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Category: CONSUMER TRENDS

  • 7 SMALL STEPS THAT CREATE BIG RESULTS (AND A BETTER END TO 2020)

    7 SMALL STEPS THAT CREATE BIG RESULTS (AND A BETTER END TO 2020)

    We’re currently living in a time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a page on its website that includes the following passage: “The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

    What a time to be alive, huh?

    The good news is, as you’ve heard from every advertising agency, “we’re in this together.” We’re just not all experiencing it in the same way. We have to learn to be okay with this, which is difficult, but not impossible. It’s easy to slip into a division mindset; we’re pack animals. In times of crisis, we look to our “own” to protect us. But now is the time to really put the human in humanity, and prove (to yourself) what you’re made of. This all begins with simple, realistic changes.

    Take a look at our 7 small steps that create big results and (hopefully) a better end to 2020.

    1. MANAGE YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION

    The irony is not lost on me that this is being presented to you in the form of digital media, but here we are.

    Who Wouldve Thought Not Me GIF from Whowouldvethought GIFs

    Media consumption in the time of COVID is off-the-charts. According to a March 2019 vs. March 2020 study by Nielsen, the U.S. spends 215% more time this year accessing current events and news on mobile devices. Of course, we all want to stay informed, but at what point does the desire to gather relevant information turn into to full-on obsession; or addiction, even?

    In an interview with CNBC, Joshua Morganstein, Chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disasters, explains that in times of distress and uncertainty, “the tendency is to really almost drown in [the news].” It’s not about cutting ourselves off from information, but about the ability to “dial down our exposure to media content,” Morganstein says. This is especially true for social media, which is often biased, can be vague or sensationalized, or just plain incorrect.

    Even if we simply keep our phones out of the bathroom (we all do it), we’ll cut down on consumption minutes that lead to hours that lead to days of media freedom. Because research has shown that in times of disaster or terrorist events (times of uncertainty, essentially), “as people’s media exposure increases, so does their distress.” Simply put: prolonged daily media consumption is making us anxious af. The good news is, we can do something about it.

    2. SET YOURSELF UP TO SLEEP BETTER

    Sleep isn’t something that comes easily to many of us—especially during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. However, there are things you can do to optimize your sleep success. According to the CDC, the following are tips for better sleep (along with some of our own supplemental info):

    • Be consistent with your sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night, and wake up at the same time each morning.
    • Remove electronic devices—i.e. TVs, laptops, phones, etc.—from the bedroom.
    • Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing and at a comfortable temperature. DID YOU KNOW: The optimal sleeping temperature is around 65 degrees (F).
    • Avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol prior to bedtime. Experts say two to three hours is a good buffer.
    • Get some exercise during the day. It will help you fall asleep more easily at night.

    Psychologist and founder of the Health Psychology Clinic, Joanna Konstantopoulou, says, “It’s not just the 40-hour marathons without sleep which can be detrimental to your psychological health, but simply losing an hour or two on a regular basis can have a significant impact on your mind and well-being.” Further, poor sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. It also shortens your life expectancy.

    Try going to bed ten minutes earlier than usual each night for a week. The following week, add another 10, and so on until you reach your optimal sleep schedule. This small step can mean huge positive changes—like improved memory, reduction in anxiety and transportation of toxins out of the brain—in the long-run. Simple, realistic changes are key.

    3. GO OUTSIDE for 10 minutes

    Have you ever heard of “earthing” or “grounding”? If not, here’s a hoity-toity article from the Journal of Environmental and Public Health explaining its benefits. For the “TL;DR” crowd, the main takeaways are: 1) the Earth is covered with electrons; 2) modern life has separated humans from these electrons with concrete and cubicles; 3) research suggests that this separation may be a major contributor to 21st century ills; and 4) reconnecting directly with the Earth’s surface (and its electrons) has produced measurable benefits—particularly with regard to sleep and reduced pain. So if you’re able to do so, take your shoes off and get in the grass for a little while each day.

    If that seems far-fetched for your lifestyle (which is completely understandable), you can probably go outside for at least 10 minutes each day (it doesn’t even have to be consecutive!). As a general trend, most of us are Vitamin D deficient. Getting only 10 minutes of sun exposure each day provides us with our daily dose! Don’t forget the SPF.

    Exposure to natural light can also elevate your mood, improve your concentration and help you to heal from surgery or injury faster. Additionally, fresh air can help clear your lungs, give you more energy, lower blood pressure and improve digestion. So whether it’s a full-on barefoot walk in the woods (one of my favorite hobbies) or an al fresco coffee break, try to get outside when and where you can!

