Aristotle referred to man as “a social animal.” And it is interesting to delve into the famous Aristotelian quote which, in its entirety, reads as follows:

“Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god.”

So, does this mean that the pandemic pushed us to become bestial or divine? It is apparent that Covid respects nothing, (including Aristotle’s sentiments). We have redefined (and do so everyday) how we interact socially thanks to the virus. And as much as we would love to be peripatetic (like the followers of Aristotle), it appears that we have some ways to go before we can reclaim unfettered movement. (Score: Pandemic 1, Aristotle 0)

The remoteness of being

So much of our life has become remote - workplaces, relationships, parties, meetings and even celebrations. Never before in human existence have we relied on technology and telecommunications to live our social life. Never before in human history have we had so many bonds and associations that do not rely on physical meetings. 

Take work, for instance. WFH(Work from Home) has become one of the ‘keywords’ in any context involving the pandemic. And suddenly, a lot of companies have discovered that they can be highly productive even when their people WFH permanently. Video conferences, all kinds of online messaging tools and digital platforms help people connect and work as best as possible. Virtual reality, cloud storage and remote training tools are par for the course and a growing number of people understand, accept, and use these tools to get closer.

It also looks like many remote workers would like to continue being, well, remote, even after the pandemic ends. According to a study by Pew Research Center, 54% of employed adults want to continue working from home. 

Let’s get closer, anyway

The Pew Research Centre study also sheds light on the emotional side of things of working from home. Around a third of the respondents say that they lack motivation to work when they are sitting at home. There are the obvious challenges; availability of work space at home, fast and reliable internet access, interruptions by people and pets seeking attention, and even the availability of time, but the biggest challenge seems to be motivation and mental energy.

Typically, at work, people interact with team members, celebrate achievements and get almost instant validation of work and success. High fives, friendly banter and (even the games people play) the availability of instant support etc., can help keep an individual motivated. Perhaps one of the biggest encouragements comes from the recognition of success. Bosses give star employees different kinds of rewards, team leaders give gifts to their team members and colleagues can give each other tokens of appreciation too. These gifts can be anything from watches, flowers, coupons, chocolates, and candies

We crave and thrive on recognition and close relationships, despite the pandemic. (Perhaps now, Aristotle has drawn equal, man being social and all… Score: Pandemic 1, Aristotle 1) 

Tech the smart way out

Nothing should come in the way of you recognising / rewarding / showing love to anybody. Whether it is a colleague, an employee or an employer, a family member, a friend, your beloved and every other person you can think of - nothing should prevent you from making them feel special. True, the pandemic may not allow you to meet them but who says that gifts have to be given only during physical meetings?

Isn’t that what technology does - make your life easier when it comes to gifting? 

And voila - that’s exactly what CandySwag does! 

• Makes your life easier

• Helps you give the most awesome gifts ever

• Cheers on Aristotle and 

• Cocks a snook at Covid

You know the drill now - visit us at candyswag.com and start your delicious on the immensely satisfying art of remote gifting. 

PS - Aristotle (and being on the move) for the win.