A little over 200 days ago was when what we assumed to be a 2-week quarantine began. Here we are, longing for community while desiring to be respectful & wise with ourselves. As some of us begin working from offices again & seeing people from our closer circle of friends, we wanted to give 6 ideas for easing back into the swing of things. Everyone’s social life has & will continue to look quite differently & we still don’t have the answers, but intuitively listening to your body is a great place to start. Here are 6 ideas for easing back into your social life:
Photo via @angelagiakas
.01 – Stay Connected
“It’s been 8 months and we’re no were near the end of the pandemic. Regardless, we need human connection. We were designed to communicate with each other and one way or another, people are finding ways to do that. As you do, here are some things to consider so you can consciously contribute to spreading kindness versus the virus, more fear, or deeper division.” -Paula Pavlova, Founder, Pavlova Wellness
Photo via @pauseandpurpose
.02 – Start Meditating
“Pause + Purpose in-person mindfulness and meditation sessions are actually a great way to dip your toe into the social scene again. They’re only an hour, everyone can sit 6 feet apart, you can keep it to small groups only, and there’s no food being passed around. If it’s warm enough, you can even practice outside. We think it’s a great structured way to get some community and self-care in while feeling safe.” –Emily Tuttle, Founder of Pause + Purpose
.03 – Go at your own Pace
“Part of easing into your social life requires figuring out what is comfortable for you, and what isn’t. It’s all about that gradual transition. Keep your social circle small, and protected. Limit in-person interactions for now, and stay protected with mask-wearing and frequent hand washing. Try to eliminate any pressure you might have on yourself. If you feel safer staying home, that’s OK. Gradual, low-stress changes are best.” –Dr. Cassie Majestic, MD
Photo via @pauseandpurpose
.04 – Be Graceful with yourself
“We’re all experiencing the shared tragedy of a global public health crisis. This is anxiety-inducing, yes, but the part ofthe brain that is responsible for creating anxiety is also responsible for creating enthusiasm and excitement. The difference between the way we register these feelings is the quality of our breath, which is then reflected in our nervous systems’ ability to handle a challenge, and our capacity or bandwidth to love. Breathe deeply and expand that bandwidth.” -Paula Pavlova, Founder, Pavlova Wellness
Photo via @pavlovawellness
.05 – Listen to your Loved ones
“Listen to each other. We’ve all be affected by the pandemic in serious and unique ways. While we can all “relate,” everyone’s lived experience is going to be there own. Most of the time, you will not be able to imagine the pains people have faced, but we should all try anyway. It is important that we make space for our friends and families to share how they authentically feel. Never diminish or invalidate their experience. “It could be worse,” is always true but not helpful. Instead try, “that sounds hard,or scary, or challenging…” whatever word fits the situation and let them know that you’re there for them. This kind of community support is vital to everyone’s healing.” -Paula Pavlova, Founder, Pavlova Wellness
Photo via @thepuppyacademy
.06 – Check in on your pets!
“If both you and your pet have newfound separation anxiety after the many months of not being separated, it’s important to teach your pup how to be alone again! Your pup may have gotten so used to spending so much time with you that it’s a hard adjustment for you when you need to leave them. Start with having some alone time in the house. Spend some time being in separate rooms for short periods of time. AKA: make sure they’re not following you into the bathroom! Take a work zoom without them in the room with you, set up a cozy corner for them away from you, etc. Crating can help with this too! Starting this process now will make it easier to leave them for longer periods of time when you’re ready.” –The Puppy Academy