How to Manage Leaving Lockdown and Being Social Again

Life post-lockdown is a little different than it was pre-lockdown. Most of us went from having a highly social personal and work life, to nothing, in a matter of days. As restrictions have now eased, we are able to begin socialising again and venturing out into the world. For most of us, this is a welcome relief. However, for others, it can be quite an anxious time. Below are some tips on how you can help ease your anxiety about socialising:

Don’t rush, ease back into socialising

It is important to remember that this is not a race. It is ok to take your time easing back into the things you used to do. A good idea would be to reach out to your closest family and friends.  People you feel comfortable with.  Organise to catch up in the park or at someone’s home at first.  Once you feel more confident, reach out to others and then commence going out to cafes or restaurants.

Prepare

Plan what you will be doing and where you will be going. Avoid situations in which your anxiety maybe heightened, and stick to places and people you feel comfortable with.

Challenge your negative thoughts around going out

Try not to engage in unhelpful thinking patterns. It is important to challenge these thoughts once we have them. Three easy steps to remember is to think about the negative thoughts around the situation, write them down and write a more positive/helpful thought to challenge the negative one.

Practice Self-Care

We have spoken about self-care in previous articles which include ensuring we look after our physical health by exercising, practicing our breathing exercises and taking time out to complete activities which we enjoy.

Ask for help

It is finally great to be coming out of locked down, seeing, meeting and spending time with family, friends or loved ones. Even in this time, know that you are are not alone in feeling any anxiety. Also, feel reassured that there is always someone to speak to, and you can always reach out to us and here.