How do you feel about the world reopening?

When the world started shutting down in March 2020, no one imagined that we will still be in this state sixteen months later. With everything we have all experienced, we have many different feelings. Especially with things slowly reopening or going back to normal, we are facing new emotions, decisions, and thoughts. If you are excited and ready to go fantastic, and if you are like me and need more time to get used to the change, that is perfectly fine too.

In this blog post, I will share the things I am working through that are helping me adjust to the new normal. Hopefully, these will also help you on your journey.

Acknowledge and accept how you are feeling
No matter how you are feeling, it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling. It is normal to feel apprehensive or worried about the changes after living a different life for the past sixteen months. You might be experiencing mixed feelings, including excitement for some things and sadness for others. It is crucial to accept the way you are feeling and not judge yourself.

Questions to consider

• What feelings do you have towards things reopening?

Ask yourself what you are concerned about
If you feel concerned or worried, there are typically some underlying topics that you may not have explored. Identifying what exactly you are worried about is crucial. It will help you start working through it. I did some soul searching and realized that my main concerns were around adapting to a new post-pandemic life with our son. So many things that would have been easy to organize, such as childcare, are a little more complicated.

Questions to consider

• What are you worried about the most?

Identify what you do not want to change
Over the past sixteen months, our lives have changed in many ways. We have reshaped our lives and started new routines. There might be some healthy and good things that you started doing over the past months that you want to continue. It is ok to hold on to those routines or new ways of living over the next months. For me, the quality time I spend with my husband and my son is now a major priority in my life, and I do not want to give it up.

Questions to consider

• What new routines do you want to hold on to?

Start thinking about the future and create "warm-up" plans
There must be something that you have not done in a while that you are looking forward to. Just because you are anxious when you think about all the changes coming your way, it does not mean there are not a few things that excite you. Thinking about those exciting things that you want to do will help you prepare for the change ahead. They could be as simple as getting a pedicure or coffee with a friend.

Questions to consider

• What are you looking forward to doing?
• What will help you adapt to the change?

Take care of yourself
To thrive on the new journey ahead, you need to be physically and mentally healthy. If you feel like you need support with your mental health as you transition to your new normal, please get the help you need. Prioritize self-care and make sure you check in with yourself over the next months. You have got this!

Questions to consider

• How are you going to take care of yourself over the next months?

MC's story
This post is one that I am writing for myself as well. I have been struggling with thinking about the months ahead. As someone who likes to plan, I have been learning to do things a little differently. I am accepting the fact that there are still a lot of unknowns, and we will need to learn as we go. My approach to warming up towards our new normal is to take small steps. Over this past weekend, I got my first professional haircut since February 2020. It was one of my first steps back into the world.

Time for Reflection
What are you feeling?
What are your top three fears or concerns?
How are you going to make sure you are doing well through the transition?