Returning to a normal way of living post COVID may bring with it a range of emotions including confusion, anger, anxiety and depression along with short term changes in our behaviour such as insomnia, exhaustion, irritability and avoidance.
Our routines which we have subconsciously used as an anchor have been totally reconditioned and we have all had to adjust and comply with a new way of living.
Research into the impacts of isolation and quarantine have found our negative emotional changes to be completely normal and despite how overpowering they seem, they are simply temporary adaptions which we can all learn to accept and gradually move away from.
The future naturally brings uncertainty and we may have mixed feelings about, for example, returning to work or attending social events as lockdown eases. It may feel exciting and something we've wanted or we may feel angry that we are being forced back too fast. It would be understandable to have concerns about using public transport, interacting with work colleagues, or if the government guidelines are sufficient for your area of work.
For many of us these fears, worries and anxieties are born out of our inability to control the situation we are faced with and the lack of assurance of how and when things will return to normal.
To support our wellbeing during this time, there are two key areas we can explore; being accepting of the situation and focusing on what we can control.
If we implement an acceptance mindset, we will be gently transitioning from feelings of frustration, denial and ruminating about all the things which seem unfair or challenging – to one of acceptance; we can accept that the situation is temporary, and we know that slowly but surely we can return to a more comfortable way of life. We accept that we should be flexible in our outlook in the short term and be willing to 'go with the flow' temporarily.
This flexible mindset, taking the bad with the good, will even allow us to consider the positives of our situation. Even though we may feel the presence of negative emotions, there is likely some good to come out of this experience.
Practicing acceptance will give short term relief from many negative emotions and feelings but also long term we will be able to draw on this experience to benefit ourselves in the future. For example, if we don't get the job promotion at work, we will be able to focus our energy into learning from the experience and what we can do better next time - rather than dwell on our thoughts that we were the best candidate or the interview questions were too ambiguous.
A positive control technique is to give ourselves an extra curricular routine (particularly beneficial if you are, or will continue to be, working from home). This could be a hobby, or something we enjoy doing. It could be sport, or something academic such as attaining an online qualification, learning a new language or even reading, watching films, or planning a weekend hike.
The subject isn't important, but having something productive and repetitive to focus on is very beneficial as routines are safe and familiar to many of us. They help reduce anxiety, boost our mood and promote mindfulness – so less time for negative thoughts and feelings to take a hold.
If you find you are struggling in these difficult times and would like some additional support, please feel free to drop me a message when you are ready.
Some useful links:
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