MM2S010: Season 1, Episode 10
By: Ken Boone Last week, I forgot to put on a mask when I left my house. First time that happened in over a year! A couple of days ago, my wife and I got our second shot of the vaccine! That means that shortly, our lives will return to some form of normalcy. So why am I still so anxious????? It’s called Fearing a Return to Normalcy! Here’s a little background: As the number of vaccinated individuals in our communities increases and restrictions for gatherings are reduced, an uneasiness to adjusting back to pre-pandemic life has started to emerge. According to a recent study from the American Psychological Association, more than 50% of Americans feel concerned about in-person interaction once the pandemic ends. KEY POINTS (SYMPTONS) Per an article by Salvador Rodriguez, Tech Reporter for CNBC.com:
My Own Journey (aka My Survival Story) When they first acknowledged that this is a pandemic:
Adjusting to a “New Normal”
My personal return to normalcy
3 Tips to Cope with “Return to Normal” Anxiety For expert help and advice, we look to Dr. Garry Spink, a psychologist at Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, NY, for tips on how to help cope with re-entry fear. He provides us with three! Acknowledge your anxiety, we can be one or more of the following:
“It’s helpful to consider what exactly is driving your anxiety,” explained Dr. Spink. “If you’re worried about your health, you might want to call your provider to talk about your personal health risks. If you’re worried about a return to work, talk with your supervisor or a trusted coworker. If you’re worried about a return to social activities and a rustiness with engaging with people in person, consider being open about that with family and friends.” Navigate comfort levels We’re reaching towards an uncertain end of an uncertain time. With guidelines continuing to adjust to the latest research and restrictions that have been in place for months being lifted, it’s important not only to acknowledge your anxiety and talk with your networks but also to examine your comfort level. “Evaluate if the activity is something you need to engage in – listen to your gut and weigh your pros/cons,” said Dr. Spink. “Balance that with the people in your network’s comfort levels and build connections within those parameters.” That could mean looking for ways to continue to connect with loved ones virtually. Or, if you’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine, following the CDC guidelines for getting together with other vaccinated households. Use calming techniques. Relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, visualization and belly breathing exercises are great ways to help decrease stress and anxiety. “These exercises can help you replace your body’s stress response with something that helps you feel more relaxed,” said Dr. Spink. “I find that mindfulness, the practice of being present without judgment, can especially help some people to remain calm when they feel their thoughts racing.” I’m going to use this blog as well as my podcast to chronicle my return to normal. Let me know what you have to say. Today's Quote “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” Vincent Van Gogh
0 Comments
For the past few months, my production schedule has been seriously curtailed. Two of my podcasts are on hiatus, and I've falling into a pattern of publishing just one episode per month on my own podcast. My last blog post was published in February 2021. That's my fault.
Now, I haven't been wasting my time during this creative slowdown. In fact, I've upped my research game by listening to a lot of different podcasts from an eclectic group of hosts. Same holds true as for my reading the postings of a number of bloggers out there. And we won't even get into the number of interesting YouTube videos I've been watching. I almost expect to get CPE credits for all of the self-improvement work I've undertaken! In any event, the "productivity vacation" is finally over! I've made a commitment to increase my episode output to at least two per month. I will also begin the process of gently nudging the other hosts on this network back in the studio to record new episodes, informing them that they still have new listeners discovering them every week. As for this blog, I'm subscribing to the adage of "less is more". Instead of struggling to write essays that are masterpieces in prose only in my mind, I will attempt to publish something at least twice per month, on the weeks that I don't publish an episode of my podcast, "Much More to Say". I have also decided not to post links to these blog posts on social media until I reach the point where I'm consistently writing and posting. So, with fingers crossed and taking a deep breath, I'm hitting the "Post" button... NOW!!! |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
|