It’s been roughly a year since the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic took hold of our lives. But finally, as we head into spring, there is a glimmer of hope. People are getting vaccinated, shops and restaurants are re-opening, travel is becoming possible again and it feels like we are now able to start making plans. All those things that we longed to do during shelter-in-place are finally becoming a reality.
So this spring, we want to focus on the positives. We want to stop dwelling on the difficulties that the pandemic caused in our lives, and instead focus on what’s to come. I personally will be able to reunite with my father, sister, and family this spring after not having seen them in person since Thanksgiving 2019 and I couldn’t be happier. So as we enter this new season, let’s focus on rebirth, reemerging, and reuniting.
If the pandemic has made us realize anything, it’s that there are so many things in our lives that we take for granted. The ability to give someone a hug, to hold someone's hand, to easily travel around the world, to see family and friends. It allowed us all time to reflect and evaluate what is really important to us in our lives. And now things seem to be returning to normal, even just a little bit, it’s the time to look at what we have, what we are overcoming, and what we are surviving.
Prioritizing what’s important to you
This spring, I invite you to sit down and reflect for just 5 minutes on what is important to you. What are you grateful for? What brings you joy?
This season feels like a fresh start. Almost as if we can redesign our lives right from the beginning! So grab a paper and pen and write down everything that you want to do now that things are starting to open up again. Maybe it’s spending more time in nature, seeing your family more often, putting your phone down more often, or grabbing a coffee with friends. For me, I am just so excited to be able to meet with people in person and not through a screen.
So whatever it is that is important to you, that you want to do more of this spring, schedule it into your calendar and hold yourself accountable to do it. Call your family and arrange a regular time to visit them, set up a regular coffee date with your friends, or schedule a time to go for a walk in the evenings.
It’s ok to feel nervous
After spending so long in our homes—lots of us alone or with one other person—it’s normal to feel nervous about the prospect of getting back to normal living. I still think twice when I have to go to the grocery store. And after a year of being isolated from loved ones and the outside world, the prospect of “normal life” can be nerve-wracking, but that’s ok.
If you are feeling nervous about the shift back to how things were pre-pandemic, here are some tips.
1. Start slow
Lots of people are getting very excited at the prospect of being able to see people again (understandably!), and are planning millions of different activities, coffee dates, dinner dates, and gatherings this spring. But it’s important to remember that you can say no. If you are feeling nervous about the transition, start off with doing the things that are the most important to you. That might be reuniting with family, going to your favorite restaurant with someone close to you, or just going for a walk with someone who lives far away. Just because things are opening, it doesn’t mean you have to do everything in the first week. So start by taking it slow and when you start to feel more comfortable, you can add a few more activities into your life.
2. It’s ok to spend time at home
It might feel like spending time at home is the last thing you should be doing after an entire year of doing just that, but home time is important. Most of us are so used to being at home that it’s now the only place we feel comfortable. And while getting outside of your comfort zone is so important, and something we highly recommend, you don’t have to be outside all the time. If you’ve just been invited to meet up with friends for the third time in one week, it’s ok to say no and to spend some time at home. Just because things are opening again, that doesn’t mean you have to be doing something new every day.
3. Remember that you’re not alone
Anxiety in the US has spiked during the last year, with increased concerns about health, safety, and the spread of the Coronavirus and I think we can safely say that most of us have felt the same way. Chances are that you’re not the only one who is feeling nervous about seeing friends again, or going to a restaurant, or getting on a plane. Remember that lots of us are feeling the same way, and it’s ok to be feeling nervous. We have just spent a year in our houses after all!
Spring is the time for positive change. It’s the time for reuniting, reconnecting, and doing all the things that you love to do. Remember that it’s ok to feel nervous. The pandemic hit us all hard and we’ve all had to deal with things we didn’t expect, but now is the time to look to the future. Happy spring!
Opmerkingen