Social distancing and our habits
I’m sure, like me, you’ve seen plenty of memes of the types of people who will come out of lockdown, from the alcoholic, to the fitness fanatic, to the creative chef.
Obviously, we will not come out of lockdown being just one type of person. We all go through different experiences and different types of learning, and whatever the experience, they all have a purpose.
But I have also noticed one thing that is very interesting. And it has a lot to do with the people of influence in our lives. During this lockdown, if we are not in the company of the people we usually are with, it changes our habits, our way of thinking and our behavior.
I have noticed that I communicate much less in Singlish (Singapore colloquial English), because my communication is now mostly through articles I write, professional zoom calls, clients, workshops, etc.
I use Singlish as a way to connect with some people during conversations, with shopkeepers, taxi drivers. But with confinement I don’t do it anymore. My eating habits, personal schedule, exercise schedule, etc., have also changed. Some for the better, some not. Honestly, I’m enjoying the hermit lifestyle too much!
What have you noticed that is different about you and your lifestyle?
I have also observed how people have changed in the way they communicate, all to varying degrees. And perhaps the most jarring thing for me is seeing other’s spelling/grammatical errors (that they wouldn’t normally make) in messages or social media, and I think that has a lot to do with their lack of social interaction, with their people of positive influence?
Whatever it is, maybe now is a good time for all of us to take stock of where we are.
Other things I have noticed is that those who are usually quiet have suddenly become more visible in group chats and social media. All of these are means for us to express ourselves or want to be heard/visible.
Social isolation and distancing can be harmful to those who are not used to it, I have seen countless articles in the last week of young people taking their own lives, it makes no sense. But it is a reminder that most of the world, especially the young, need some form of social interaction. Think about how you can create opportunities for online interaction if you have young children or teenagers.
Some questions for us to answer for self-awareness:
- How have we changed, unconsciously?
- What has taken over our lives right now, and the changes slipped in without us noticing.
- What good/bad new clothes have we picked up?
- How do changes affect us?
- If they are good, can we keep them? If they’re not, can we kick them?
Taking stock allows us to feel more in charge of our own lives, especially during a time like a pandemic, where most things feel like they are out of our control.
I would love to hear from you, about how you have changed during the lockdown, please email me
Stay safe!