    4. BE NICER TO YOURSELF

    Negative self-talk is so 2000-and-late. Think about the way you speak to yourself when you’re unhappy. Now imagine someone saying those things to your best friend. Is ‘someone’ getting punched in the face in your mind? Probably. Now punch yourself in the face—with love.

    For the most part, you create your own future. Thoughts do become things. Everything begins in the mind, so once you learn to better control your thoughts, you can better control the environment around you. Or, at the very least, learn what you’re able to control (more on that later in the post). Giving yourself the same grace and forgiveness that you’d give a colleague, friend or loved one is paramount.

    Don’t know where to start? Roseann Capanna-Hodge, pediatric mental health expert and psychologist, suggests adjusting your everyday vocabulary—both your internal and external dialogue. “Instead of always focusing on the negative, flip your dialogue to only positive outcomes. For example, instead of saying ‘If I get that job,’ switch it to ‘When I get that job.’ Those subtle changes in using positive language helps to change your mindset.” You can train your mind to transmute feelings of lack to those of abundance.

    One small way to increase the flow of positive mental vibes is to repeat a personal mantra when you hit points of stress. The best way to do this is to make it something simple to remember that reminds you of the important things in your life. Examples include:

    • Everything is temporary.
    • This too shall pass.
    • I am stronger than I think I am.
    • This is a learning experience.
    • I am evolving.
    • I am resilient.
    • I am not alone.

    Make it your own and take your power back. It sends a clear message (if only to yourself) that you can’t be taken down so easily. Once you’ve internalized this idea, things that once stressed you out will now be put in their place.

    5. DRINK 1 MORE GLASS OF WAtER

    Chances are high that you’re not drinking enough water. Because barely any of us are. And of course you know that all humans need water to survive—we can only go three or four days without it. (For perspective, we can go about three weeks without food.) Drinking more water is probably one of the easiest, yet most beneficial, habits you can form. But “more water” means different things to different people.

    Start small. Replace just one of your daily beverages with water. Maybe it’s your morning juice, or afternoon tea, or third cup of coffee. If you’re mindful about what you’re putting into your body, you’ll be able to make this an intentional choice.

    Trigger yourself by leaving a big glass out on the counter or table. Or do what I do, and get a big travel mug with a lid. At night, I fill it up with a lot of ice and a bit of water, and in the morning it’s waiting for me: a nice, cool cup of water. Flush the toxins, kickstart your system, wake yourself up.

    “25 Tiny Habits That Could Totally Change Your Life” — Annie Mueller

    6. TRY 5 MINUTES OF MINDFULNESS

    No longer just a buzzword, people are starting to grasp what it really means to be “mindful.” When people speak of “mindfulness,” it’s often in the form of meditation, but it can also be practiced in other ways, such as breathing, walking or eating.

    Practicing mindfulness can be as easy as paying specific attention to the feeling of the water hitting your skin in the shower, or attentively listening to the birds chirping outside your window. It’s simply immersing yourself in the present moment and attuning to your surroundings. Meditation is a powerful way to ritualize mindfulness. You can ease into it by just sitting in silence for a few minutes each day. You don’t have to sit in any specific way; you don’t have to close your eyes; you don’t have to do anything. Just sit in silence for a few minutes.

    Cognitive psychologist, Sarah C. McEwen, says, “A mindfulness meditation practice will have a tremendous positive effect long-term.” Practicing meditation regularly can improve your health: “it lowers the negative effects of not only high cortisol, but also high cholesterol and high blood pressure,” McEwen explains. Other benefits include mental clarity and focus, improvement of memory, and overall higher level of mental performance.

    The concept of meditation may be intimidating or too “woo woo” for some people. However, once you start doing it, you’ll realize it’s neither of those things. Check out these free resources and apps and try five minutes.

    7. CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN

    From health opinions, to political leadership, to financial safety, to education plans—nothing is certain right now. Humans need safety and consistency to thrive, so when we’re not experiencing those things, we look to control other aspects of our lives. This can often lead to unhealthy habits and self-medication. There’s a reason the Serenity Prayer is used in many recovery programs. Now is a time to remind ourselves that the only thing we can control is ourselves.

