Dealing with Emerging from Lock Down
Anxiety

If you’re feeling a bit apprehensive about getting back to ‘normal’ after lock down, you’re not alone.  For many people, having time out at home has been a blessing.  Consequently, returning to the expected routines looks a bit daunting.  Most parents will be happy to have their children back at school, while the students are glad to be mixing with their peers again.  Despite this, facing rush hour traffic, dealing with the public, work colleagues and deadlines and long days away from home can look and feel overwhelming.  If this is you, I’ve listed some tips on how to make the transition easier.  And, like I say, you’re not alone in this.

• Be easy on yourself and others.  Most of us are our own harshest critics, Covid-19 or not.  Realise this is a big transition.  No longer is the day yours to plan and spend as you wish.  Don’t expect to be working at your pre-Covid-19 pace straight away.  You will need time to adjust.  And your employer needs to be aware of this too, as does your family.
• Use Calming Techniques.   Whatever works for you; deep breathing, counting to 10, visualisations.  Allow yourself time to settle back into new routines.

• 3.Covid-19 brain fog is real. While you may not have had hormonal changes over the lock down that affect brain function, you have had to change your entire way of dealing with things.  Consequently, you have changed your thinking patterns to cope.  This means it will take a while to revert to work mode mentality.  I’m not saying you haven’t been working while at home.  Many of you have been.  But you have been able to do it at your own pace and in your own time.  Once back in the work environment all those things are much more regimented and therefore require a different mental approach,
• Talk to others.  This is helpful as a problem shared is more easily overcome.  It also might bring about useful changes in the workplace to enable you to feel more relaxed and everyone to be more productive.  If you’re uncomfortable talking to work colleagues, try friends and family to see how they’re coping.  If necessary, speak to your doctor as well.  The trick is, don’t deny your feelings or try and go it alone.
• Don’t overload your schedule.  We all need time to adjust so don’t expect to get straight back into everything at your previous level.  It’s the same with the family.  Ease the children back into their various activities at a pace that is comfortable for them.
• Think about the life you want.    Covid-19 has forced us to re-assess the way we live our lives.  What did you enjoy about lock down?  What would you like to keep?  Do you want to do things differently going forward?  If so, be clear about the changes you’d like to make and negotiate them with those around you.
• Above all, remember you have been through a life changing event.  So don’t be surprised if you want to make big changes in your life.  If you do, reflect on them and share with others in your life.

You cannot look after others unless you look after yourself first.