LIVING IN THE NEW NORMAL

“Change is the only constant in life”. These words perchance have been the most emphasized in the contemporary scenario, when life as we knew, became surprisingly new to all of us in the blink of an eye. Be it education, sports, work – our lives as such hit a huge speed breaker. Yet, the pandemic has certainly taught us one lesson – we, humans, must be willing to change because life won’t always remain the same, as clearly perceived today. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has pushed us to adapt, change our ways and live in the new normal – where work is continuing from home, students are learning through online means, and social distancing norms are followed in the outdoors.


This post has been published as a project at school and has been collectively written along with our peers - Rohan, Manish and Joshua. It aims at shedding light on the positivity admist the negativity that engulfs all of us, and focus on certain aspects of people's lives in the new normal.


GLIMPSING THE LIVES OF TEACHERS DURING THE PANDEMIC

The COIVD-19 pandemic has unfavorably affected the lives of a myriad of people, including those of teachers. Teachers all around the world have been thrown aback with the unprecedented pandemic, and with the sudden transition of the educational system to online platforms from the conventional modes of schooling.

Being compelled to alter and restructure their pedagogies built over years of strenuous teaching, teachers are facing a quizzical as well as an unfortunate situation engulfed in bewilderment and anxiety.

The traditional blackboard, chalk, duster, desk – the pandemic has disadvantaged the paraphernalia that teachers were accustomed to, forcing them instead to use electronic “modern” devices that they have never previously used. Teachers and teacher educators are transitioning through a particularly uncertain time in terms of their professional lives and work. The rapid move to online modes of delivery to keep students engaged in learning has led to significantly intensified workloads for staff as they work to not only move teaching content and materials into the online space but also become sufficiently adept in navigating the requisite software. In many schools, the move to the online space is presenting considerable hardship as teachers struggle to adapt to what might well be the “new normal” for quite a period time.



In addition to all these difficulties, teachers face another significant challenge. Most teachers remain unaware of whether their pupils have understood their teachings, which makes the teaching process even harder. Conducting examinations online, using a multitude of applications, making use of appropriate features – all these tasks might seem easy for a large proportion of us, who might have been using technology for every day of our lives. But, in contrariwise, as technology burgeons, certain sections of people, specifically those teachers who have used technology to a limited extent before, have found themselves in a new arena where they try and learn continuously the intricacies of a demanding and different mode of education. The enumerable instances of vandalism and opprobrious behavior by students that have been recorded too have unfortunately added to the list of difficulties.

Despite all the aforementioned challenges, teachers have made wonders in the face of adversities. They have made unsurpassed efforts to not only ensure that their students make the most out of their teaching, but have also spontaneously changed their pedagogy and made intuitive PowerPoint presentations and the like to make learning enjoyable.

 

You may be wondering why the word “quizzical” has been used in the second paragraph. This is because, in recent times, it has been observed that numerous teachers have sought students’ help to master the many technicalities of online education. The reverse in the student-teacher relationship beautifully portrays how teachers have symbolized the saying “Know that you don’t know; that is superior”, and how have beaten all odds to be considered as one among the countless unsung heroes during these testing times.

WORKING FROM HOME


A cup of coffee in the morning and breakfast, catching a cab to office, working for hours, and returning home fatigued, but satisfied – this was the general life in brief before the pandemic. Even physics defined work as a sort of energy transfer by which an object is moved. At least some sort of movement, which involved an activity! Lucidly, the virus outbreak has entirely surpassed and changed the parameters of what used to be the normal occupation of a person.

Working from home is as such a topic in which both faces of the coin need to be considered. The pandemic has had a detrimental impact on persons whose survival depends on daily wages. These include migrant workers, casual laborers, and even hawkers and vendors, who today find themselves at a standstill. Industries such as tourism, hospitality, automobile, aviation etc. too have suffered heavy losses, and major companies are witnessing an economic recession.

Obviously, it is nearly impossible for the aforementioned groups of people to work from home and find some source of income or remuneration. Working from home is also not possible for healthcare providers, grocery store clerks, emergency responders and many such essential personnel.



The very concept of working from home in these unprecedented times has received mixed reactions. The out-of-hand situation has instigated the possibility of negative emotions, disturbed feelings and troubling thoughts in few people, and they remain not keen on working from home for a handful or reasons:

• A loss of identity and sense of purpose
• Disruption of daily routine
• Inability to adapt
• Angry and scared
• Lost, as if you don't know what to do next

It is a general belief that working from home has made employees more productive and less likely to quit. But now, with the COVID-19 pandemic turning more people into de facto remote workers, many employees have become less optimistic about the new inundation of working from home. However, on the basis of a survey conducted by New York Times, people employed in administrative services, professional fields, and white-collar workers view working from home a respite from the office life. They are able to work in a leisurely fashion, at their own convenience, and continue to contribute from their homes. Many believe that due to this, they are better rested, and can devote more time to their work as well as family. Working from home has given an opportunity to not only unwind from hectic schedules but also reduce carbon footprints by avoiding commutes.


After inspecting these aspects in brief, it is important to keep in mind that change is the only constant thing. We, as human beings, have the ability to acclimatize, and move on. We need to find different ways to carry on work, and life, because nothing will work unless we do. Just as how education continues during these unfortunate times, work from is perchance the only feasible alternative available at hand.

A BROADER ASECT OF THE NEW "NORMAL" - THE PRIVILEGED AND THE UNDERPRIVILEGED

#NewNormal, #WorkFromHome, #DistanceLearning,

#ContactlessPayment, #RobotDeliveries, #TeleHealth

From all the aforementioned popular “hashtags” that have stormed social media platforms, we can observe that there is one absolute certainty for us – and that is the uncertainty of the future. The current state of affairs has brought the world to a standstill, yet has also brought a multitude of changes to the lives of people.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has shone in the spotlight in recent times, the world seems to battle with another troubling pandemic – the Hunger “Virus”.

