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There’s no manual for the global pandemic we’ve all been trying to navigate for nearly half the year now. Everyone has been trying to find their own path with staying safe, balancing their mental and physical health and all the other challenges that have been thrown at us recently. And everyone has their own comfort levels as to what feels right for them. One of the most important things to navigate has been trying to fulfill our natura
l need to socialise with the distance required to stop the spread of germs. With complete lockdown easy, many of us have been looking forward to the rules easing up a bit. But as local recurrences and worries about a larger ‘second wave’ have surfaced, and some areas have gone back into lockdown measures, it can be hard to know what to do. So, is there a way to stay safe while still being social?
Rock Your Face Mask
Rules around the wearing of face coverings vary from place to place, but most locations now require them in public settings like shops. Many have mixed feelings about being required to wear a face mask, but they are an easy thing to do to protect ourselves and others. Although they aren’t foolproof, they limit the spread of droplets when we cough and sneeze, and they also stop us touching our nose and mouth after we may have picked up germs on our hands. And it doesn’t have to be a plain white, bad-for-the-planet disposable mask either. They are now available in a huge variety of colours and patterns, from light floral cottons for day to silk face masks for evening – it can sort of be fun to match them to your outfit! And then you can meet up with friends safely as well.
Find Socially Distanced Activities
The crisis has meant that many people have felt quite isolated and also demoralized, working harder than ever without the release of social activity. Now we can finally get back to seeing loved ones and friends, finding socially distanced activities to do means that everyone can keep safe while socialising. With summer at its height, picnics, barbecues and alfresco drinks are a perfect fit. But you can also look after your health by combining exercise with seeing friends – a bike ride, becoming running buddies or playing tennis are all a great workout, in the open air and can be done at a distance.
Have Someone To Turn To
With the seismic changes going on in our lives, it’s still natural to be experiencing stress and anxiety. If you haven’t suffered true hardship, you may even feel guilty about feeling that way. But the truth is everybody has had a lot of change, disruption and upset to deal with, everybody’s experience of the pandemic has been different. So make sure you have somebody close to you that you can talk to when the worries and anxieties just get too much. The power of a well timed video call can do a lot, so make sure to check in on others and it will usually do a lot to lift your own spirits too. Focus on the positives and the bits of normality that are coming back, and take everything one day at a time.
Thank you for reading!
