What happened to our dreams of a new normal?

I was scrolling through my social media feed last week, searching for an article, when I came across this image shared in May 2020.

 
 

It sat among reports of Venice’s canals running clear, pollution levels globally being at an all time low and beautiful appreciations, like the video below, for the much needed respite lock-down was affording our planet.

 
 

Fast forward almost a year and my feed is full of photos of people returning to work, in-person events and airport lounges. There’s exciting news of a Trans Tasman travel bubble but also, sadly, reports that pollution levels have already returned to pre-COVID levels.

There is a great sense of relief in knowing this deadly virus may finally be under control but, in our rush to reclaim the parts of our lives we have missed, are we missing a critical opportunity to shape the new normal?

I appreciate the struggle this past year has been real, especially for small businesses, the elderly and the women who have taken on the lionshare of essential work, caring and homeschooling.

Working from home hasn’t been available to, or suited everyone. Jobs have been lost, lives have been disrupted, and we are all missing in-person contact and the ability to visit friends and family abroad. But I can’t help thinking we are rushing back to a way of operating that was also not serving us, or the planet.

I’ve been happily working from home in some capacity since returning from maternity leave 18 years ago. But even I have found working from home every day monotonous and, at times, quite lonely.  

The biggest struggle has been setting clear boundaries around my working day and week. There were days when it was a struggle to start and others when it was difficult to stop, most people working from home report they are working more hours than usual. But slowly (and intentionally) a new rhythm has emerged, a commitment to swimming each morning and a growing appreciation for cooking the family meal each evening, has contributed to a better work/life balance than I’ve ever previously enjoyed.

I’ve also enjoyed a greater sense of connection to my local community. My morning swim at the local rock pool coincides with my octogenerian neighbours daily catch up with friends at a nearby cafe. We exchange a cheery hello as our paths cross and in the past few months I’ve learned more about them and their lives, including how they met 65 years ago, than I learned in the ten years we were neighbours prior. 

Many Australians report having more time for family, exercise, cooking and exploring their local communities. All things we know, from studies like the Blue Zones Project, contribute to a healthier, happier and longer life.

So, while I understand the economic imperative to resume business as usual, I can’t help thinking it’s a short sighted, knee jerk reaction that fails to take into account the long-term economic, social and environmental benefits of creating a healthier and more sustainable way of living.

In Australia and New Zealand we are uniquely placed - we have led the way in our handling of the Coronavirus and are fortunate to no longer be experiencing a health crisis. We are still however in the midst of a very real environmental crisis.

Australia ranks as one of the highest contributors to Co2 emissions per capita globally and we’ve recently discovered our clean, green neighbours across the pond have some of the most degraded waterways in the developed world.

We have an opportunity now to pause, to learn from what emerged during COVID, examine where the world was heading prior, and decide where we want to go next. 

Let’s not go back, let’s continue leading the way forward.

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Maria RainesComment