10/04/2020
Work life during lock downs, curfews and social distancing.
I have penned a few thoughts from a development practice perspective, regarding what we can do and the opportunities that have emerged through virtual platforms without violating the laws of the country, enforced in order to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 has created a new normal in our lives and there are many opportunities to consider.
Suddenly, it seems we are addressing health concerns a lot more seriously and responsibly. All these behaviour changes and attitudes are for our own good.
We are so accustomed to work in physical office environments because that is what we have been doing in our organisations in structured office culture. Social distancing was never an issue until the Corona virus brought about a change in our lives and work life.
Life must go on.
New habits
We have learned some new habits such as distancing ourselves in crowded places and in queues at least a meter away from the next person. Let’s hope this practice continues.
We have learned to socially distance ourselves even though in some societies and cultures we may think it is rude to do so. Handshakes, hugs and kisses will have to wait a bit longer.
We have learned the art of coughing and sneezing by protecting ourselves and others around us in making sure nobody gets infected.
We have learned to keep our hands clean by washing them with soap frequently especially if we have touched common objects like door handles/knobs, ATM machines, gym equipment, supermarket carts, bags and boxes etc. The virus has made us to become extra careful and hygienic.
We have learned to be a lot healthier and we are taking hygiene very seriously in our lives.
Corona virus and small businesses
We are experiencing small businesses arriving at our doorsteps, offering their products just like in the old days when consumer marketing was not this competitive. We hope this resilience will continue.
Many small businesses have sprouted, taking advantage of the current situation. We hope this enthusiasm and practice has come to stay and entrepreneurship will be a great income generating tool.
Even larger businesses like supermarkets are beginning to take online orders and deliver goods on online to homes. We hope this practice will continue.
Many food outlets have been using mobile delivery services like Uber and Pick Me. Many jumped the bandwagon with the advent of the virus. Let’s hope that home deliveries will be a common ordering platform through the many social media apps.
Corona virus and new ways of doing business
Most businesses relied on physical meetings. With the virus, we are now beginning to have remote or virtual meetings. We are linking with constituents from all districts with the help of a range of simple apps like Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams etc., and it has already become a hit.
We are working from our homes through virtual spaces. We have more time on our hands and hopefully we can minimize the stress and tension caused by our previous daily routines.
The cost of meetings especially in bringing people from outstation districts has reduced considerably. It is only the cost of the internet time that each person must bear. This can be a reimbursable cost.
It is very likely that by working in virtual spaces our productivity will increase as we are no longer in office environments that could have disturbances. It could well bring about efficient time management in us.
The good news is that, not only meetings but conducting online workshops and presentations are very possible through these internet and mobile apps.
*****************************
And people stayed at home and read books and listened and they rested and exercised and made art and played and learned new ways of being and stopped and listened more deeply. Someone meditated, someone prayed, someone met their shadow and people began to think differently and people healed. And in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways dangerous, meaningless and heartless, the earth also began to heal and when the danger ended and people found themselves they grieved for the dead and made new choices and dreamt of new visions and created new ways of living and completely healed the earth. Just as they were healed. – Poem written in 1869, reprinted during the 1919 pandemic.
