The Post- Pandemic World: A New Era

By: I. Krakowiak

One of the most disruptive global catastrophes in modern history, The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone around the world immensely. As we recover from this crisis, it is crucial to acknowledge the long-lasting and profound changes the epidemic has made in every single aspect of our lives. Many believe that the post-pandemic world is a mere return to “normal” life, when in reality we are re-sculpting the term as we go.

The pandemic served as a helpful and much-needed reminder of the importance of looking after our planet. Air pollution and environmental deterioration significantly decreased as a result of the abrupt, temporary slowdown in industrial activity. This provoked discussion on the critical topics of sustainability and climate change. Companies, governments and individuals are now adopting different methods of becoming greener, like sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy (solar panels, windmills, etc.), increase in policies that give value to sustainability, and advocating for environmental conservation. The world is changing, and so we change together for a greener future.

One of the greatest shifts we had to adapt to was working in the comfort of our homes. As doors to schools, colleges, offices and other public spaces closed, we became guinea pigs for a huge worldwide experiment: the sudden change to remote work. This, which was considered a short-term change, has now become permanent in many places and industries. It does not have to be one or the other, many companies nowadays are allowing employees to do a blend of both, to suit what they prefer. There are many advantages to remote work: the flexibility, safety from virus exposure, and many people are now moving to small towns or the countryside since they no longer feel tied to the big cities to maintain their jobs. These advantages are great and globally recognized, however, there are disadvantages as well. Isolation, technical issues, a blurred boundary between work and personal life and increased screen fatigue are major reasons why some companies went back to being 100% in-person. Many people did not have computers or any sort of device that they could work, or worked jobs that were purely physical and could not be done online.

The COVID-19 lockdown severely altered how we connect with people. We started to rely solely on screens for communication, via social media, texting, or video calls. While this technology allowed us to keep in touch during tough times of isolation, it also emphasized the importance of in-person interactions, and the effect one single hug has. So now, after the isolation, there is a larger appreciation for face-to-face communication and contact, and a stronger sense of community. We learned the importance of maintaining relationships, and now we as a society have implemented in our lives a healthy mix of digital and physical communication.

In conclusion, the post-pandemic world is one of fresh starts. Obviously, the pandemic has presented colossal obstacles However, it gave us an opportunity to reflect on how we would like to shape our future. We as a society have the potential to live in a more sustainable, creative, inclusive and adaptable world. It is imperative that we keep the lessons learned in the pandemic in mind as we move forward into this new era: an era of new beginnings.