The Transition Back into a Social World
For some people, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise. Many of us were excited about the idea of staying home all the time and limiting our socialization to a minimum or nothing at all. As the world has started to open up again, the prospect of entering back into an even more social world can be scary, especially for those who struggled with it before.
Below are some tips on how to ease your anxiety surrounding seeing people again and attending social events:
Establish your comfort level. If you are still nervous about the pandemic, that is ok! Your feelings are completely normal and valid. We live in uncertain times and no one expects you to live exactly how you did before. With that being said, it’s important to decide what you are comfortable with, so you can set boundaries for yourself and the people with whom you choose to socialize. Determine where you are comfortable going, who you are comfortable going with, as well as the activities you would feel good about doing. There is no rush to jump back in all at once; pacing yourself allows you to slowly acclimate to the changing world.
Habituate yourself. If you are ready to jump back in, try to pace yourself. After months of isolation, the idea of going out and having a good time is so tempting. While you should want to enjoy yourself, think about starting off with activities or situations that you would feel safest or most comfortable in. These could be activities that you frequently did prior to the pandemic, or something in which you are surrounded by people who make you feel safest.
Step out of your comfort zone. Isolation was a wake-up call for a lot of us. Many people have rekindled old friendships, while many have lost some along the way. Now that we have a newfound appreciation for the time and the people we spend it with, use this as motivation to push ourselves. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, join a club or organization that you’ve always wanted to join, or try something new. Now is the time to do these things and all of the time we lost should prompt us to step out of our comfort zone.
Seek professional help. Since this transition can feel extremely overwhelming, think about seeking help to assist you in navigating these times. This could be in the form of individual therapy or a therapy group to help facilitate socialization.
Guest Blog written by Caleigh Barber