Normalise... No

If I had a dollar for every time someone said “normalise” in the past couple of years since COVID-19, I’d probably be able to fund a campaign to normalise retiring the word altogether. Once a powerful call for societal change, it’s now the linguistic equivalent of a sigh—overused, tired, and utterly drained of its meaning.

Originally, “normalise” had weight. It was a rallying cry to destigmatise issues, foster inclusivity, and challenge outdated norms. “Normalise talking about mental health.” “Normalise diverse body types.” These phrases meant something—they pushed society to rethink the status quo.

But somewhere along the way, “normalise” started showing up in places it didn’t belong. “Normalise eating cereal for dinner.” “Normalise forgetting to reply to texts.” “Normalise wearing Crocs with socks.” (For the love of God, no.)

And just like that, the word lost its edge.

When we use a word for everything, it starts to mean nothing. Instead of a powerful call to action, “normalise” has become a placeholder for “I want this to be okay.” It’s not wrong—it’s just lazy. And when overuse turns a meaningful word into a meme, it makes it harder to take seriously when it matters.

Language is how we shape our understanding of the world. Words like “normalise” can spark change when used intentionally. But they lose their bite when we sprinkle them into every conversation like seasoning. We dilute the impact of meaningful discourse.

So, what’s the alternative? Maybe it’s time to let “normalise” rest for a bit. Instead of normalising, we could:

• Celebrate differences.
• Advocate for change.
• Accept quirks as part of life’s wonderful chaos.

Or maybe we could skip the buzzwords altogether and just do the thing: talk about mental health. Wear the Crocs (please don’t). Eat the cereal at midnight. Live the life, no hashtags required.

Not everything needs to be “normal.” It’s okay to be unconventional, weird, or even downright strange. Maybe we should normalise letting go of normal.