Collaborative Post
As there is increasing talk about schools opening their doors soon and retail stores are preparing to welcome shoppers, lockdown is gradually easing, and restrictions are being lifted. While many people are eager to feel a sense of normality again, for others, the prospect of a ‘new normal’ is bringing many new anxieties. Lockdown has created a safe bubble for people, and the threat of bursting that bubble is making people very nervous.
‘Re-entry anxiety‘, which is a specific form of stress is related to the fear of being unable to adapt to previously established routines, or not wanting to adapt to them. The anxiety that people are feeling now is the fear of trying to establish and be comfortable in our old lives before the COVID-19 outbreak and social distancing measures.
People can experience re-entry anxiety over any number of things; for example, if they have had a car accident, it may leave them scared and unwilling to get back into a car. This pandemic, whether you have caught coronavirus or not, has changed everyone’s lives and now caused anxiety around returning to normal.
It’s comforting to know that lots of people are feeling anxious right now, according to a recent poll by Ipsos MORI, 67% of British people feel uncomfortable about attending large public gatherings, music and sporting events, compared to how they felt before the virus, and three in five Brits are sceptical of going to bars and restaurants or using public transport again. If this is how you feel, you’re not on your own. So, what can you do about it?
Take each day at your own pace
Although the restrictions may ease in the coming weeks, remember that that doesn’t mean that you have to jump straight back into your old routine. Take baby steps, take your time and try to do a little more each day. If your office is reopening, but you can still work from home, then take your time. You don’t have to go straight back in full time, go in for one morning and then build it up and slowly re-establish a routine that you’re comfortable with.
If you can’t work from home and have to return to work, then talk with your employer about your concerns and find out what measures they have in place to protect you and keep you safe.
Try to keep calm
When you’re feeling anxious, it’s important that you don’t let it take over you. To combat this, try spending five minutes each day practising some simple breathing exercises. Or practice ten minutes of mindfulness a day to help you to feel a sense of calm each day.
Try alternative practice
Holistic therapy is a great way to help with re-entry anxiety. You can choose from, crystal healing, self-massage or signature CBD products which all have great effects for helping you to get through the day. There are simple practices which have powerful benefits and give you the opportunity to slow down and acknowledge how you’re feeling.