As vaccination rates rise, businesses reopen and officials update us on the world opening up again, perhaps you are feeling unsure about how to proceed with the life you knew before COVID-19. I know that I am at times. In California, our mask mandates are lifting in the middle of the month and I am having all kinds of feelings of uncertainty about the new normal. If this resonates with you, then check out some tips below about how to navigate returning to the new normal.
Define your normal:
It may be helpful during feelings of hesitation to really sit with yourself and check in about what exactly normal is to you. Even though you may hear new safety standards that don’t require masking, would you still want to wear a mask in large crowds? Would you want to keep your gatherings on the smaller side until you feel more settled? Perhaps you might want to go full steam ahead into large concerts, outings or anything else that opens. Either variation of these options is totally okay, as long as it is okay to you!
Wearing a mask and staying in isolation from one another was a huge practice for a considerable period of time, so it would make sense to not feel ready to jump right AND wearing a mask and staying in isolation from one another was a huge practice for a considerable period of time, so it would also make sense that you would want to leap into large gatherings and pre-covid life.
Stay comfortable:
Whatever you decide your normal is, it is important to honor it. You may not feel the same way about returning to life as the others in your life do, so it is okay to decline an offer to hang out in a setting that you’re not ready to be in yet.
However you go about this immersion, remind yourself that you are in charge of what comfortable is to you and give yourself permission to give that comfort space.
Communicate your normal:
Much like the previous section, your comfort is important. If you find yourself differing in comfort levels from those you are close with, then it can be important to proactively and transparently share what your comfort needs might be. You might be surprised to find that person shares similar comfort levels or may be more agreeable to what you might want to do. We are all navigating this transition together and it can be good to fill those around you in to bridge the gap of experiences.
Be flexible with yourself:
After you decide what your normal is, you might find that you actually want to try something different. Perhaps you want to get rid of the mask if you’re fully vaccinated and to start going to more places. If you change your mind, that’s totally okay! Remember that this is a learning curve that is new for all of us, so if you’re finding that you may want to experiment with different ideas of the new normal, then go for it!
However you may be immersing yourself in the world within the next few weeks, we wish you a healthy, safe and Jubilance filled return.
