Life Post-Quarantine

It has been around a year plus in quarantine and it seems many of us have adjusted to this new normal. We have become accustomed to working from home, wearing masks, avoiding crowds, engaging socially through a computer screen, and staying six feet away from strangers. We adopted these new behaviors as a means to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. In these “unprecedented times” some of us may have even felt a sense of safety and security in our homes, seemingly away from anxiety triggers. With the news of pending lifts on restrictions and what seems to be an “opening up of society,” it is normal to experience a range of emotions. There is no guidebook on the appropriate response and no “one way” we are supposed to feel about this. This is all uncharted territory. One minute we may feel excited at the possibilities of life post-quarantine and the next we may feel anxious about leaving our bubble. This is all ok. It is important to sit with our emotions free of judgment. Allow ourselves to feel whatever may come.

The thought of leaving our homes, returning to work, and being surrounded by larger crowds of people than we’ve seen in over a year may bring up some overwhelming anxiety and fear. Understandably so! Let’s take a moment to validate ourselves: we have been programmed to be afraid of and avoid crowds this past year, so it is normal that our guards will be up a bit when outside our homes. It will be important to ease into this transition and shift expectations. Just like the world around us, we are not the same people we were pre-quarantine. Consider all the ways we may have changed and give ourselves the grace to make decisions different than those we would have made before. It is very likely that our interpersonal relationships have evolved as well. Our social circles became smaller during quarantine and it is normal some friendship dynamics have shifted as well. Allow these reconnections to happen at their own speed. Everyone has their own comfort levels and they may not match our own. While thinking of the ways our lives have changed during the pandemic, we may reflect on the hobby we picked up or the newly implemented family tradition. What do we want to stick with us post quarantine? What do we want to leave behind? Be patient and take things slowly. Allow ourselves and the world around us to have evolved during this time. 

Finally, we must continue checking in and assessing our wellness needs. Physically, the increase in engagement outside the home can be quite tiring and our bodies may need more rest. Adjust sleep schedules accordingly. Socially, our batteries will likely need to be recharged more regularly. Normalize saying “no” to plans when what may be needed is some time alone to refuel. It can be overwhelming to dive into uncertain waters during the reopening and it is helpful to try to shift awareness to the present moment as best as possible through mindfulness practices or spending time connecting with nature. Sharing our feelings with a loved one or journaling about them can be a great way to process what is going on and a helpful outlet for our emotional needs. Lastly, it is important to continue staying informed through reliable and up-to-date sources in order to make safe choices for ourselves and our loved ones. We need to make sure we are cognizant of what our mind and body are telling us, as the world slowly returns back to how we remembered. Allow ourselves to prioritize our wellbeing and tend to our needs.