Lockdown is over, now what?

By Kirsti Randazzo

Now that the pandemic is winding down, many people are returning to their old life from before lockdown. It seems like there is a new social event (or two) every single weekend. After hitting the pause button on your social life for over a year, getting back to “normal” can feel stressful. Things that once seemed so easy, now trigger anxiety for a lot of people. 

Going from having nothing but free time, to having a social engagement every weekend, can feel like a lot of pressure. You might feel stressed out about being with large groups of people. Whether it be because you are used to social distancing or that you feel you do not remember how to function like a normal person - don’t worry. You are not alone. When you are feeling stressed about returning to the social scene, take a deep breath and remember that everyone is probably feeling the same way. It is also helpful to look at your calendar, weigh up the importance of each event or gathering you’ve been invited to and choose which things you WANT to attend. Do not feel pressured to say yes to everything you are asked to join in on, you don’t want to burn out.

You may feel pure panic every time you have to decide what to wear to social events, University  or even work as we ease back to normal after months of lycra. Wear what makes YOU feel good. Put on an outfit and ask yourself if it makes you feel confident. If it does- that is your winner. If you feel like everything you own went out of style during the pandemic, this is an amazing excuse to get out and go shopping. If you do not have a lot of money to spend, go thrifting! People have spent lockdown cleaning out their wardrobes and that means charity shops have had a lot of new donations. Hunting for those bargains can be a fun outing; it is like looking for treasure. You will be so excited when you find that item of clothing or pair of shoes that no one else has. 

At the end of the day, we are all navigating these strange times together. If we could adapt to staying inside for over a year, we can adapt to anything. Have a good time no matter what you are doing, don’t forget to take time for self-care, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Besides, you can always go back inside if you want to!