Returning to Your ‘Normal Life’ Post-COVID Might Be Harder Than You Think

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

You probably recognize these as the opening lines from the legendary Charles Dickens 1859 historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Although the book is from a different era, these lines can also apply to the current situation in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have experienced the worst of times that accompanied it; death of loved ones, loss of jobs, poverty, restrictions on activities, social isolation, and poor mental health. There have been times when things looked so hopeless, and the top question in our minds was, “Will we ever go back to normal after this pandemic?”

Nonetheless, there have also been some of the best of times from this experience including, more family time, more spirituality as people turned to God in the time of need, increased community spirit, focus on holistic wellness, better working habits, and reduced environmental pollution.

With the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more people getting vaccinated every day, we can finally see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Restrictions have been lifted in many regions, and a lot of places and businesses have reopened. It seems like things are finally getting back to normal after the coronavirus. However, since we have been in quarantine for so long, some might find it hard to adjust, and returning to your ‘normal’ life post-COVID might be harder than you think. Here are some reasons why;

1. Anxiety

COVID has been here for more than a year now, and in that time, a lot has changed. From the way we work to the way we socialize. However, things have started to change, and for most of us, the next big challenge will be how to cope with the feelings of anxiety about things going back to normal. Although you might be vaccinated, the fear of COVID doesn’t really go away. You might still live with a sense of dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop. You worry and feel uncertain about how things…