Though lockdown has affected people differently, it’s fully understandable to feel this way. Some can’t wait to get out again; others are anxious and lose faith. Of course, at the moment it’s more difficult because there’s still a virus threat, so it’s not a case of “opening doors and going free”.
Unlike people who have spent time in structured environments-like the navy, military government. Some grow as they leave, some need acclimatization support. Routines have disappeared with the lockdown. For many people, routines are really important as they help them navigate through spaces and time, they give them a sense of things being relatively stable and secure. Obviously, for some people, for whom home is a safe haven, new schedules have been created, but they appear to be “smaller routines and those that do not require going into a larger space and for extended durations, unlike those before.
So our globe has shrunk and it can seem daunting for some to widen it again – safely. If we step outside to our local neighborhood, we might see familiar faces, everything could look perfect. We think, ‘This isn’t too bad’ – but if we go further afield, we might believe things are terrible ‘out there.’
There are also those for whom duty abdication was a welcome break from daily life because a “higher authority” was advising us what to do. The power and accountability have remained with the government in circumstances like this; you have to obey laws and regulations. The burden now shifts back to us, the individual, and we need to do our own risk assessments.
For some, it can feel overwhelming to have that control again – not least because we have conflicting reports on how to keep yourself safe. Remember confidence comes from constantly doing the same thing. It’s worth breaking down the different aspects for those who feel uncertain, and finding out what you feel overwhelmed about.
Whether it’s a shopping outing, is it the time spent at the shop, or the drive? Can you instead go walking? Can you visit a socially distant friend to give a sense of familiarity? Concern: What would help in making this a little more manageable?
