Dr. Milda Perminiene

The world as we know it is about to end. Covid-19 means certain changes in individuals’ thinking, acting, and decision making. Time has a completely different meaning now. We do not waste time commuting to work or chatting to a colleague in the corridor. We are “imprisoned” in apartments and it’s either family and kids or work that take most of the time. Time allows us to think. Think about different things. Think about our own life, self, relationships. How does thinking and being more aware change our intentions and behaviours? Here are a couple of thoughts about, how this “thinking space” that we have access to now will change the world forever.

Start-ups
Hundreds, thousands and millions of brilliant people all around the world are now spending time at home. Having more free time means they are developing new ideas. This is a perfect time for start-ups and moving things forward. However, due to the closed boarders and no actual physical movement some projects will not take off, until the quarantine is over. Yet, when it does end, the world is likely to experience an overwhelming number of new businesses.

Creativity
Although creativity in businesses has been a highlight for a long while now. Covid-19 is bringing a completely new perspective. Most companies must rethink their strategy, methods, forms of delivery or even nature of services. The most obvious change is happening in education and training on-line. However, creativity extends into many other areas, e.g. virtual reality applications in culture (museums, concerts, theatre), increased demand in home office furniture making, shelters and bunkers to protect from Coronavirus and even cruise ships turning into floating hospitals. This demand for creative thinking will put companies and individuals into a mindset that will continue after the crisis is over.

Mastering new and multiple skills
No access to services means people must learn how to do things themselves. Whether its painting their own nails or dying hair, exercising, or designing a healthy diet. People must learn new skills quickly, to resume with their regular selves. Mastering new skills may mean that the service sector will not be as crucial in the world economy, as it was before the crisis.

Work
Up until now only some organisations have actively encouraged working from home or telecommuting. However, after Covid-19 things will never be the same and remote work is amongst it. Organisations will realise that people do more and achieve greater productivity while working from home while individuals benefit from saving time by not commuting long distances to and from work. Mutual benefits will encourage organisations to continue performing remotely.
On the other hand, work, life and family balance is a huge issue now as being in lock down means work may continue 24/7 and everyone knows where you are at any given point in time. The work-life balance is going to become a major focus of attention for many occupational psychologists and occupational therapists.

Organisations
Unemployment has never been as high as it is now. On the other hand, some companies are hiring additional workers due to the increased demands in delivering goods (like Amazon), food delivery, and certain areas of manufacturing. This means that many employees will have to change their careers and will never get back to what they did before.

Relationships
Covid-19 is changing the nature of human relationships. This unprecedented event affects everyone and is causing anxiety, depression, and panic. At the same time, it encourages people to realise the importance of the need to relate and belong. Time that people have allows them to rethink relationships with others, their own behaviours, become more aware of how they deal with people. After the crisis it is likely this trend persists and western individualist culture will become little more collectivist in their approach.

Individuals
Covid-19 brings both – threats and opportunities. At the individual level it challenges people to become more flexible, to better deal with stress and “bounce back” quicker (become more resilient). Going through this difficult period and searching for solutions on a daily basis, means that people will come out of this experience being stronger and better equipped for future emergencies.
Being locked down for weeks or months also means that people will start to better appreciate simple joys of life, notice nature, people around them, celebrate simple achievements and enjoy small rewards.
Survival instinct will ultimately be replaced by the need to connect, belong, and contribute. This will allow human empathy to thrive. People will learn to better share things with others, do things for others, and more willingly immerse into charity and volunteering work.

I do not wish to sound overly and unrealistically positive. No doubt Covid-19 is going to cause enormous damage to the world, including deaths, grief, cultural and economic turndown. However, the best we can do now is to dream and work towards the whole new world that is about to come.