How’s your social battery? Even though Covid is now hopefully in the distant past, you may still be feeling a little depleted. Going out to places socially, venturing back to the office and even seeing friends and family can leave us feeling exhausted. This is completely normal. Our social stamina has been depleted and we can’t keep up with the pre-pandemic pace we had before. Many of us don’t want to either.
We are also all living within a constant state of low-level (but often much higher) stress level – also linked to uncertainty, the news and adapting to change, however welcome it might be.
““Your brain needs plenty of rest to function at it’s optimal level. Go to sleep!”
― Lalah Delia
Here are few ideas for how you can recharge your social battery, look after yourself and be stronger in the face of change:
Sleep when you need to! Make sure you are sleeping enough and make time to rewind at the end of a day. If you find it difficult to sleep, try writing down your thoughts so your brain knows it’s ok to park them.
Breathe – we hugely underestimate this vital resource. If you are feeling tense try 3-4-5 breathing where you breathe in for 3 counts, hold for 4 and breathe out for 5. Make sure that out-breath is longer than your in-breath. This calms our sympathetic nervous system and helps manage stress. And it is instant!
In crowds, at parties, meetings, get-togethers with friends, everyday interactions: social anxiety can show up as an unwelcome guest at any time. But why? Psychologist Fallon Goodman digs into the source of social anxiety, setting the record straight about this common condition with practical solutions to help you feel the most authentically “you” while out and about.
Slow down – we still charge through our days. Schedule times when you can just do nothing, when you can reflect or sit in your garden. Try starting each day with a little mindfulness and intention setting. Avoid over-scheduling. When you are out somewhere or with friends, be present.
Practice self-care – do things that nurture you. Get better at asking yourself “what do I need today?” Know what triggers stress. Limit consumption of social media and news. Instead listen to inspiring podcasts or read a great book.