    In an article on Inc.com, Mareo McCracken, Revenue Leader for Movemedical, writes, “Success and joy come from focusing on what you can control. Whenever you focus on situations or people outside of your control, you lose even more control, you enter a state of deception and despair.” We can’t control a global pandemic. We can control what we think and how we react to it. Here are a couple healthy ways to cope with external stressors:

    MOVE YOUR BODY DAILY

    Perhaps this means taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking further away from your location to get a few more steps in. Perhaps this means going to the gym or a weekly fitness class. Perhaps this means chasing your toddler around the house. Whatever it means for you, make movement fit into your life wherever you can.

    MAKE GRATITUDE LISTS

    If you’re like me and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge with regard to self-improvement and personal development, you’ve probably seen this advice from your favorite person of interest: Gratitude changes your frequency. Or, in less esoteric terms, gratitude literally changes the neural structures in your brain, making us feel happier and more content.

    With this in mind, many of these same thought leaders suggest creating daily lists to attune to the frequency of gratitude. This can be as simple as writing down three things you’re grateful for each day: spending time with your partner, eating a delicious meal, getting a great night’s sleep, etc. You can keep a gratitude notebook, or type it in your favorite notes app. There are even specific apps for this very purpose; my favorite is the Five Minute Journal.

    It’s important to be able to distinguish between what is within and without of our control. These days, it seems as if we’re in collective fight or flight mode at any given moment. This is unhealthy for our minds and bodies, so we must decide how we’re going to tame these gnarly beasts. We do this by controlling only what we’re able to, and doing our very best to let go of the rest.

    As the philosopher William Ocean once proclaimed, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” And the current consensus is the going is pretty tough.

    However, you currently have the means to afford a device that allows you to read this article. Or you have a friend or loved one who has allowed you to use their device. You have your eyesight or assistive technology to allow you to take in this information. You have the air in your lungs and the clothes on your back.

    We always have something to be grateful for, and once we change our perception of the world around us—once we change our mindset—we change the physical structure of our bodies and brains. We accomplish this through simple, realistic changes over time.

    Begin anywhere, try your best, and we’ll make it a better end to 2020.

  • HOW COVID-19 WILL CHANGE OUR HABITS

    HOW COVID-19 WILL CHANGE OUR HABITS

    As we continue self-isolating, we also continue thinking about how the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting impact on our world, our surroundings and ourselves. Will handshakes become passé, or worse, downright irresponsible? Will face masks make the full leap from protection to fashion? Will we realize that all those in-person meetings could have, in fact, been emails? More than likely; more than likely; and yes. Yes they could’ve.

    It’s an uncertain time—more uncertain than we’ve ever known. There’s not much keeping us grounded right now; days are bleeding together (… so you’re saying today’s not Wednesday?) and some may find it increasingly difficult to stay positive when there’s no clear end in sight. And maybe that’s just the way it is now. And maybe we’re changing and rearranging our priorities without even really realizing it. And maybe that’s a good thing.

    Let’s explore what the near future may look like. Here’s how COVID-19 will change our habits:

    PRIORITIES
    Prior to the shift to self-isolation, most people’s lives revolved around going: going to work, going to a meeting, going out to dinner, going to pick up the kids from practice, going to a fitness class, going to sleep. (Some of us still do that last one.) For as long as I can remember, going was equivalent to doing. If there’s anything this pandemic has taught us—other than the importance of HAND WASHING, PEOPLE—it’s that doing is not necessarily reliant on going.

    HOME

    From 2017 to 2018, there was a 67 percent increase in the number of tiny homes built in the United States. And among tiny home owners, 68 percent of them no longer pay a mortgage. What this data suggests is that each year, more and more people are sacrificing the interior space of a suburban house or geographic convenience of a city house to become landowners and, more importantly, financially free. The blueprint for “home” is no longer one-size-fits-most.

    A growing interest in tiny homes isn’t the only residential trend we’re seeing lately. User-generated review giant, Yelp, recently released charts that indicate major shifts in people’s interests during the coronavirus outbreak. Some of these changes are obvious: fewer sit-down dining experiences, more take-out and delivery. People are also opting out of elective procedures and using medical services for emergency needs only. There’s also a significant decrease in leisurely outings and a spike in domestic activities, particularly home fitness, pet care and TV. Social distancing was obviously the initial catalyst for these changes, but as people’s routines increasingly shift toward more time at home, it’s not out of the scope of possibility that this will continue once we’re safe to resume our regularly scheduled lives.

