This year there have been many lifestyle changes that people have had to adapt to. From working from home to social distancing, all around the world societies have had to change their normal activities.

With an increase in the growth of Zoom calls, takeaway food, and online orders, it’s easy to see how these trends might continue for the rest of 2020 and beyond. Even our weekly shop may never be the same post covid-19, as research suggests that the pandemic and lockdown might have changed Brits’ buying habits permanently.

The social effects of covid-19 have hit all aspects of our lives. But while the pandemic may disrupt our daily routines, we can still adapt to the changing circumstances both now and in the future.

• More companies will prefer remote working to working from the office

At the onset of the pandemic, millions of workers were abruptly introduced to remote working and working from their own homes instead of the office. Even now with the easing of restrictions in the UK, many companies have chosen to fully adopt remote working for their staff.

With the use of video conferencing technology to manage remote workers and host virtual meetings, many organisations will continue with remote working programs in the future. A lot of staff seem to prefer it and business owners have also seen an increase in employee productivity. Working from office might become a thing of the past, and only essential personnel may have to work onsite.

• People will stream more video content rather than buying cinema tickets

With streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video rising fast over the years, theatrical movies were already declining. However, with lockdown, cinemas were forced to close which meant potentially more subscribers for these streaming platforms.

Even when cinema venues are allowed to open again, will movie lovers want to go back to a crowded showing? Or one where you have to social distance and wear face masks? A lot of cinemas around the UK have seen the harsh impact of lockdown, and it’s unclear just how many people will be willing to go back when they have films available at home.

• Online sports betting might be a better option than betting shops

Just like with a lot of business in the UK, when lockdown was announced, betting shops and casino establishments had to close their doors. While physical shops and venues couldn’t receive customers, online casinos and sports betting operators could still operate without any problems. So whether it was online Iowa sports betting or playing a couple of games on the digital casino, people were able to still do it from anywhere at any time.

The question will be, now that betting premises and casinos start to reopen, will people want to go in person? With some football games and sports matches being allowed to take place again, adults who want to place a bet can participate in online sports betting instead of going into betting shops. The extra convenience and added tools to manage responsible gambling online like using time-outs, wagering limits and deposit limits might mean some gamblers will be put off going into physical shops for good.

• Many people might prefer takeaway food than dining in

Before Coronavirus, people loved meeting up in restaurants to have drinks and meals with their friends. However, now most restaurants are encouraging takeaway meals to reduce crowding and physical contact.

While restaurants in the UK have now been allowed to open again, some are still experiencing low customer numbers as people are apprehensive about dining out. It could be likely that the trend of both food delivery and collection orders could continue for some time post-lockdown.

• Commuters will find more eco-friendly methods of travel

When the pandemic first struck the UK, public transport became a no-go zone for many people. Those who did still have to use trains and buses had to abide by social distancing rules and wear face masks. According to recent research, around 24 million Brits would rather avoid public transport post-lockdown. Around 66% of Brits also say that they would rather cycle or drive and 65% would not feel comfortable commuting to work via public transport anymore, because of covid-19.

While there might be better alternatives for some people, it might be difficult for a lot of people to avoid public transports in cities like London. However, as many people want to get out of their house and stretch their legs now, walking has become a popular method of transport for many.

• Video calls and virtual meetings might be here to stay

In today’s modern society, a lot of us have already communicated a lot online pre-covid. However, this communication was probably more through instant messaging rather than video calls. As lockdown measures were put in place in the UK, a lot of households had to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues, via video calls.

Zoom saw a huge spike in the number of video calls, and other software like Skype, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, were popular tools to use too. As many workers are happy with their new remote working schedules, and big social gatherings are still prohibited, could virtual meetings be the meetings of the future?