Reintegrating After COVID
“How was COVID for you?” It’s a question we’ve all asked and answered many times by now. There’s excitement in the air as restrictions lift and the pandemic winds down. But, reintegrating after COVID isn’t as simple as taking your mask off, having friends over again, and giving grandma a nice big hug.
Reintegration is a challenging, stressful experience for many people. After all, the virus is still out there, new variants of concern are popping up, many people aren’t vaccinated, and some who are are testing positive.
Reintegrating After COVID
For some people - particularly those who might’ve already been struggling with anxiety pre-COVID or developed a disorder during the pandemic - these are nerve-wracking thoughts.
Everyone has a different comfort level and that’s important to keep in mind as we start to enlarge our social circles again. No matter where you’re at, there’s always going to be some awkward situations; are handshakes back? What about hugs? Should I wear my mask even if it isn’t required?
Regardless of how excited or ready you are, reintegrating after COVID is a major transition. Loneliness and isolation became all too familiar last year and we would’ve given anything to make the whole situation go away. But, now that it’s time to head out into the maskless masses again, you might be getting cold feet.
It’s important not to rush into anything you don’t feel comfortable with. Feeling overwhelmed is very natural when emerging from periods of isolation. Journaling about how you feel or what you are worried about is a great way to gain some clarity and have a better understanding of where you are at or what you might need to feel comfortable.
You may even think you are fine until you physically get to a gathering or public place and find yourself unexpectedly feeling socially awkward amongst your old peers. Just keep in mind that it can take a little time to get fully comfortable with people you haven’t seen in a year and a half.
When you are ready for it, meeting new people and reconnecting with some familiar faces can be very refreshing. Just go at your own pace as you reintegrate after COVID. Explore your community and look for events that are compatible with your comfort zone. You’ll probably run into like-minded people. Activity-centred events are also a great icebreaker if you are feeling awkward or overwhelmed.
Lastly, keep at the new hobbies you picked up over the pandemic. Whether it’s baking, playing an instrument, reading, or anything else, you’ll have a greater sense of normalcy and even a feeling of accomplishment if you stick with some of the activities that got you through a tough year.