Coping with the Great “Post-Pandemic” Transition
Hi friends.
Raise your hand if you are entering back into a school or office soon.
Raise your hand if you already have.
Raise your hand if you’re feeling nervous about it.
Raise your hand if you’re worried about your commute, your lunch hour, having to use a public bathroom, wearing pants, catching Covid and brushing your teeth before 10am.
Yea.
Let’s chat, shall we?
TOOLS
First, please take a deep breath. No really, a deep one that makes your belly huge and where your chest doesn’t move. Hold…1, 2, 3...now release.
Okay.
Even if your life looks no different as the season changes, the world and people around you are affected and impacting road rage, dinner moods, conference calls and child behavior. And if you are not sure, watch our “It May be Anxiety” video for more feedback.
“Transitions are hard. Even transitions that go well are hard since they inherently remind us of time’s unstoppable steady march forward. Moving from summer fun to school schedules is one of those transitions that is about to happen around the corner. During these times, it can be useful to bring awareness to where you are living mentally. And to help ourselves label where we might be in the moment, below you will find five ways to think about mental and emotional time traveling.” Read more on the blog.
GRATITUDE
How has this summer been?
Did you get to everything you hoped? Did it all go to plan? Probably not.
And that is okay. Remember, this summer was a whirlwind of catching our breath and trying to grasp onto normalcy while the world still was spinning too quickly.
If you spent a lot of time resting, recharging and hugging people, awesome!
As the summer turns to fall, reflect on what you can be happy for, what went well, what you’re proud of. It’s usually the small moments that mean the most.
INNOVATION
Have you seen this yet? It’s genius.
I just wonder… how many teachers, bosses, managers, colleagues, parents, friends would be helping even more if they knew someone needed a “handle with care” day?
We’re so quick to judge and take things personally when someone acts out. We are so quick to label someone or blame them. However, what if we all acted as if someone was coming into work, school or to home with a lot to carry? What if we acted as if someone, everyone, needed extra care?
Because honestly? After the last 18 months we’ve all had, we do.
We all need to be handled with care.
FEELS
Last weekend I went to a Full Moon Ceremony hosted by one of my favorite ladies, Hannah Rose. She and her sister and mom hosted a group of 10 of us women and it was lovely to see the faces behind some of my favorite local women-owned businesses in attendance like Aubrey and Kelli.
I went in with two things heavy on my heart and left feeling so much lighter. There was something about the community, introspection and reassurance that felt so liberating.
Yet, I was nervous. I was so nervous to go to this new place with strangers and worried about being judged. I also started guitar lessons this week and almost backed out at the last minute for the same worries.
It’s the first day of school jitters. At 35. And yet there is something so profound about voluntarily putting yourself in that situation as an adult. To choose to be uncomfortable. To choose to be challenged. To choose to test your resilience, courage and ingenuity.
It’s growth.
And, it’s happiness.
Both evenings this last week when I left these situations I was beaming. I was proud of myself and also just had a lot of fun.
So, my friends. As you venture out and your loved ones do too in this great transition… remember on the other side of discomfort and nerves is pride and joy. Resilience is built in navigating the uncomfortable and coming out the other side stronger. It might take time. It will be painful.
But find the value and you’ll find the way.
Click here to learn more about anxiety therapy.
