SYDNEY, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The changes caused by COVID-19 has encouraged many Australians to readjust their outlooks and lifestyles, according to a report released on Thursday.
The report, published in the journal Sustainability, found that the self-isolation imposed by the pandemic had restricted people's regular ways of living and they "began a process of transformation in their daily lives."
Study leader Dr. Franzisca Weder from the University of Queensland (UQ) said a surprising finding from their survey was that sustainable behaviors were becoming the "new normal" for many people.
It was a time for people to reflect on their own lives and behaviors, and focus more on those aspects which are important for them, she told Xinhua on Thursday.
"We found, for example, people became more conscious about their home, neighbors and community."
Weder said there was a general desire to become more resilient and self-sufficient, which was driven by factors such as food shortages in supermarkets.
Many of the participants in the survey started to grow their own veggies and do more gardening during lockdown, she said.
"We found people were making healthier food choices, practicing better waste management and adopting other behaviors you'd expect from lockdowns such as less long-distance traveling and more cycling, walking and running."
Weder said the pandemic, in fact, had more impact on people's behavior than global issues such as climate change where calls from authorities for fundamental lifestyle changes have not been widely followed by the public.
She said the existential issue of climate change tended to make people anxious or guilty whereas the pandemic had made them angry.
"I think it is very human to be angry when you're restricted or limited in your personal choices and freedom, but this can be good because anger provides a stronger motivation to change things permanently."
Weder also said the concept of sustainability had taken on a new meaning since the pandemic.
"Not everyone agrees on what 'sustainability' is, we're told it's doing things like preserving water, recycling, and putting solar panels on our roofs," she said.
"But I think we need to find our own meaning. Sustainability could become a value, like integrity and inclusion, and a way for us to find a way to be good citizens." ■
