Publicly, most of us express frustration and boredom with quarantine. Although necessary to protect everyone’s safety, we still chat excitedly with friends about the first restaurant we will visit when things reopen. Despite the longing for companionship, it’s also normal to feel anxious about the isolation ending. We can come to experience a new normal, so returning to old life can also feel daunting. 

If you’re nervous about resuming your old lifestyle, it’s perfectly normal. First and foremost, COVID-19 will likely not be eradicated by the time we all start riding public transportation and going to the gym again. Navigating the risk of the virus as well as interacting with others who may not be taking all safety precautions can cause us to be anxious about our own health and that of our loved ones. 

Humans are creatures of habit. Adjusting to a new lifestyle, even if it is just going back to your old ways, is intimidating. We do not know what a post-COVID-19 world will look like. There will likely be big changes in personal life, leisure, work, and even your relationships with friends and family. The prospect of navigating this impending unknown can definitely stir up feelings of unease. 

So how do we cope with these anxieties as states and countries move towards reopening? First, accept what you cannot control. Surrendering to certain situations does not mean losing all autonomy, it simply means understanding that you can only control your own actions and feelings, so you need to release yourself from things you have no power over.

Second, practice gratitude. It’s all too easy to focus on the bad. Reminding yourself every day about the positives in your life that you are thankful for is a great way to cultivate a more optimistic outlook on the future. 

Lastly, focus on what you can control. You control your own habits. You can wash your hands regularly, continue to practice social distancing, and be responsible about how you interact with the outside world when we all rejoin it. Beyond health and safety, you can actively practice calming techniques we have discussed for personal peace such as journaling, taking walks, talking to a loved one, or starting a creative project. 

It will take us a while to get back to “normal.” This normal will likely look different, but we at the Optimist Daily are confident that we are heading Back to Better.