Anxious About Returning to the New Normal?

Change is the basic fundamental of life. One takes birth, evolves, and changes with each step of their life. However, not everyone can easily adapt to the various changes life throws at them. 2020 has posed a similar situation where first, the outbreak of the Coronavirus made people change their lifestyle. When it looked like everything would remain at a standstill, remote employment and work-from-home services saved the day. Now, when people have adapted to remote working, another lifestyle modification awaits them.

The ‘new normal’ as many call it, is what the talk is all about. It needs the individual to return to their original workplace, along with following all the safety precautions. So, what does this mean? It implies that the daily routine needs to change yet again, and employees would no longer enjoy flexible work hours. Working from the comfort of your home and being able to give time to your family is another aspect that you’ll have to part with.

People who find it challenging to adapt to the frequent changes in lifestyle are having a hard time right now. To begin with, it’s not easy to join a new workplace and find your friends among your colleagues. Just when everything was on track, the pandemic hit the world, and you had to take care of yourself, your family, and manage work at the same time. That’s stressful for anyone, let alone for people who are dealing with stress and anxiety.

For the longest time, mental health problems like restlessness, depression, and anxiety have been ignored and labelled as ‘minor’ issues. But, only the ones going through these problems know how draining they are.

Here are some tips to cope:

1. Stay calm

You are not the only one thinking and overthinking about re-socializing and office resumptions in the post-pandemic phase. All you need to do is stay calm and collected. It’s easier said than done, but it’s definitely doable. Get a good night’s sleep and have cheerful conversations with your colleagues beforehand to relieve some stress. Take it one day at a time and don’t divert your mind over circumstances that aren’t under your control.

2. Try to interact and socialize as much as you can

When you feel low or stressed, talk to people you trust. They’ll come up with the best advice, and you can act upon it to bring in a sense of calm. When your mind goes a hundred different places, work productivity and caring for yourself becomes secondary, and that’s something you don’t want. In case the scenario is on the serious side, consult a medical professional. If a pleasant conversation is enough to lower your anxiety, continue the same.

3. Listen to music that makes you happy

Listen to Music – Music has the ability to take you places, virtually. It’s just about finding the artist with whom you feel a connection with and the type of music that relieves stress. It can be regional, folk, pop, or rock – the list goes on. Try to figure out a suitable genre yourself because that’s the whole point of music – you should love it irrespective of anyone else’s opinion. Whenever you feel that your mind is going overboard with anxiety, tune in to your favorite music. This little break will refuel you for the remaining part of the day & listen to music.

4. Connect with others undergoing similar issues

Know someone who is going through the same things that you are? Connect with them to have a healthy discussion about the issues that both of you are facing. You can share the ideas you have regarding various methods to relieve stress and after you’re done, listen to their side of the story too. In the end, you’ll have a bunch of action items to counter anxiety, and without realizing it, you would have helped another person too.

5. Unleash the power of meditation

Meditation is a key tool for people dealing with depression, stress, and anxiety. It doesn’t require a massive effort, and all it demands is one minute of self-devotion. You don’t necessarily have to devote an hour to it daily – although, you can if you wish to. Just formulate a routine for meditation and stick to it without fail. You’ll feel a vibration of calmness running through your veins in no time!

“Will I get through it?”

The post-pandemic life is bound to pose a few challenges. But, when you are keeping good care of your health, the health of your family, and the people whom you interact with, you’ll do just fine. These tips can help you whenever your anxiety levels are on the rise. However, in one way or another, all of us are going through a tough phase, and you are not alone in this battle. Worse times have come and gone, and this too shall pass.