Rat Race Running

The Covid-19 Pandemic took the world by surprise when it first appeared last December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

While scientists around the world are racing against the clock to develop, test, and administer the needed vaccine and cure against this deadly disease, we still don’t know when all these will all end.

As of writing, there are more than seven million cases worldwide, hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of people unemployed, and the global economy in a recession.

We don’t know what the future holds, but we need to keep the faith and put our hope in God that everything will work for the better. At the end of the day, this event will forever be etched in our memories and change our lives for years to come.

Here are ten ways I think this pandemic will change our perspective long after it’s gone:

1. The Future of Work – Work-From-Home (WFH)

With the adaption of many companies to work-from-home arrangements, telecommuting will be a permanent option for businesses even after the pandemic.

Sure, this does not apply to all industries, but it gives other industries like Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) an option out of their usual office spaces. Imagine how much the traffic in Metro Manila will change.

2. The Value of Health

Health is wealth and Prevention is better than cure are common mottos. And these sayings resonate more today than ever.

Hand washing will never be the same, as well as face masks. Proper diet and exercise will also take its place in our routine if we want to live a healthier life.

3. Schools and Education

Our education sector will have a lot of changes after the pandemic. With millions of students and teachers still trying to figure out how to cope with this unprecedented time, more schools will embrace alternative modes of learning.

In effect, there will be more homeschooling, distance learning, and blended learning options by schools in years to come.

4. Handshakes, Hugs, and High Fives

I never imagined that I would miss handshakes and high fives. But these simple gestures of formality, comfort, and friendship will not be taken for granted again.

It may also be possible that people will turn away from these customs such as shaking hands to a Japanese bow.

5. Face-to-face Communication

Meeting with our friends and families face-to-face is one of the things everyone missed while under the community quarantine. There is a vast difference between talking to them electronically and talking with them in person.

Whether introverts or extroverts, we all need the experience of personal communications. Let us meet with people more often and be more present when we’re with them – maybe silencing or turning off our phones.

6. Transportation

Without public transportation, the world became larger and more places further. And with this disease lurking, many of us realized that there are other modes of transportation aside from public utility transportation and private vehicles.

We can have our trusty bikes which are not only good for our health but also good for our environment.

We should also demand better public transportation and regulation of private vehicles from the government.

7. Job Security

Many of us are blessed to have a job in this crisis. Now, imagine the millions of people around the world without a source of income in this unpredictable time.

I know many people are in a job that they hate just to pay the bills. But you should be reminded that our job is a blessing, and it is in our ability to give it our best.

8. Personal Finance

This pandemic exposed many of us to how financially unprepared we are. Many also experienced that we cannot rely solely on the government and our relatives in times of need.

This experience may have opened the eyes of many about the importance of savings and living within your means. More people will become aware of the importance of personal finance.

9. Online Shopping and Food Delivery Services

With the risk of acquiring the virus, more people realized the value of online shopping and online food delivery services. It offers not only convenience but also safety.

With multiple modes of payment such as cash-on-delivery (COD), credit cards, and debit cards, surely the retail and food industry will have to adapt to the changing times.

After this pandemic, more people will use online services to the disadvantage of other business industries. However, I still think that the Filipinos’ mall culture will endure.

10. Online Banking and Payment Services

Just like the rise of e-commerce, people are also discovering online solutions for bills payment such as electricity, water, and the Internet and also online banking for credit card and loan payments. It is still a long way, but people will slowly transition to a more cashless economy in the future.

Final Thought:

We are facing a lot of uncertainty today more than ever. We are uncertain of our job security, food security, health, and other needs.

But may we learn from this experience that though many things in life are uncertain, may we always remember that we have a great God who is always with us and will bring us through these storms.