Reflections of 2020
At the halfway mark of 2020, we can pause to reflect on the year so far. While some countries are slowly reopening, the COVID-19 pandemic has sadly taken the lives of many and disrupted the routines of all.
With this as a backdrop, it may be easy to “write off” 2020 as a year to be forgotten. That seems to be the first reaction of people that I have spoken with lately. However, with struggles come learning and opportunity. Keeping a positive mindset, 2020 will not be about what we missed, but what we will have gained during this time.
It is natural for us to cite the everyday things that we miss in life due to the stay-at-home guidance. Research firm, Nielsen surveyed consumers in the United States asking them “which activity do you miss the most?” The number one thing was eating out at restaurants, followed by retail shopping, and traveling.
Why 2020 is not to be dismissed
The year could be easily viewed with sadness and despair. On a positive note, 2020 can be remembered also as a year we:
Spent quality time with family (and friends): While it may have been hard at times to be confined 24 hours a day 7 days a week for sometimes over 13 weeks together, we had the opportunity to spend more quality time together. In addition, we had a chance to reconnect with extended family and friends virtually, checking in on one another.
Gained an appreciation of home: Staying-at-home made us inventive with what we could do at home. A “Homebody economy” emerged with consumers cooking more at home, getting online takeout delivery, buying groceries online, spending more time on games, watching movies/television, and doing home projects previously left neglected.
Helped our children with their education: As parents, we gained a greater awareness of the quality of education being provided to our children. We were able to spend time to observe first-hand what is being taught and actively support them with their remote learning experience. Our kids learned to adapt, be more self-organized, and gained skills in new technology tools that will equip them for the future.
Realized the wide gender gaps that exist. We gained a greater appreciation of what working women, especially working mothers have to juggle. Not only do women dominate employment in the healthcare sector, they also provide the most unpaid work at home. Across the OECD countries, at just over four hours per day on average, women systematically spend around 2 hours per day more on unpaid work than men according to the OECD. Gender gaps in unpaid work are the largest in Japan, Korea and Turkey, where traditional norms on gender roles prevail. Yet, even in countries like Denmark, Norway and Sweden with progressive attitudes towards gender equality, gender gaps in unpaid work still exist.
Stood up for the importance of diversity: The unfortunate events in the United States and rally of voices globally in support of Black Lives Matter, spotlights the racial injustice that prevail in our modern society. It reminds us to appreciate diversity in all its forms, whether it be ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, and instigate change to achieve more diversity in our lives and workplace.
Whatever your view, do not “write off” 2020. Instead, use the time ahead to make a difference.
Photos: By Cienpies Design | By Hananeko_Studio | Shutterstock
Sources: Nielsen. Understanding consumer sentiment can help companies adjust as the U.S. begins to re-open. 2 June 2020. OECD. Women at the core of the fight against covid-19 crisis. 2020.