6 Tips to Manage Concerns and Reconnect with Others
While many people might feel like shouting “freedom!” from the rooftops, many others are undoubtedly feeling concerned about the lifting of restrictions. Here are our tips for helping with the transition!
1. Prepare and Plan:
For good planning, start by doing some low-key preparation for social occasions. Focus on approaching what you can do to feel more at ease.
2. Shift the spotlight:
Consider paying attention and really listening to who you are with, instead of focusing on yourself.
3. Manage unhelpful thoughts:
CBT and Meditation can help us re-evaluate our perceptions from unhelpful ones to more helpful ones. They can also help us manage our emotions better, to cope with anxiety and empower us to recognise and work through unhelpful thoughts about self-worth and how you think others perceive you
4. Challenge your concerns:
Try using a worry budget to help you feel less overwhelmed by your thoughts and to challenge them. A worry budget essentially means writing down all the worries you have and taking some time during the day to challenge them. Think about “then what?”. Maybe they are hypothetical concerns, or they may not be as concerning as you initially thought, or perhaps there is something you can do about them?
5. One step at a time:
Start by meeting close family members or meet a good friend for coffee outside. Maybe next time, meet them for longer. Then perhaps a walk with 2 or 3 family members or friends. Then an outside lunch. Set yourself small manageable steps.
6. Talk and Listen:
Communication is key to helping us process our feelings, but it also reminds us of the social support we do have around us. By talking about your feelings, you may find you are able to share different ways of thinking about things and gain a different perspective. You might also feel less alone in how you feel and gain useful advice from people you trust.
For more information and support, please visit Thrive Mental Wellbeing.