Lisa O
It’s only been about four years that the COVID-19 brought our lives to a complete standstill. Do you remember the first year of the pandemic? The first few months went by in a blur of fear, confusion, and drastic changes in everyone’s lives. Four years later, many things are etched in our minds forever. Here are 16 things you may have forgotten entirely about.
Learning to wash hands
Apparently, we didn’t know how to wash our hands before the pandemic. So, the first few months of the pandemic were flooded with everyone telling us how to wash our hands properly. Every organization, doctor, and influencer made a how-to video. Did you know that research showed most of those videos did not cover topics about the important concepts of hand hygiene, like hand drying? Funny, isn’t it?
Buying toilet paper (sanitizer too!)
Nothing beats the irrational panic buying toilet paper. Do you remember those empty store shelves? And it wasn’t just toilet paper; people were hoarding all kinds of household essentials. In hindsight, you may find it completely absurd. But in the first few months of the pandemic, the battle for the ultra-soft double-ply was the epitome of our fear of not having enough supplies during a crisis.
7 PM cheer
Every evening, people cheered from windows and doors to show their support and appreciation for the workers on the frontlines of our fight against COVID-19. In those frightening early days of the pandemic, the outpouring of gratitude was genuine. What began in a few cities soon united millions across the globe in a sincere act of solidarity. For those few minutes, hope shined brighter than fear.
Zoom
The sudden need for virtual meetings pulled Zoom out of obscurity into stardom. Zoom emerged as the messiah as offices, schools, and social lives were suspended. Suddenly, there were daily Zoom work calls, Zoom classrooms, and even Zoom wedding celebrations. Zoom background memes took over social media. There were privacy concerns that sent some people over to Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, but Zoom became a part of life forever.
Whipped coffee
With time to spare and an unquenched thirst for social interaction, the frothy Instagram-worthy beverage, a.k.a. Dalgona coffee, became the first viral food trend of the pandemic. Cafes were closed, but stuck-at-home coffee fans had to find a way to satisfy their coffee cravings. Made by vigorously whipping instant coffee and adding a bit of water and sugar, frothy coffee became a pandemic craze.
Sourdough starters
As the terrifying COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, weeks of being stuck at home turned into months. People frantically looked for avenues to put their unused energy to some productive use. Enter sourdough starters! It began as a homespun food trend but soon transformed into a lifestyle. “Starters” tended their sourdough extensively, even naming the fermenting dough.
“You’re on mute!”
The gentle reminder, “You’re on mute,” still haunts us long after the pandemic is over. It was one phrase that came up in all conversations, meetings, and social media content during the first few months of the pandemic. As we lived our social lives on video, we all experienced the awkward moment when someone had to remind us that the audio was muted.
Cheering delivery people
Like the 7 pm cheer for healthcare workers, delivery people were applauded for helping keep things running. During lockdowns, the delivery people brought your grocery, food, and online shopping packages. They were welcomed with cheers and greeted on doorsteps. Children displayed “Thank You!” posters in their windows. Some people even came out of their homes to greet each arriving truck.
Shortage of video equipment
The use of videoconferencing was at an all-time high. Whether you wanted to communicate with friends or colleagues, you needed to be on camera. With everyone hustling to make social media content and others video-calling loved ones, video equipment like webcams and ring lights flew off the shelves. The use of ring lights was so high that research studies were conducted to discuss whether the increased use of ring lights could lead to macular degeneration!
Virtual theater tours
As museums, theaters, and cultural institutions closed, artists had to do something to keep the art alive. Many took to live streaming and virtual tours to take the art to their homes. Theaters live-streamed musicals with actors performing online from their homes. Galleries hosted virtual tours and curated Instagram LIVEs to showcase and discuss their collections. The experiences grew increasingly immersive, with virtual audiences participating online.
The 5G conspiracy
Conspiracy theories did the rounds as people desperately tried to make sense of the pandemic. One such theory was that 5G was responsible for the spread of the COVID-19 virus. There was no factual basis for the theory, but the idea of cellular networks somehow being related to the spread of COVID-19 rapidly gained eyeballs online. Health experts widely debunked the theory, but it spread like wildfire.
Frantic yeast buying
Sourdough starters and banana bread frenzies quickly led to a shortage of the crucial baking ingredient – yeast! Yeast suddenly became the most sought-after object of obsession. You may have seen viral images and videos of shoppers hauling out cases upon cases of yeast. The acute shortages led to suppliers hustling to ramp up production. Bakers drove miles to buy yeast, and Facebook barter groups sprouted everywhere.
Feeds full of banana bread
During lockdowns, everyone seemed to be baking banana bread. Your social media feeds were flooded with images of freshly baked banana bread. The baking obsession dominated the quarantine experience, as loaves showed up in every shape and form imaginable. There was banana bread topped with chocolate chips or nuts or drizzled with cream cheese frosting. Soon, banana bread became a symbol of our collective attempts to find purpose, comfort, and community amidst the isolation.
Remote trivia nights
Pubs and restaurants were closed during the lockdown, but everyone needed some respite from the lack of social interaction. This is why remote trivia became an overnight sensation. Remote trivia nights offered some relief from the lockdown’s monotony. Social groups, offices, and local pubs hosted trivia nights via videoconferencing. These virtual experiences broke the pandemic monotony and offered a chance to socialize.
Bicycling trips
When outdoor activities closed down, bicycling was the only option available to enjoy the outdoors. Streets previously full of traffic were empty, and cyclists grabbed the opportunity to cruise through uninterrupted. Bike sales shot up, and gear shortages became common. For months, everyone was either out riding or talking about riding. It was more than an exercise. Cycling provided a way to temporarily escape the lockdown.
Gratitude
After months of quarantine, we realized how we took little joys, like restaurant dining, for granted. We started feeling grateful for the smallest things that we enjoyed before COVID-19. After home haircuts and couch dining, a trip to the salon or the grocery store felt like a luxury. The realization stirred pangs of gratitude inside us. Social media influencers and mental health professionals flooded our feeds, telling us to start a gratitude journal.