The pandemic has brought lifestyle changes and reassessment for many.
A recent survey has found that many young couples are bringing their plans to start a family forward as a result of the pandemic.
The survey, commissioned by online bank First Direct in the UK, found almost a quarter of 2,000 20-30-something-year-old couples polled said they were now trying for a baby despite no immediate plans to do so before the pandemic began last year.
On average, the couples said they were bringing family planning forward by around two years.
Most of them said the way in which Covid-19 upended plans and lifestyles made them realise life is short.
Others felt starting a family was now more accessible to them because of the flexibility and greater work-life balance they’ve been able to achieve through working from home.
Whether such intentions with materialise into a reality that impacts birth trends remains to be seen, as there has so far been no drastic increase in births since the pandemic began.
This could be because working from home and the flexibility it brings is limited to certain professions. Those working in service, construction, and other jobs that require a worker’s physical presence haven’t been able to benefit from the lifestyle changes that are allowing others to bring their plans to start a family forward.