    WORK

    What the tiny home data further suggests is a collective shift in priorities—from money and materialism to deeper personal fulfillment. Leading up to the pandemic, many companies began allowing employees to work from home at least one day per week, or work the hours that best fit their schedule rather than the standard “9 to 5.” Social distancing has shown us that the majority of jobs in the U.S. can be done remotely—even medicine, in many cases.

    COVID-19 will sweep away many of the artificial barriers to moving more of our lives online. Not everything can become virtual, of course. But in many areas of our lives, uptake on genuinely useful online tools has been slowed by powerful legacy players, often working in collaboration with overcautious bureaucrats. Medicare allowing billing for telemedicine was a long-overdue change, for instance, as was revisiting HIPAA to permit more medical providers to use the same tools the rest of us use every day to communicate, such as Skype, Facetime and email. The regulatory bureaucracy might well have dragged its feet on this for many more years if not for this crisis.

    Source: Katherine Mangu-Ward via Politico

    A University of Southern California survey found that of people with jobs currently, 59 percent said they would have difficulty working from home. So while not every job can be done remotely, many people are now realizing that the barriers between having to put on a full face of makeup and heels, commute to and from the office (probably getting stuck in traffic at some point), attend meetings and participate in any office politics … and efficiently working from home … have only ever been 1) permission from the boss; and 2) the ability to download and use a few apps. “Once companies sort out their remote work dance steps,” says Reason magazine editor-in-chief, Katherine Mangu-Ward, “it will be harder—and more expensive—to deny employees those options. In other words, it turns out, an awful lot of meetings (and doctors’ appointments and classes) really could have been an email. And now they will be.”

    SCHOOL

    What Ward says about school, however, may not ring true for everyone. “The resistance—led by teachers’ unions and the politicians beholden to them—to allowing partial homeschooling or online learning for K-12 kids has been swept away by necessity. It will be near-impossible to put that genie back in the bottle in the fall, with many families finding that they prefer full or partial homeschooling or online homework.”

    It’s certainly understandable that many parents are realizing that they would like to play a more active role in their child’s education, but full homeschooling just isn’t an option for most people. Most people I know, at least. I don’t know what kind of billionaires you’re hanging out with.
     
    Even if it were a financial possibility for all families to homeschool, I’ve gathered—anecdotally and via social media—that most parents don’t want to be around their kids for that many hours. It’s a lot of hours. And teaching is hard. More importantly, teaching effectively is hard. There are ways to better incorporate technology into the education process, sure, but if I were a betting lady—which I am, but only while playing Texas Hold ‘Em—I wouldn’t bet on classrooms disappearing anytime soon.

    HEALTH & SAFETY

    When USC published its first round of study results last month, it showed that COVID-19 had already created significant changes in people’s behavior:

    • 85 percent of people reported washing their hands or using sanitizer more often than before
    • 61 percent reported following social distancing guidelines

    Yale School of Medicine health psychologist, Valeria Martinez-Kaigi, who is not affiliated with the study, predicts that after the initial coronavirus threat has passed, new habits like hand washing, self-isolating and hoarding food will scale back considerably. The USC study also found that 22 percent of people reported stockpiling essentials like food and water.

    Side question to all of you who are just now discovering the necessity of hand washing: BUT WHY?

    FOOD

    I know in my household, we’ve been making a concerted effort to be mindful of what we’re buying and from whom. We’re making a point to purchase our vegetables and limited animal products from local farmers, and use all the groceries in the fridge. I’ve always been pro-leftovers (both the food item and the television show), and I don’t understand people who aren’t. (However, I do understand that microwaved fries are intensely subpar.) We’ve consciously chosen to use hand towels for both drying and acting like a napkin purposes. We’re basically killing it.

    According to a survey by AMC Global, a market research firm, consumers report:
    • 45 percent say they’re currently eating less fast food than they typically do
    • 38 percent say they will support local businesses more frequently in the future
    • 32 percent plan to make more home-cooked meals once we’re clear of coronavirus

    In a presentation titled “Trends in the COVID-19 Recovery That Will Shape Main Street,” Main Street America’s Vice Presentation of Revitalization Programs, Matt Wagner, Ph.D., outlined points that echo the survey results:

    • People have learned to cook and/or are cooking at home more often, which will impact businesses that provide “food away from home;” consumers are getting used to delivery (even for groceries), so restaurants and bars will need to address this
    • There is a movement toward self-sufficiency and sustainability; minimalism and home gardening are on the upswing
    PROTECTION
    Prior to the 1918 influenza pandemic, covering one’s cough was nearly unheard of. Now, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, new hygienic practices are bound to take hold. Kate White, a behavioral scientist at the University of British Columbia, predicts, “Our vigilance around things like disinfecting surfaces—that’s probably going to continue.”
     

