How have we (and the world) changed in the last decade!

Happy New Year! And happy new decade!

We have officially entered the 2020s. The 2010s came with its highlights, dramas and effects. The world seemed to move a thousand years faster in just 10 years.

How did all this affect us, our lives, our mental health, positively or negatively?

3 things that changed in the last decade

More awareness of mental health

The stigma and prejudice of mental health has not been eliminated. However, there is more talk on the subject. There seems to be more awareness and education.

One contributory factor could be celebrities became more open about their challenges with mental health.

There were a few unexpected high profile celebrities including Robin Williams, that sadly died by suicide. This may have been an eye opener for some that mental illness can affect anyone regardless of social status and race. Even in the church world, there was openness that depression and suicide existed within the church walls.

Explosive growth of social media

Suddenly in the 2010s, everyone and their pet was on social media. Quite a few social media sites had pre-existed the decade.

But the definition of social media grew from keeping in touch, to celebrities wannabes. Social media became an avenue to flaunt the car, the minimalist white kitchen, the dream holiday and the dog!

The pressures on social media grew too. Exes found another. People found out they were no longer in relationships through status changes🤦🏽‍♀️.

Social media also became a scandal engine, sending news viral in the twinkle of an eye. Everyone seemed to be immersed in social media making us less conversational. Making us less ‘social’.

Imagine, two people could be sitting next to each other, yet communicating via social media.

How did all this help our mental health?

In some ways, we became more insular, more robotic, more competitive and pressured to keep up with the Jones’ white minimalist kitchen!

Change in the way we shopped

In the United Kingdom, the number of shops that vanished from the high street in the last decade is staggering…

Comets, BHS, Toys R Us, Maplins, JJB Sports, Blockbuster, Tie Rack, to name a few of the high street meltdown.

Amazon’s and Ebay’s rise with online shopping may have brought a strong influence in how we shop. With Amazon even offering same day delivery, it had to be a win win!

It is said 67% of millennial prefer shopping online! I do not believe that the trend will go downwards in the coming decade, do you?

Then, also bargain shops started springing up, even in well to do areas. This meant that even the well-to-do were no longer turning their posh nose up at a bargain!

Online shopping may be convenient but may also be a trap for those that find it a little challenging curbing their spending habit, addictions or debt issues. Remember, online stores never close. One statistics from CouponFollow quoted 42% of shoppers go over their budget when doing online shopping.

Then the advertising is another thing. Take for instance the other day, I was merely, just merely, looking at some furniture. The next thing, that furniture that I took a mere peep, kept appearing on every other screen as a constant BUY ME shopping cue. Come on now.

Having said all the above, when all is said and done, the last decade still brought about many positives in all these things amidst some of their disadvantages listed.

No doubt the next 10 years will bring even more on both sides. The lesson to be learnt is to guard our mental and emotional health at all cost.

Because when all is said and done, health is truly wealth. And that is key in making the most of the 2020’s

Wishing you a prosperous and healthy sound 2020, with an exciting decade ahead!

What are your thoughts on the last decade? What do you anticipate in the next decade? Please share.

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