This past year has been very difficult for many, and while the pandemic is still very much a worry, there are positive signs that it will soon come to an end. The three vaccines approved in the United States – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – are helping reduce death and severe illness from COVID-19, and the cases are very slowly decreasing across the nation. Throughout this past year, many of us have forgotten how to interact with friends or strangers. We have been in isolation for so long that being in large crowds might feel awkward or going back to the office might feel stressful. Here are a few tips to ease this new transition period.
Firstly, the Centers for Disease Control has stated that even vaccinated people must wear masks when in public locations, but it is okay for fully-vaccinated small groups to gather without masks or social distancing. If you are among those who have been fully-vaccinated seeing another fully-vaccinated friend or family member, know it’s okay to feel nervous. Take a deep breath before you see this person and remember that they might be feeling the same way. It’s okay to make light of the nerve-racking situation to ease both of your minds.
Secondly, if you are going anywhere new after being vaccinated, make sure to determine your own standards of social distancing. Perhaps you haven’t been to the grocery store in a year, and now that you are fully vaccinated, going back and seeing so many people in one enclosed space may have your heart racing. Again, breathe and then take some time to think about which distance you feel more comfortable with when being in a larger crowd. Maybe for you, six feet is still what you prefer, so use your arms, elbows, purse, shopping cart, or any other objects to try to create that space. You can use these tips at the grocery store or at your job.
When at work, make sure to let those you often talk to know that you still want a six-foot distance. Let the people you are going to the grocery store with or those old friends you are seeing for the first time in a year know what your standards are for social distancing. Letting people know beforehand what your new social-distancing guidelines are will lessen the nerves and stress that these new situations may bring.
A return to in-person work may be the most difficult. To feel more at ease, ask your manager or boss what precautions there will be, how will you be able to socially distance, or exactly who will be back in the office. If you just fell in love with the flexibility of working from home, talk to your office manager about working a few days from home. Showing your office manager how productive you have been from home and how much safer you feel should ease the conversation.
If you are forgetting social skills after a year-long break, two things to remember: smile and eye contact. A small smile and eye contact will help you relax with the new person you are interacting with and help you feel more calm and normal. Eye contact shows the person you are listening to them, and a smile makes you seem friendly.
If you are struggling with returning to normal life because you love your pandemic routine, stick to it. Many people made quarantine go by faster by getting a new routine down. But know that returning to life like it was before doesn’t mean you need to completely lose your new routine. If you started to go on afternoon walks to cure boredom, maybe try going on after-work walks to continue with the routine.
