 

Let’s face it, life after quarantine will never be the same. The reality might seem harsh.

The first step to getting back on track is to accept “the new normal”. What we used to believe it’s just temporary has now become part of our everyday life routine.

The new normal revolves around the concept of social distancing, and as such is entangled in many crucial aspects of our life. Having to practice social distance until a vaccine is found, forces people to rethink their lifestyles and ways of working.

Related Reads:

How To Practice the Hygge Lifestyle During Pandemic 

How to Stay Motivated In The Post Pandemic Future

The New Normal and Globalization

The pandemic has raised some positive and some negative issues. One good thing that was born of our lockdown was that it intensified globalization. Borders between countries feel to me at least, to have shrunk. We could reach out to anyone, be present at any event just from the comfort of our home. “Business trips” are also easily conducted through “Zoom” saving both on airfare and hotel costs.

Office Culture

Thanks to social distancing, working in tiny office cubicles and commuting during rush hours might be a thing of the past. During our life in quarantine, people have realized that a lot of our work can actually be done from home. Also, the working from home method has proven as an effective way to save on labor costs.

Economy

The pandemic has left many people without the stability of their 9 to 5 jobs.  Many traditional businesses, both big and small, which are dependent on physical location, the outdoors, and socializing were forced to close. Despite the negative impact that the pandemic had on the economy, businesses that were able to switch from offline to online work mode managed to thrive. In fact, the pandemic created multitude of opportunities for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, who reacted quickly and adapted.

Travel

The travel industry was heavily hit during the pandemic. Met with closed borders and flight cancellations many travelers found themselves stranded across the globe. According to AirBnB’s CEO, the new normal will bring a rise in domestic travel and exploring less famous destinations.

Dating

Online meetings might have been as productive and effective as when they happen in the office. However, when it comes to developing relationships with someone through online dating there are some real obstacles. Meeting someone “digitally” might not give the real picture of who are we dealing with. Hence a higher chance for disappointment. On the bright side, singles will be forced to explore deeper communication in relationships over the casual intimacy. 

Relationships

Unfortunately, those that are married or cohabiting with a significant other may not be accustomed to spending so much time together. Cracks in their relationship are beginning to show under the strain of being with each other for so long. On the positive side, Instead of allowing a relationship to crack and strain under the pressure of these troubled times, the new normal has provided a chance for couples to pursue deeper communication and strengthen their relationship.

Mental Health

Unfortunately coping with loneliness and uncertainty for a prolonged period of time has taken its toll on the mental health of many. In the period to come our main focus should be our mental health and wellness. Spending time with people we care about, establishing healthy habits, and trying to stay positive have never mattered more than in time of the new normal.

The New Normal Requires a New Mindset

Each of our lives has been impacted in a certain way and our lives won’t be the same. What matters to our future selves is our attitude today and the steps we take to deal with the crisis.

Some people have spent time in lockdown binge-watching Netflix.  If you are one of those do not feel guilty. The pandemic has struck a blow to many people’s plans, thus killing our desire to do anything productive. The fact that you are reading blog posts like this is a positive thing. Now is a time to get our lives back on track.

Others have seen this situation as a cloud with a silver lining, using it to create opportunities for themselves.

Take Charge of Your Life

The first step on the road to getting our life back on track in harsh times is our mindset and our beliefs as to what’s possible and what’s not.

If you are someone unfortunate to have lost job stability, feels insecure about your savings, or constantly worries about the future, don’t let limiting beliefs stand in your way.  There is undoubtedly some skill or hobby you have set aside or overlooked that you may be able to monetize if you get creative and put your mind to it.  This is not the time to procrastinate, blame the situation, or expect that things will change all of a sudden. This is the time to adjust.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, things got beyond our control. Having our safety nets pulled from under us can make it hard to adjust. People lost their jobs, businesses closed, and it’s hard to think positive with everything else going on too.

We can’t do anything about things beyond our control. Though we can try to take charge of things within our reach: our decision-making, habits, and our mindset.

Social distancing, online communication, and working from home indicate a path toward success on the road ahead.

It is important to start preparing for it now.  No doubt you’ll find yourself becoming more resilient in the process

Read Next:

How to Make a Relationship Work When Life Gets in the Way

10 New Hobbies to Try from Home During Pandemic

Save It to Pinterest, Read Later!