Usually, the end of the year brings up mixed emotions – excitement for a new beginning with the wistfulness of time passing. Not so this year, when we’d be hard-pressed to find anyone reluctant to say goodbye to 2020. It seems everyone spent the year scrambling, from finding toilet paper and homeschooling children, to revamping their business model. Whatever their circumstances, for millions of people day-to-day life looks drastically different than it did last winter. Some spent a few weeks or months “mourning” their routine, only to find that they actually prefer some aspect of their new normal.
Now, with the mass delivery of vaccines around the corner, we are regaining the sense that we can design our future, rather than just adapting to events. This optimism can be seen in a new study indicating that nearly three-quarters of adult Americans will make a New Year’s resolution, a 15.7% increase from last year. Moreover, an extremely high percentage believe they will achieve their objective. Not surprisingly, the same study found that health topped the list of priorities, followed by self-improvement and money. Clearly, people are using New Year’s resolutions as a guidepost for creating their lives post-pandemic. The question is, how do we do this when our lives are still in flux? Well, as the (Apple) saying goes, “There’s an app for that!” Here are some ways we can use technology, specifically lifestyle management solutions, to help keep us on track.
Setting Up House: With all its challenges, working from home has also given us new freedom around where we wish to live. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than fifteen million people filled out a change of residence during the pandemic. For some, this was a permanent temporary shift in their base of operations (for example, leaving Manhattan for second homes in Connecticut or Long Island); for others, it was a permanent relocation. Still others are contemplating such a move. If you’re one of them, a lifestyle management solution can help you manage the logistics – from arranging property viewings to communicating with real estate agents; moving and storage companies; and contractors.
Keeping New Social Networks Alive: Many have reported that their relationships were strained during Covid or dropped off altogether because they could not get together in person. However, this also forced them to forge new friendships through online classes and other virtual activities. Now, as people get inoculated and restrictions begin to lift, it may become challenging to keep in touch with your new circle. Lifestyle management solutions allow you to create communication hubs, making it easier to message each other, set up get-togethers, and share pictures and files all in one space.
Fight the “Quarantine 15”: Tens of millions of Americans have reportedly gained weight during the pandemic, mostly because they ate more or fell into unhealthy eating habits due to boredom, depression, or changes in grocery shopping habits. Even those who did not pack on the pounds have become less active because the gym is closed and they now commute from the bed to the couch. If your 2021 plan includes getting back into shape, there are countless workout apps that allow you to customize a regimen, keep track of your progress, and exchange words of encouragement with a community of other users. It may not be the same as an in-person spin class, but it will provide the support and structure you need to get back to your fighting weight.
Keep Track of Your Giving: Oftentimes charities and philanthropies are hard hit during times of economic uncertainty, just when the need is the greatest. During Covid, however, many people, particularly millennials, have maintained or even increased the amount of money they donated. Lifestyle management solutions can us give us a clearer picture of our own finances so we know how much we can give to others. These lifestyle services solutions take this a step further, providing a space for those who donate their time to schedule volunteering activities and communicate with organizers. No one knows exactly what the world will look like in 2021, and for many a return to the old ways is impossible. The good news is that we have the tools that will help us create something that is just as good, if not better.
