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Helping yourself to ease out of lockdown

Posted on 25 April 2021

For some, the easing of lockdown restrictions may cause stress and anxiety. Here's some help and advice.

As lockdown restrictions ease, many of us are looking forward to reconnecting with friends, and re-engaging with activities that we have been missing out on over the past months. However, it is worth remembering that just as it took us all some time to get used to being in lockdown, it may take us some time to readjust to having fewer restrictions on our everyday lives..

For some, this may be the cause of stress and anxiety, so here are some tips to help you adjust:

The roadmap out of lockdown

  • First and foremost - do not give yourself a hard time. The past months have been very challenging for all of us, so be kind to yourself - you are allowed to take this at your own speed.
  • Pace yourself – do what you are comfortable doing, but also try to stretch yourself by gradually doing more things. Try not to let others pressurise you into doing things when you are not ready, and remember to let others decide what they are comfortable with.
  • Build up tolerance – try doing something that challenges you every day, or every few days. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t go well but keep at it. Keep a note of things you’ve achieved.
  • Look after yourself - remember the importance of self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, staying hydrated and getting some exercise. Try to avoid unhealthy coping measures, such as drinking alcohol, as alcohol may make you more anxious in the long run.
  • Seek support if you need it - remember, not everyone is excited about restrictions easing, so talk to friends about how you feel or share your experience on Togetherall. Remember that you can get help and support if you need it.

Managing social anxiety

Togetherall, an online community providing wellbeing support, has a self-help course on managing social anxiety that gives techniques and strategies for challenging unhelpful thoughts and facing your fears. As a York student, you can access Togetherall free of charge.

Togetherall

The good news is that reconnecting with our social networks, getting outside more and exercising will all have a positive effect on our wellbeing.

More information