PANDEMIC OBSESSIONS

The pandemic of the past couple of years has been unprecedented, but they’ve also led to newfound obsessions and pleasures.

- Anis Taufik

At this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the #newnormal should just be “normal”, right? Yet, the early days that paved the way for where we are now were marked with a couple of obsessions that captured our time and attention, reigniting our sense of hope and optimism. Read on to find out all about them.

GREENING THE ABODE

For as long as the human race has walked this earth, we’ve had a complicated, dual relationship with the natural world – a quiet sense of awe at its wonders coupled with a desire to conquer and bring it under our control. It’s hard to pinpoint at exactly which stage of the pandemic our obsession with houseplants began, but grasping at its appeal is easy enough. After all, when the great outdoors are forbidden to us, it makes perfect sense to attempt to bring a sense of nature and wilderness into the domicile.

Plant lovers often enthuse that focusing on gardening and tending to their collection act as the perfect outlet to de-stressing. During the lockdown, this hobby may have served as a lifeline to momentarily distract from the raging pandemic and soaring COVID-19 case numbers. We can imagine why: as you prune away dead leaves, mix compost and repot succulents, you’re forced to be present and pay attention to the task at hand. Tending to houseplants literally requires both hands, forcing you to put down your phone and carefully consider the gentle living organism in your care. What better way to reduce screen time and end doomscrolling?