REFLECTING IRELAND - CHANGING LIVES
The latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series, published today, shines a light on our changing lives. Produced by Permanent TSB in partnership with Core Research and BehaviourWise, the findings explore how our lives have changed since the pandemic. The last few years have been turbulent both at home and globally, with the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living all taking their toll. We look at how our priorities and our behaviours have changed as a result. We look at our lifestyles, working lives, media habits and social lives. We ask what people find easier or harder since the pandemic and we explore people’s attitudes to housing, consistently reported throughout the Reflecting Ireland series as a key concern.
Shifting priorities
The Covid pandemic gave us the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on how we wanted to live our lives. Our research reveals that for 6 out of 10, quality of life, mental wellbeing and physical health have become more important since the pandemic. Managing work life balance has become twice as important as managing career. For over half of us, managing money has become more important. So too has spending time with friends or family. Half of us value being mindful and getting ‘me’ time more than we did before.
Some things are easier, some are harder
People now find it easier to take exercise, cook from scratch and manage work life balance. However almost two thirds say they find it more difficult to control their utility bills or save money, and half are struggling to manage their finances.
Changed behaviours
There was much discussion during the pandemic about the lifestyle changes that would transpire as a result, and which changes would become permanent. Flexible working in various forms has become more normalised. Workers seek it and employers are expected to offer it. We find that a third of workers now avail of hybrid or remote working. Half of us socialise less than we did before the pandemic, particularly those between 25 and 54. Over half of us regularly socialise at home.
Psychological wellbeing
There are three basic psychological needs that are fundamental to our wellbeing: a sense of control over our lives, connection with others and feeling capable in what we do (1). We call them the 3 ‘C’s. Since the pandemic, we have tried to exert greater control over our lives. The opportunity to choose how we work, whether that’s remotely, hybrid or at the workplace, increases our sense of control. So too does technology which enables us to work, communicate or entertain ourselves wherever and whenever we want to. Connection with others, particularly in person, is also vital to our wellbeing. We learned to live remotely during the pandemic and since then many of us find ourselves socialising less. Habits formed during the pandemic may play some role in this. Habit is the reason given by almost half of those that are socialising less, followed by lifestyle changes and the fact that it is simply too much hassle. Hopefully as we head towards summer, we will see this pattern change.
Read the full report here:
https://www.permanenttsb.ie/globalassets/blogs/reflecting-ireland-report-changing-lives.pdf
(1) Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L., 2000. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American psychologist, 55(1), p.68.
