2020 is the year everything changed and life hasn’t been the same since then. While Coronavirus turned our lives upside down, it did bring about some changes that we now address as a part of the ‘new normal. The thought to ponder upon then is, will we ever go back to our old lives? One where the hustle-bustle of the city would lighten up our days. l The pandemic forced us to be socially distanced but couldn’t make us socially distant. In the last year and a half, the online space has seen strangers coming together to help each other. We proved that together we can, and we will overcome the hurdles posed by this crisis.
Here are some changes that we got accustomed to during the pandemic
Shift To Online
Imagine that it is the year 2000 and the newspaper headline reads ‘Hit by a wave of a deadly virus.’ We move into a complete lockdown with no clarity about the severity of the news. Our life would have been very different. With phones not being smart back in the day, we would have lived in a shell of our own. Mental health would worsen over time, with us confined in our homes without a means of escape. Fast forward to 2 decades. We’ve not only been entertained by social media, but we have used it to keep a tab on updates from across the globe. It has played a crucial role in saving lives. The biggest change that we saw in the last year and a half is the idea of work from home. No matter where we are, we have held onto one another from behind the screens. The shift to online has not been easy, but it has made us value offline space more than ever before. No matter who we speak to, the one thing that we all want is for us to sail through this storm and emerge stronger. To hit the roads, travel, explore new places, sit in a cafe with loved ones, watch children play in the park, and enjoy the little things in life.
Temporary Halt On Travel Plans!
We have all had plans of going to Goa with friends or on a staycation with family. With restrictions becoming stricter than before, our travel plans have now become a thing of the past. Traveling during the pandemic leads to more exposure which makes one more susceptible to catching the virus. As tough as it may seem, we will beat these testing times and start exploring new places once the storm pandemic clears out.
Birth Of Coronasomnia
The pandemic has not only affected physical health but has disrupted our mental well-being and peace of mind. Haven’t we all spent hours on Google trying to study the symptoms, causes, and cure of the Novel Coronavirus? This has led to an increase in cases of depression, anxiety, stress, etc. It is during this phase that we were introduced to the newly coined term ‘Coronasomnia’. A condition caused due to lack of sleep and excess stress. There are various causes of not getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep. However, social isolation, fear of losing loved ones are one of the major contributors. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, about 40% of people reported experiencing sleep troubles as a result of the pandemic. This alone proves how much we need to prioritize our mental health in the wake of the pandemic.
Yulu’s Innovation In Crisis
COVID-19 is not the first global pandemic in history. But it is the first of its kind to have existed in a fast-emerging tech world. Tech companies all over the world have played a vital role in ensuring business continuity. Keeping up with the times and adapting to the new normal has been a daunting task. At the same time, it has been lucrative. Businesses have worked on new models. Machine learning and Artificial intelligence have taken the front seat by helping leaders make more informed decisions in the wake of the pandemic.
At Yulu, we adapted to the crisis by switching to safer and hygienic means of mobility for our Yuluites. Safety concerns doubled during the pandemic. Commuting solo and practicing social distancing were some of the ways to keep oneself safe.
We started sanitizing our Miracle with WHO-recommended chemicals and introduced a ‘last-sanitized’ timestamp to keep our users at ease. At a time when we’re all by ourselves, depending on someone else for your commute would put both at risk. With Yulu, you can avoid the hassle.
These changes have not been easy, but we aim to make mobility seamless, solo, and safe for you. Together, we will beat these unprecedented times one Miracle at a time!