By Yara ELhemely

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down, altered our way of life, and promoted behavioral change all over the world. The pandemic might have had a positive side effect in that it has compelled us to abandon unhealthy habits in the process of taking precautionary measures. 

The following are the habits that have changed as a result of the pandemic:

1.    Greetings!

During the COVID era, many of us around the world have stopped shaking hands and rubbing noses, as well as kissing and hugging, which were very common across different cultures and communities, because they could endanger people’s safety and increase their susceptibility to the virus. We now greet each other by either nodding or bumping elbows.

2.    Public Gatherings and Parties

Due to the pandemic, we now refrain from inviting a big number of relatives and friends to wedding and engagement parties, hanging out with friends, and organizing baby shower parties in order to protect the health of mothers and newborns. We currently communicate via the phone or the internet, using tools like Zoom or video calls. This demonstrates how people have adapted to the new normal in contrast to the pre-COVID mainstreamed perception of weddings and gatherings as important avenues for social cohesion.

3.    Sanitization Kits

We no longer leave the house without a bottle of disinfectant wipes and a bottle of alcohol spray. We also keep sanitizing kits in our cars and at work. We’ve become obsessed with sanitizing and cleaning everything we touch or use.

4.    Visiting Patients and Offering Condolences

Visiting patients and offering condolences are a social tenet we do to support others. They promote communication and solidarity among people during times of calamity and illness. However, in the post-COVID age, things have become a bit distanced, where we would check in on sick people by phone or through social media. Also, rather than attending funerals, we may send condolence messages.

5.    Entertainment Preferences

Quarantine and self-isolation have shifted our entertainment preferences, as the number of Netflix subscribers from around the world has increased by 47% in a short period of time, while the number of cinema- and theater-goers has decreased by 50% since the Coronavirus outbreak. In addition, the demand for electronic games increased significantly in China during the quarantine.

Share