This section focuses on how the above-mentioned pandemics have constructed a new normal for two broad categories of society, namely the privileged and the underprivileged.
THE PRIVILEGED

This group includes all those people who have not been adversely affected in terms of financial aspects by the COVID-19 pandemic. Busy schedules have been wiped off calendars and numerous people have ample amounts of time in their hands. This has perhaps become the new normal for this section of the people.

Yet something interesting that has become quite evident is the fascination among this group about technology. The burgeoning technology has not only aroused fascination but has also increased the level of caution and safety that is to be taken amidst these times.

Online shopping, robot deliveries, contactless payments, distance learning, working from home – these have not only changed the living manners of people but have also in certain ways attempted in making the world “Virus proof”. In fact, in the present situation, online shopping has transitioned from a trivial want to a pertinent need. Many delivery companies and restaurants too have launched contactless delivery services for the benefit of the group under discussion. A few Chinese e-commerce giants have also ramped up their development of robot deliveries. Contactless digital payments, either in the form of cards or e-wallets, have become a significant part of people’s lives, especially during recent times.

                                                                    Contactless Payment

                                                                     Contactless Delivery

THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
While the world tries inexorably to put an end to the pandemic, COVID-19 is deepening the hunger crisis, creating new epicenters of famines across the globe. It has been estimated that by the end of the year, more people would have perished out of starvation intimately caused by the pandemic. The pictures below speak a thousand words and portray the unfortunate statistics at hand of the dangerous situation the world is facing:

COVID-19 could ush a 100 million people into extreme poverty, says World Bank

This is clearly a situation that can be compared to a double-edged sword, the double disadvantage of economically weaker sections of society. They are fighting the dual challenges of poverty and pandemic.
One conclusion that can be drawn from all the things mentioned above it is that the impacts of the pandemic on different sections of people in society may vary, all of us are in the fight together. And it is also the case that though this writing talks about the “new normal” of the privileged and underprivileged, both these groups have suffered losses. Therefore, the only shimmer of light that exists for survival is the concept of collaboration in society. It becomes highly essential for different groups to come together and win the battle by helping each other and coordinating efforts to become triumphant.


SPORTS IN THE NEW NORMAL - A BRIEF STUDY

Be it cricket, football, swimming, tennis, sailing – everyone loves to watch their adorned star players in action, and compete in the big leagues. Many people love to participate in a variety of sport activities that suits their interests such as maintaining their health, or to find out where they stand amongst others.

At present, the pandemic has had a phenomenal impact on sports. Major international events like the Olympics are uncertain to happen this year. As a result of closure of multiple gyms and fitness studios, people are not able to actively participate in physical activities. It is not to be forgotten that lack of exercise can also lead to various health issues like obesity, and also has a drastic impact on mental health.

Sports also serve as a source of social and emotional entertainment for many – watching matches and tournaments together with peers in the stadium, shouting and cheering with the crowds – all of which came to a sudden, unexpected halt.

One way to continue with sports in the new normal is by rigorously adhering to social distancing norms. But even this may be not be a viable solution for certain sports like cricket, rugby or wrestling. In this modern era, sport academies can conduct training sessions over online platforms – but even this does not come without its disadvantages and of course, it won’t be the same. Football and several cricket tournaments if held, are played without any spectators.
While it is highly unlikely that the sports before the pandemic shall return any time soon, the only thing a person can do is engage in different physical activities at the individual level, within the walls of his home, in order to remain healthy and fit. Yoga, meditation, and frequent workouts at home can indubitably prove to be beneficial.


A BRIGHTER SIDE

It is without doubt that the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the economic, political, and social lives of humans, and their lives as whole, as the deadly virus continues to entrap them in their homes. Nowadays, it is the only conversation that we get to hear about – how many lives lost, how people’s life activities has simply paused, but there is the other face of the same coin. Probably, the confinement of humanity was the most viable move that today, has allowed nature to replenish itself. Essentially, a majority of people continue to focus on the negative aspects – for example: teenagers crib that they cannot go play outside or go shopping with peers. But looking on the brighter side, pollution levels have come down.

The above graph clearly depicts how air pollution levels have come down, and the level of improvement in air quality. India witnessed a decline in the levels of greenhouse gases (CFCs, CO2, etc.) present in the atmosphere.



When humans went on a break, nature got time to replenish resources that had earlier been overused and exploited. When we stopped our misdeeds and polluting our environment, nature started healing itself.
Due to the pandemic we are starting to acclimatize ourselves in the new normal and it seems like Mother Nature too wants to start afresh. The pandemic indubitably has add negative repercussions, but only taking these aspects into consideration may not be wise. The only choice available to people is to wait while nature works its magic and forgives our actions.




CONCLUSION

The entire world has been struggling to free itself from the clutches of the ongoing pandemic, which has adversely affected the lives of countless people. Yet, people have - as they have always had - adapted and acclimatized to their new surroundings. As times have changed, people too have changed their ways to stabilize their lives as well as transcend their capabilities beyond imagination to accept the new normal. Masses of people have started working from home, the entire education system has been moved to online platforms in the blink of an eye with teachers immediately changing their pedagogies, sport events are being selectively held with measures that have never been experienced by fans all over the world – numerous changes have taken place which remind of us of the optimism and positivity around us in distraught times of loss, pain and suffering. On top of that, numerous munificent people have come forward in these hard times, lending a helping hand to the vulnerable sections of society. A ray of hope and positivity amidst darkness can make wonders; and this is why such a topic was chosen – “Living in the new normal” – to portray the continuance of life in the face of adversities.