Pandemic Life - Moving Forward
We spent the last year preparing to stay home, gathering supplies, rearranging our schedules, and upgrading our tech equipment. We read articles on how to adjust and safety chatter became a daily focus. But now we can all see a shift as activities and attendance resume and some of us aren't sure what to do.
My advice for those who are looking to resume pre-pandemic life is to be patient. If you want to increase your social life or if you are required to move back into the office, try to take it slow. One of the struggles many had during the pandemic is quickness behind needing to adjust. For this reason, I recommend easing back into pre-pandemic behaviors. If you are able to, consider transitioning back into the office a few days a week rather than full days, be more selective with accepting social events instead of saying yes to everything, and frequently check in with yourself and make sure you are okay with the changes. If you are feeling resistant to participating, extra tired, or overwhelmed, that is a cue to slow down. There is no prize for being the most active attendee.
Remember, we are all coming out of a difficult time and we all experienced it differently. Some of us experienced significant changes over the past year, physically and emotionally. Some of us struggled with family dynamics, loss of income, or other disruptions and some simply have more support than others. Comparing your experience to someone else's is not helpful. There are many ways of coping with stressful events and it doesn't make you less than or better than if you are able to resume pre-pandemic activities more quickly..
I think it's important to recognize that this experience may have changed us and others, too. No one knows what this past year has been like for you so try not to judge yourself for not living the picture perfect pandemic life. Weight gain, lifestyle changes, and relationship struggles are common casualties and it's difficult enough to focus on these side effects without blaming or shaming yourself. Looking back at what you could have done differently or how you "should" have handled situations is a pointless exercise. You did the best you could at the time.
As we age, we become acutely aware of time and self/imposed deadlines; we need to have the right job, buy a house, be married, and have kids by a certain age and the pandemic may have thrown a wrench into our plans. For those situations, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself some time to grieve the loss of those expectations for a short period. It’s important, though, to not get too stuck in that space and instead, try to shift your thoughts into a new direction, a plan B. Recognizing that you do still have options and choices in creating the life you would like to have, even though it may look differently. That flexibility in expectations is key.
Be patient with yourself and those around you as we all adjust. Stick with what is comfortable for you and what works best for you and your family. Resist the urge to blame or explain your decisions. So move forward if you're ready, but be ready to pause if you need.
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