In March 2020, the world was fundamentally transformed. The world was put under lockdown by almost everyone. Billions of people had to learn how to live with some semblance of normalcy. COVID-19 is not going away. However, some people feel that the worst is over thanks to the fall in infection rates and the vaccine. Gen Xers still have concerns about the impact of the pandemic on their lives.
I’m Uncoachable, I’m Unsociable
The best place to find out what the often-forgotten generation of GenX is up to these days is the r/GenX Subreddit. Recently, a provocative post gained a lot of attention. @PenSeawood tweeted an interesting question “Has anyone else found that since 2020, you’ve become more introverted, less sociable?”
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COVID-19 sent millions of people indoors, so social skills were regressed. One of the most popular comments is that Introverty only became more severe: “I was already a huge introvert. The past few years just made it deeper.”Commenters were astonished that they could be more introverted.
Another author writes “Same. But I have to admit, I used to get some social interaction from work that is no longer there and I am starting to feel really isolated.”Sometimes, it takes years before isolation really sets in.
Still Going Out, But Prefer To Stay In
“Yes, absolutely. At 48, all I want to do is be alone,”One commenter stated. Another comments that they do not leave the house willingly. “I work from home. I’m prime GenX (born late 71) . I hate leaving my house at all. Lol. I do it. I have a good time. I sing in a choir, I go to musicals in the summer with friends but if I could just be with my dogs and spouse at home? I would do that!”
A small disclaimer
You have to accept the fact that people who post on subreddits tend to spend more time online. This can lead to introversion so comments on subreddit may favor unsociable tendencies. One commenter said, “I guess all the introverted Gen Xers hang out on Reddit! Funny.”
COVID-19 made brains work differently. It’s that simple. One commenter expounds on the importance of this change. “I’ve always been a very sociable person, very outgoing… “A people person“ if you will. Ever since 2020 I truly have no desire. A silver lining to the ‘Covid era’ is I seemed to take off my rose-colored glasses. I’m not a shut-in in my house like the Unabomber or anything but I truly just don’t feel like socializing with that many people anymore.”
The Gen Xers don’t have it all. These skills took many years to acquire and only two years to lose their effectiveness. Here’s hoping folks can reach levels of introversion that are natural and right for them as COVID-19 continues.