Do we really want to go back to normal?

By Dominique MacDonald

Recent announcements from many provincial leaders have laid out the plans for a gradual easing of restrictions within the next two months. This is great news for our industry, as people will be getting back into the pool. We have much to celebrate about the return to normal, but should everything return to the way it was?

During the past 443+ days of the pandemic shutdown in Canada with the various levels of restrictions and lockdowns, we have adopted new habits, skills and strategies, should we go back the way things were pre-2020 or move forward incorporating these new ways? Sourdough starters, pickling and canning, knitting and old school puzzles and board games became part of many Canadians new weekly routine. Exploring the outdoors on new adventures with walks, hikes, skiing, padding, rowing, camping and open water swimming, do those new skills and experiences in nature stop?

Remote work using new technologies, built trust within our teams and enabled collaboration beyond geographical boundaries. Online learning through virtual conferences, seminars and workshops allowed us to connect with other programs and people in other provinces and country ’ s expanding our networks and resources. Creativity was embraced, rewarded and celebrated as each restriction implemented new challenges. Temporary solutions were shared openly and swiftly with industry social media platforms and forums. Using social media to connect with teams, clients, members, and promoting drowning prevention and water safety messaging, does all that stop? Mental health awareness and workplace programs to build strategies and connections for employees. A renewed appreciation for teachers, health care professionals and front-line workers for the critical work they do in our communities, does that stop?

Stay at home and remote work directives forced many Canadians to spend more time with their family and household members. Our children, spouses and people within our households should be our favorite people, pre-pandemic we often spent more time outside the home and away from those favorite people. The work-life balance and distribution of our personal time was off balance, and over the past year we ’ ve been able to readjust those priorities, do we lose all this when we return to normal?

Now, don t get me wrong, I’m super excited for the restrictions to be lifted. Visiting with friends and extended family, hosting back yard BBQs, and celebrating special events like birthdays, weddings, and holiday dinners. Resuming family traditions and making new memories while traveling, going on adventures, dinning at local restaurants and enjoying the movie in the theatre with authentic movie popcorn (yummy).

I for one, will be distributing an extensive number of hugs to consenting adults, so be prepared, the hugs are coming, and they WILL be long and awkward!

The reopening will reunite us with our co-workers, our competitive athletes, the senior water fit clients and our regular lane swimmers, oh how we’ve missed them all.

Over the next few weeks and months with the restrictions lifting will you stop making homemade bread? Will you trade your outdoor physical activity for the indoor gym and scheduled fitness classes? Does returning to the office mean that you won ’t have time to play board games with your children at the end of the day? What about conferences, do you only attend in-person continuing education opportunities? Consider that going “back to normal” and all the ways things were, may not be in our best interest. Consider the lessons that you’ve learned this past year, the new connections, skills, strategies and techniques.

These new experiences brought moments of joy to you and your family over these past 14 months, maybe those are just what you need moving forward to create your “NEW Normal” .