Happy New Year 2021

It’s the last day of the year almost no one expected.

I think there was a guy in 2014 or thereabouts who warned everyone about a future global pandemic.

But as is the way of predictions, he couldn’t say exactly when it would happen.

If only, right?

How different 2020 would have been had we only known what was coming! (I would have bought a lot of stock in Charmin and the cardboard industry, I can tell you that!)

This is the time of year in “normal” years when many of us reflect upon the previous twelve months.

I think people are reflecting this year, too, but most of us are chomping at the bit to say a firm and final goodbye to a year that was nothing like any of us thought it would be.

I’ve taken time this week to dive deep into what I’d like to get done in 2021, thinking about what’s next in the new year.

Based on the shifts that took place in 2020, here is my list of five things to pay attention to in 2021:

1. Education -- “Online school sucks!” is a mantra everyone from kindergarteners to college seniors shouted in 2020. And it wasn’t just the students complaining. Teachers across the board weren’t too happy, either. While technology has certainly made getting access to educational content easier than ever, the desire to be with others in a real place for learning hasn’t changed. If anything, the pandemic has informed the masses that regular school wasn’t really all that bad, and can we please get back to the classroom? School will look different moving forward, with new approaches to online experiences that don’t suck. It won’t happen overnight, but the education system was already hanging on by a thread before the pandemic. The overhaul that’s coming will bring many positive changes and new opportunities for people who want to make a difference. 
2. Work -- Masses of people were forced to develop a work-from-home mindset almost overnight when lockdowns hit in mid-March. Some took to the format immediately and will never go back to the commute or office politics again. Others are not as enamored with wearing yoga pants and a hoodie all day just because why get dressed when you’re not going anywhere? Working remotely will remain strong through 2021 and may become a bargaining chip for top talent. 
3. Healthcare -- I feel like I’m cheating with this one because hello. The pandemic revealed how insanely inadequate America’s healthcare system is on a mass scale. Smart people are already working on solutions to this problem so that we are far more prepared to handle the volume of sick people showing up in emergency rooms should another crisis hit. Also -- shout out to the scientists and medical communities who worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine for our most vulnerable populations. I witnessed my 82-year-old father, who is counted among that vulnerable population, cheer wildly with fists pumping the air on December 8th when the first vaccine was administered to a 90-year old grandmother in the UK.  Regardless of your personal views about the efficacy of vaccines, this was a watershed moment for many and will most likely impact the way we move about the world once travel restrictions are lifted.
4. Social media -- The politics that divide us saw a mass exodus of folks from social media sites like Facebook in favor of newer platforms like Parler which doesn’t impose the same kinds of rules on users that they feel Facebook does. I lost several Facebook  friends who have different political views than I to Parler. Some have left social media completely. In fact, I personally took a 5-month break from Instagram beginning in August, deleting the app from my phone. Honestly, I didn't miss it a bit. Recently I got back on Instagram for professional reasons and am enjoying limited visits. I predict we will see more social media splintering in 2021 as more people make informed decisions about the role these platforms play in their lives. 
5. Cities -- Several of my friends are realtors in various parts of the country. Home prices in close-in suburbs of popular cities like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle were already crazy before the pandemic. They are even crazier now. One friend is looking to buy a place in her hometown of New Orleans and told me that the prices there are no better than in Portland, San Francisco, or Seattle. Referring back to #2 on this list -- if you can work remotely from anywhere, why would you stay in a housing market with insane home prices if you could get more for your money somewhere else with a higher quality of life? This is a question on many a mind these days. Watch for more migration away from cities to smaller towns where life isn’t as hectic, crowded, or expensive. Two interesting perspectives on people moving can be found here and here. 

What predictions would you add to this list? Share in the comments below!

Happy New Year 2021, everyone!