Hi everyone! I hope you all are doing well and starting to feel some sort of relief with things opening up again! For myself, I have been enjoying going out to dinner and seeing some friends again! It is still with feelings of anxiety and uncertainty! For starters, it can be nerve-wracking even just to socialize again since we have been without that for quite some time.
With most things being virtual, it can feel weird to actually meet or go out with someone in person. Maybe a job was remote for so long and now it’s time to get back into the office? That can seem scary! I know some of my classes will be in person again and that does make me nervous!
There is always hope in managing these worries!
So how do we go back to “normal” after COVID-19? Please read below:
Let’s talk about the awkwardness:
I read an article called “embrace the awkward”, which is one I love. This article discusses how to slowly get back to socializing in person again. What are your thoughts on this?
A lot of the time, we are not the only ones feeling awkward or uncomfortable, there are many others feeling the same way. Acknowledging that it is weird to come back to the job or go out in a social event can help alleviate some of this tension and help start a conversation. But don’t worry if this one is not for you, there are other techniques that may sound better!
One step at a time:
We can also alleviate our worries if we remind ourselves that we do not have to rush back into everything all at once.
We can start small:
-If we have the option to work a few days at home and a few days at our jobsite, we can consider this.
-We do not have to say “yes” to the first invite out we get from friends or coworkers.
-We can start by going grocery shopping, instead of ordering online, or ordering pick-up so we can get out of the house.
-Remembering not to compare our lives to those around us. Everyone lives a different life and has different feelings about getting back to their pre-virus routines.
-Little things like this can slowly ease our way back into a “normal” routine like the one before COVID-19.
Being there for loved ones and partners:
-Letting our loved ones know that we are there for them is important. So many people have struggled with mental health issues before the virus and are having an even harder time adjusting to the world as it is now.
-Supporting loved ones and partners and meeting them where they are at can help build communication, trust and empathy in our relationships.
-Communicating to our loved ones how we feel is also important because they may not be aware of our struggles.
Processing the pandemic:
-Taking time to acknowledge our feelings and traumas during the virus can help bring closure to it. Although the virus is not gone, we can try to process and bring closure to what we went through during our time in quarantine.
–Making an appointment with Ms. Ebony in June, can be a start in finding the support we need.
-Writing down our thoughts and feelings can also help us close the pandemic chapter of our lives and start a new one!
-Lastly, stay connected with us and let us know how you are feeling.
Written by: Christina Chokas BS
