Is that the outside world calling? Given that you’re 1) fully vaccinated and 2) still happy to mask up for the sake of other people, you’re generally free to answer the call. But there are those among us who may be a little more reluctant than others, and it’s not just because there’s still a virus out there. As some have hilariously put it, “We’ve forgotten how to people.”
It’s funny, but understandable; in fact, it might be too understandable. Without pointing fingers, we can definitely say some old work pants might be lost in the laundry forever (thanks a lot, Zoom meetings), never mind whether or not they still fit. You can’t just mute people in real life—however tempting it might be—and you can’t play a game on your phone anymore without looking like you’re not paying attention, even if you actually are.
At the same time, we can’t all thrust ourselves back into the way things used to be. It’s an abrupt approach, plus the world has changed too much, and irrevocably. Credit yourself for erring on the side of caution, because it’s much better than pretending 2020 never happened.
In fact, we can’t even pretend now that the events of 2020 weren’t a long time coming. Crowding together in huge venues, gathering in the same highrises five days a week, and even the hurried way some people clean—”clean”—their surroundings all added up. Throw in the fact that certain people just don’t know how science works or care more about their vacation time than everyone else’s health, it’s clear we can’t afford to stay the same.
You might have felt a sense of powerlessness in the past year and a half, and it can be very difficult to unlearn—no one can fault you. Perhaps this is the first step in reintegrating: Acknowledge that there’s some trauma there. We can joke about being stuck inside all we want, but some terrible things were going on; we were all at least a little afraid and depressed at multiple points, and with good reason.
Then, since we can’t actually stay inside forever, it’s best to come up with a safety strategy. Take your cues from scientists and doctors—sanitize, mask up, and make sure you either have access to a testing facility or can secure enough time off to self-isolate should you fear the worst. When going out, avoid spontaneous additional plans; stick to Point A-to-Point B as much as possible. Not only do you assuage your own fears by knowing you’ve done all you can to protect yourself, but you can say to yourself that you’ve done your part in protecting others.
If the cabin fever is really getting to you and the itch to work out of the house is deep, look into coworking spaces; this goes for both individuals and businesses with a lot of desk-bound jobs and teams. You can limit your number, maintain the standard distance apart, and the staff at the shared workspace can make sure that, in whatever mode of community quarantine we’re currently in, no one exceeds the prescribed occupancy. This way, too, your business will still have the potential to expand networks with whoever you happen to meet there.
If you’re someone whose business struggled over the pandemic, coworking spaces or shared offices may be the key to bouncing back. Apart from being lauded as productivity hubs, coworking spaces give you both social and monetary flexibility, however big your business is. The more casual work setting takes pressure off of you and your team; the removal of the incurred or fixed monthly costs of an office building takes huge hurdles away from the company’s budget. And if you’re a brave soul who’s starting a business mid-pandemic—you have our eternal respect—the rent-by-the-hour system of these spaces make for convenient and affordable venues for team realignments or presentations.
Last, but certainly not least, check up on your loved ones. Talk about what’s making you anxious; be open to hearing that you’re not alone, and that you’re definitely not paranoid. The “new normal” definitely doesn’t feel new anymore, and never felt very normal, either—but what are the people of the Philippines best known for if not making the best of a bad situation?
