The stress associated with the chaos of 2020 brought anxiety to most people. The anxiety and loneliness from isolation, as well as the stress and panic over the future caused mental health worldwide to decline. Some could not wait for the world to return to ‘normal’, while others had become so accustomed to isolated living that anything else seemed abnormal. As the world has opened up, many have returned to their pre-lockdown life: socialising and seemingly picking up where they left off, while some still remain fixed on their lockdown lifestyle out of fear of life returning to normal. I, for one find myself terrified of returning to my pre-lockdown life.
Living with anxiety is no easy task, especially when you live through a pandemic. It is only natural that a lifestyle change as drastic as this throws you off entirely. The world became a very unpredictable place and anxiety hates unpredictability. Returning to the world means facing that unpredictability again: a feeling some of us may not be ready for. Unfortunately, not everybody has the luxury of choosing whether to go back or not. For some, facing the world again is not negotiable.
Bouncing back.
The first step is to try and identify why you are so fearful of getting back into your old habits. Ask yourself if it is the virus you fear or the fear of returning to a stressful and unfulfilling lifestyle. Take a look at your life before lockdown: how much time did you have to do the things that you love? Did you ever get to relax and unwind or was life always work and no play? Perhaps you might have been in a toxic work environment or pursuing a career that is not your passion. Maybe, you overextended yourself and had no clear boundaries with others.
The good news is that you do not have to return to exactly the way you were before, even if your job or academic life does. You can use this as an opportunity to reinvent yourself with new habits and a healthier lifestyle: one you can be proud of.
Review every aspect of your previous lifestyle that contributed to stress or that took up way too much time. If your life was unbalanced, now would be a good time to incorporate some exercise, healthy eating habits and spending more time doing the little things that you love. Another aspect to focus on would be getting enough sleep and spending a little less time on social media.
Be reasonable.
Creating new habits are always challenging at first and it is always tempting to backslide and lose motivation. You just have to remind yourself that little changes can yield big results in the long run. Do not expect your life to drastically change overnight but rather take each day as it comes. Anxiety can be a difficult thing, especially when aggravated by a stressful lifestyle.
Just remind yourself that you should not have to sacrifice your mental health for your job or for your academics.