As the world is beginning to reopen and the number of COVID-19 cases hopefully continues to decrease, returning back to a semi-normal life can be interesting to say the least. Going from sitting at home doing almost nothing for months, to working, seeing people, and participating in other normal activities feels weird and is a big transition.
While myself and most people could not wait to be able to get back to these usual routines, it has personally felt kind of overwhelming to go so quickly from doing so little to doing so much. Sometimes I wish I could just stay home doing nothing and seeing nobody for a week. On the other hand, now that I have been working a lot and seeing people more, being at home for even a few hours is hard, because I’m eager to get out and do something.
Finding the balance within contradicting feelings is important, especially after all that has been going on in the world apart from just the pandemic. Here are some tips and things to think about when everything just feels like too much:
Give Yourself Time.
If you do end up feeling overwhelmed with this big transition, make sure to set time each day to be alone. Meditate, write, read, or just even think. Being in quarantine gave many people the alone time that was much needed to clear their heads and work on their mental health without as many distractions. Just because this period is ending, does not mean that time is any less important. If possible, start doing things little by little as well. Work less hours at first. See less people at first. Make this transition the least stressful it can be for you personally and don't let what other people are doing pressure you. Take the time you need.
Do What You Love.
After so long doing nothing, I kind of got used to not doing certain things that I greatly enjoyed and it became less hard to stop as so much time passed. Now, I have little motivation to return to doing some of those things. But, everyone needs to just do it!
Even just being able to sit and eat at one of your favorite restaurants can increase your happiness. Go see your favorite people, go shopping, start working out again, do what made you happy before all of this craziness. While it may be hard to get back to, the better days are on their way.
Go Outside.
While yes, going outside was allowed during quarantine, most of us still ended up sitting inside binging Netflix series most days. Plus now, there are even more activities to participate in outdoors. Especially since the Michigan weather is finally getting warmer, being in the sun can make you glow both inside and out. Going for a walk, playing basketball, or going somewhere like an outdoor mall such as Partridge Creek, can make your mood better than when you’re just sitting in the house.
Balancing relaxation, productivity, interaction, and every other thing can be super hard, but there are always ways to make it easier. While everyone is transitioning differently and at their own rates, and everyone has different needs and wants at this time, these are just a few tips that I believe can help anyone process this unique period more smoothly.
