I went for my first meal out with friends last night and it was glorious. One of my friends and I also decided to dress up for it - was that necessary? Absolutely not, but boy did it feel great to get ready and actually have somewhere to go. And though it felt amazing to be able to do something so normal again, it was also very strange.
A year ago, our world was turned upside down and we had to completely change the way we lived our lives. Activities that were considered normal became dangerous and forbidden. We couldn’t see our loved ones or attend university and work unless it was through a screen. But we adapted and we are now starting to move closer to restrictions lifting and life feeling normal again.
But what even is “normal” at this point? Though some people might be feeling ecstatic about things opening up again and being able to go out with their friends, a lot of us are also apprehensive. After being used to minimal social contact for over a year and not being able to go anywhere other than your home or on walks, the loosening of restrictions can cause a bit of inner turmoil.
Anxiety
The change in restrictions has brought with it many situations that we haven’t faced in over a year. If you have been feeling anxious about facing the masses, you are not alone. The lack of regular contact with people has made many of us uncomfortable in busy streets, cafes or shops.
Human interactions can also cause some anxiety. I don’t know about you, but I feel like my social skills have disappeared. The thought alone of speaking to or meeting new people makes me want to crawl back into bed. It’s absolutely normal to feel that way though, so don’t be too hard on yourself and take it slow. Work your way up to more daunting activities by first going for coffee with a friend and once you feel more comfortable, going to the cinema or for a meal.
Restrictions
Restrictions are changing, and they may be different depending on where you are. If you live in the UK, I highly recommend using the BBC’s restrictions look-up. Just put in your postcode and you’ll find an easy-to-navigate list of rules in your area. It makes it a lot easier to stay up-to-date with restrictions without feeling overwhelmed by long documents that are difficult to read or worrying whether the information you have is the most recent or not. Knowing the rules and guidelines will also help you feel less anxious.
I have been keeping a close eye on international restrictions as I am dying to see my family again. I have, however, found some of the government websites very difficult to navigate. My Dad gave me the best tip to help with that: go onto airline websites and find their FAQ or travel restrictions page and you should be able to find a comprehensive list of where you can travel to and, more importantly, what you must do before and after travelling (getting tested, self-isolating, etc). Lufthansa’s travel regulations page allows you to enter your departure and destination airports to receive all relevant information and is very easy to use.
Seeing your loved ones
The biggest relief with the last few changes in restrictions in the UK has been the go-ahead we have received to see our loved ones, no matter where they live in the UK. You can see them in larger groups and even go out for a meal with them (make sure you check your local guidelines for the limit on people/households). I feel like there has already been a huge shift in people’s well-being thanks to this.
And although this is great news, it’s very bittersweet for those of us who don’t have family in the UK. My close relatives live on the European continent and in the Republic of Ireland. Travelling internationally has recently become slightly easier with the UK not requiring you to self-isolate in a hotel upon your return from certain countries - which, by the way, cost just shy of £2,000. But I am not going to get into that or I will probably rant. Anyway, I think everyone is looking forward to seeing their loved ones and it will do us all some good.
Social hangover
The term “social hangover” describes the feeling that many are getting after going out and socialising, which leaves you absolutely exhausted and not wanting to leave your bed for 3 days. This is completely normal and there is nothing wrong with you, even if you used to be thriving when going out 4 times a week pre-pandemic. It’s like running: you can’t just run a marathon, you’ve got to start slow and build your way up. So try to slowly get back into socialising. Limit outings to 1 or 2 hours, give yourself a few days between meet-ups and you’ll be able to build your tolerance for socialising.
New normal
Though restrictions are slowly being lifted, it’s difficult to imagine things are ever going to feel the way they did pre-pandemic - at least not for a while. It’s hard to imagine being in packed concert venues or nightclubs again. But I have hope for the future, so until then, let’s just take it one step at a time.
Finally, after months, I have posted on Relatable Sunday again! Clearly, I need to get used to writing again so it’s only a short post today. But I’m glad to be back. Thank you for reading this far and I hope you have a lovely week ahead. See you next Sunday!
Yours truly,