After taking last week off to get my 2nd Moderna vaccine, and to recover for a day or two after, I am back and ready to talk about the HOPE of our country moving toward a gradual 'opening'.
I don't know about you, but I have spent so much time in my house the last year. Cancelled vacations, holidays, graduation celebrations, visits with family, concerts, hikes and trail runs... so many things have been cancelled over the past 14 months, that I have been dreaming about getting back to this year!
While I am still following CDC guidelines by masking, social distancing, and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces, I am venturing outside more by getting back to my beloved trails for runs and hikes with Gussie (my awesome puppy!). I am also thinking about what it will be like to socialize in groups, in person, and to return to in-person teaching later this year.
All of these things are exciting, and yet, we need to think about the psychology if this return to socialization and in person interactions. Our brains, our neurology, have changed this past year. It is the nature of human development. Experiences influence our development, our brain's wiring and firing, and our responses to sensory stimuli, to name a few.
So, while we may all have been daydreaming about how awesome it will be to 'get back to normal' (whatever that looks like), the reality is that we cannot erase the memories or influences the past year has had for each of us. 'Returning to normal' isn't an accurate description of what is likely to happen for most people.
Of course, some of that is because the last year has resulted in many things that just won't go away, at least not for a while. We cannot and will not 'go back' to what things were like before the pandemic because the impacts of the pandemic, and the political and civil unrest are still with us in many ways. They have changed the way we see the world, germs, other people, our society/culture/country and institutions. So, no, we won't be 'going back to normal', but will be progressing into a new state of post-pandemic living (or different pandemic living, as the pandemic is not over yet...).
As we prepare for this transition (and we really should prepare), it is helpful to think about what this will be like, realistically, for each of us. Depending on how social you were before the pandemic, and how isolated you may have been during the pandemic, getting back to social interactions and activities will feel different.
If you, like me, are an introvert, being around other people is good, but in small doses. Too much or too many people is draining and stressful. I am a social introvert, and maybe you are, too. I love socializing with my friends and family, but I am exhausted after a while, and need time alone to 'recharge my battery' in solitude.
If you are an extrovert, being around other people is like 'charging your battery'- it provides you with much needed energy and is something to which you look forward. Crowds, groups, lively activities with people you do or not know is something you enjoy and actually need to 'fill up'.
So, for the introvert, returning to social activity will require more thought than for the extrovert, in some ways. Don't jump in too quickly, or in large gatherings. Not only does the CDC advise against that right now, even if you are vaccinated, the sensory overload you experience may be too much too soon, and will feel overwhelming and stressful.
For the extrovert, your thought and planning is more likely to be about making sure you are still abiding by CDC guidelines while interacting socially. Getting together with other humans may be so exciting that you forget about the importance of maintaining vigilance and commitment to CDC guidelines for a while longer. Who is vaccinated, and who is not? Who is masking and who is not? Your behavior is best if cautious, but more so if you are engaging with people who are not vaccinated or masking, and even more so if you are indoors.
If you are not exactly sure where you fall on the introvert-extrovert classification, another way to think about this is by using the 'Window of Tolerance' approach.
I am attaching a great resource from Positive Psychology, specifically from a group of experts at PositivePsychology.com . This resource will explain what the window of tolerance is, how to identify your own window of tolerance (how much stress can you tolerate without sacrificing performance or comfort), and how to manage or improve your window of tolerance.
This activity will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and may be a valuable resource that you keep on hand to refer to later. Keep in mind that this resource is written as a resource for life coaches and counselors to use with clients, but is perfectly designed for you to walk through on your own.
If you are currently seeing a therapist, or thinking about seeing a therapist, I recommend that you share this resource with your therapist before working on it alone. If you are struggling with anxiety, panic, or depression, I also recommend that you do not work on this alone, but share it with your therapist (get one if you don't already have one).
In any case, if you are struggling with your emotional well-being/health, please seek out the assistance of a mental health professional (psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist), or begin by talking to your medical doctor, at least. We are and have been living in very difficult times, and it is no surprise that many many many people are struggling emotionally, as well as in other ways. Depression, isolation, and anxiety, to name a few, are at an all time high, and getting back to socialization won't cure that on its own. There is no shame in getting help - it is the best investment you can make in yourself, your future, and your own happiness.
I hope you enjoy this activity, that you have gotten or will get your vaccination(s) soon, and that you are continuing to follow the CDC guidelines.
Also, I hope you are able to hold onto hope that 2021 will be better than 2020!
While we all make plans for social engagements and family gatherings sometime in 2021, let's keep maintaining our resilience.
As always....
Be well, stay safe and take care!
Other resources I found that may be helpful or interesting:
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