Fortunately, while the world locked down, technology was here to alleviate the stress as best it could. Zoom meetings, virtual socials, and dozens of other remote alternatives to real world events saved us from the disconnectedness and – let’s be honest – boredom of the world’s first pandemic in a hundred years. From workout sessions and work meetings to comedy shows and game nights, millions of people have used technology to ease the burden of the pandemic, so that staying connected, relevant, and healthy doesn’t have to take a backseat to surviving a global pandemic. We talked to a wide range of individuals and organizations that used technology to retain a sense of normalcy during abnormal times. Take a look at what they had to say about how technology saved them and their passions. In fact, in many cases, the pandemic presented opportunities for businesses to increase sales. With millions of previously uninitiated tech users taking to the internet to stay connected, many business owners were able to take advantage through virtual events and enjoy higher attendance than ever before. While many businesses had the luxury of working from home, performers like stand-up comedians were left to wonder where the stage time might come from and, more importantly, how they were going to pay their bills. Fortunately, Zoom comedy shows swooped in and provided a new avenue to laughs and a more convenient and effective means of getting tips into the hands of comedians. While businesses closed and lay-offs took hold, technology provided a wide variety of new avenues to make money and stay solvent during the pandemic. Fortunately, technology like video chat platforms have allowed people to stay in touch in one way or another, leading to a much healthier experience for everyone. It’s not just work happy hours and social checkups either. Video chat and other technological hacks have allowed people to branch out from their normal behavior and lean into the virtual nature of social interactions. Technology has even allowed game nights to take on a whole new life of their own, and we’re here for mental health benefits that stem from it. Simply put, technology paved the way for everyday people to circumvent the stay-at-home orders and create a virtual life that could — at least partially — take the place of your social life long enough to facilitate a bit of mental health. But with technology, staying in front of your clients and keeping in touch with your team didn’t have to be a chore. Sure, there were growing pains, like Zoom security problems or Slack outages, but generally speaking, employees had a way to keep the lights on thanks to technology. Tradition businesses had it a bit easier than others, though. For example, gyms had a lot of trouble, offering a small, poorly ventilated experience that features active people grunting and breathing loudly in close proximity to one another. Fortunately, virtual event software provide a means to keep the lights on and provide a fitness alternative to in-person workouts. It may be easy to forget, but there were a lot of new hires during the pandemic as well. In many cases, these people started jobs and worked with coworkers that they had never met in person for years. Technology alleviated that awkwardness with video chat meetings that could, at least somewhat, simulate the work experience and allow these new employees to still grow within their role. There’s no true replacement for in-person work, particularly when it comes to staying relevant in the business world. Still, technology bridged the gap to allow employees and business owners alike to stay in the fight to keep their business open and thriving. Technology facilitated that connection, and we’re very fortunate that it did. Most companies used Zoom and other video conferencing tools to host meetings and check-ins with employees. Still, some companies took that connection to a whole new level. While video calls have become significantly more common in an effort to make connecting a bit easier, we can all admit that they don’t match the real thing. In fact, many argue that Zoom fatigue and similar conditions have paved the way for less connection than before. Still, something is better than nothing, particularly during a pandemic that has kept people indoors for the majority of the last two years. And even if it’s a watered down version of connection, we’d much rather connect with our co-workers, friends, and families over video call than not at all. Technology has saved us during the pandemic in a number of ways. It kept us mentally healthy, financially solvent, professional, relevant, and personally connected to the people in our lives. While it may seem like the worst days of the COVID-19 are behind us, technology and its newest innovations will continue to help us stay the course, pandemic or not.
