Back to Life Anxiety

Lifestyle, Wellness

May 18, 2021

Back to life anxiety

As lockdown restrictions begin to lift and life slowly creeps back to normality, it can be so easy to get swept up in the excitement, and the peer pressure of it all.

Whether you are returning to work from a year of remote or furlough, being invited to social events with friends, or just feeling overwhelmed with everything reopening again, know that it is totally normal to feel worried or anxious about these changes, and you can handle them however you need to.

The most important thing you can do is to put yourself first, and here are some ways you can do just that.

Take Your Time

This is key. Take your time and don’t be rushed into anything you do not want to do. You are in control of your time and your energy, and this year has taken its toll on us all. If it is a work requirement, speak to your manager and share your concerns to see what changes can be made to make you feel at ease.   This is new territory, yet again, so don’t feel guilty for feeling the way you feel and be upfront and honest with people about how you are feeling and what you are experiencing.   You are well within your rights to shape your own schedule.

Don't be afraid to say no

On that subject… When the invites come rolling in or work ask for more from you, respect your own boundaries and know when is the right time to say no.   If friends are asking you to socialise and you aren’t ready for that yet, again, be honest. Friends will respect your boundaries and your concerns, and perhaps you can look at going for a walk instead of a night out, to ease back into things.   No one will think any less of you for saying no when you are uncomfortable. It would be so easy to head straight back to normal life and to be burnt out in two months’ time. Put in the work now to avoid that in the future.

CREATE YOUR OWN ROUTINE

Whatever little things you have picked up and created for yourself over the last 12 months, please don’t let them fall by the wayside in favour or running round at ten thousand miles an hour.   It might be helpful to get a wall planner or chart, so you can map out your week and make sure you are not overcommitting to things. This can help you see everything clearly and stay in control of your own schedule.   If you aren’t a wall planner kind of person, a paper diary is a good option too, as you can jot down some journaling notes at the end of the day too, to recognise and document how you are feeling…

remember what makes you feel good

Just because you used to do something before all of this, doesn’t mean you have to hurry back to it. This past year has changed a lot of us, in many different ways, and many of us are different people from who we were 12 or 18 months ago.   Pay close attention to the things that make you feel good and have them in your pocket and ready to go when you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Maybe you could pepper your week with activities that make you feel like the best version of you, so the normality doesn’t feel quite as daunting when it starts to set back in?

move your body

If anxiety takes over and you are looking for something to take your mind off things. Move your body. Get up, shake it out, dance it out, get a HIIT workout in or go for a walk in nature. It doesn’t matter so much what it is or how it looks, and you definitely don’t need a goal at the end of it.   Focus on being active and getting those endorphins flowing to try and ease you back out of those feelings. Of course, if they persist, please speak to a medical professional as sometimes we need a little boost in a different kind of way.

feed your soul

Make sure you are eating foods that will energise you and give you that extra bit of strength. Heavy foods may leave you feeling sluggish and then everything starts to feel a little heavier.   Whether you love a smoothie or prefer something hearty for breakfast, start your day off right and fill your body with foods that will help you get through this change.   We are always sharing recipes, so if you would like to see more of them, you can follow us on Instagram or check out MADE on Demand for more.

MAKE TIME TO REST

Time to rest is probably the most important thing on this entire list. Our bodies and our minds will be tired and will need that extra time to recuperate. Make sure you are switching off in the evenings and getting a good night’s sleep.

If you are looking for ways to wind down, check out our guided meditations on MADE on Demand and our sleep stories too, which will have you drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

The key thing to take away is to look after yourself. No matter what is expected or asked of you, you need to focus on putting your own needs front and centre. You have done so well to get through this past year, so please continue to take care of yourself as we move into this next phase.