    According to internist and health expert, Dr. Okeke-Igbokwe, touching surfaces and pushing buttons in public may soon be an action of the past. Even prior to COVID-19, most people were aware of everyday germ hotspots: ATMs, credit card swipers, elevator buttons, gas pumps and the like. She predicts that more people will start adopting the habit of pressing buttons with their elbows or clothing-covered fingers.

    But where there’s a problem, capitalism has a solution! In this case, it’s something called a “CleanKey,” and as a lifelong compulsive hand-washer and fan of FUNKY-@$$ JAMZ, its targeted Instagram ads really speak to me.
     

    I swear this isn’t an ad, I just want one. 

    Ann Bostrom, who studies risk perception and communication at the University of Washington, Seattle, says it will take more than just messaging to change behaviors on a large scale. Our compliance as humans often relies on being given the tools we need to easily follow new rules. “If there’s a mask available from the dispenser at the front of the building,” Bostrom explains, “you’re probably more likely to put it on.” The same goes for using hand sanitizing stations.

    CULTURe

    On the other side of this pandemic is a newfound respect for healthcare workers. “Perhaps we will recognize their sacrifice as true patriotism,” says Mark Lawrence Schrad, author and associate professor of political science. We will thank them for their service, as we do now with military veterans. They’ll receive guaranteed benefits and corporate discounts. “Perhaps too,” Schrad continues, “we will finally start to understand patriotism more as cultivating the health and life of your community, rather than blowing up someone else’s community.”

    Maybe the de-militarization of American patriotism and love of community will be one of the benefits to come out of this whole awful mess.

    TIME

    It has been said since the beginning of recorded time: Humans are creatures of habit. And habits of mind and lifestyle don’t change easily. The idea that it takes 21 days to form a new habit is a myth—it’s not as cut-and-dry. “On average, it takes more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic—66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances.” In a study by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it took anywhere from 18 to 254 days for people to form a new habit.

    The priority of going has created a frenzied, compartmentalized lifestyle where we become agitated or even angry if we’re in a waiting room for more than 10 minutes. And we must be connected and “on the grid” at all times. How many people have you heard say that they can’t live without their phones? Really?! Can’t live?! What a sad, fragile existence. In an article in The Atlantic, writer and physicist, Alan Lightman, comments on this phenomenon: “We have sold our inner selves to the devil of speed, efficiency, money, hyper-connectivity, ‘progress.’” 
    MINDFULNESS

    Although the unknown can be stressful, especially for those accustomed to living their lives in scheduled chunks, this pandemic has given most of us the gift of time. A chance to slow down. A chance to rest. Lightman explains, “The mind needs periods of calm. Such a need has been recognized for thousands of years. It was described as early as 1500 B.C., in the meditation traditions of Hinduism. Later in Buddhism.”

    When a monk has gone into an empty place and has calmed his mind, [he] experiences a delight that transcends that of [other] men.
    — Ancient passage from the Buddhist Dhammapada
     
    As frightening as the COVID-19 pandemic is, it may be forcing many of us to slow down and spend more time looking inward. With more quiet, more privacy and more stillness, we’ve been given an opportunity to reflect on who we are as individuals, and as a society. 
    CONCLUSION
    We’re in uncharted waters trying to navigate a ship in the dark. We’re experiencing an unprecedented event in history. We’re in the veritable Upside Down. How we react and respond right now will have a significant impact on our lives. The habits we’re developing during this time—good or bad—could very likely follow us into the future.
     
    Nature wants balance. It requires a stable equilibrium: homeostasis. It always has a way of correcting itself—and maybe, just maybe, that’s what it’s doing now. This is not at all a reference to those we’ve lost to the virus; it’s simply a comment on the current trend toward self-sufficiency, sustainability and seeking a greater truth.
     
    We all have the desire to be free, and some of the innovations we’ve seen develop during the coronavirus have shown us that true freedom may just be possible. Whether it’s the use of Bluetooth smart thermometers that can transmit a person’s temperature and geolocation to an offsite database, or members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra using smartphones to perform together—apart—from 29 unique locations, technology can help us break obsolete or imagined chains and connect in more meaningful ways.
     

    Stay safe and we’ll see you soon. We will not, however, be shaking hands.