The pandemic took a toll on many people’s lives. This especially affected those that are away from their families who couldn’t reunite with them due to the dangers of contracting the virus. This led some people into months, even years, of isolation. But because the world is starting to open once more as vaccines are being distributed around the country, people may need help once they get out of isolation. Here are some tips to help you reintegrate yourself into society with safety in mind.
1. Reach out to family and friend
The very first step you should take after coming out of isolation is to reach out to your loved ones. Even if you have been away from them for several months, they will welcome you back with open arms. Give them a call and arrange a time and place to meet up. This will help you to feel connected to others once again. In this step, you have to keep up with pandemic safety measures of getting tested for the virus before meeting with anyone, wearing masks, and socially distancing from those that do not belong in your household.
2. Schedule an appointment with your doctor
A doctor would be able to help you know if you are ready to go back into society or not. He can also advise you on what vaccines you need and provide recommendations for how to keep yourself healthy. Your doctor will also be able to assess if you’ve suffered from mental health issues as some people did due to isolation. Some patients develop anxiety and depression while stuck in their homes so some doctors will recommend different kinds of treatments ranging from medication and ketamine therapy for anxiety to mediated sessions with a mental health counselor for depression.
3. Plan what you can do to reintegrate yourself
You should plan your day-to-day activities once you get out of isolation. This includes choosing places that you feel comfortable visiting, doing things that interest you, and meeting new people either online or face to face. This will help lift your spirits up and give you something to look forward to. Keeping yourself busy also helps you avoid slipping back into isolation so don’t hesitate to sign up for classes, attend events, or volunteer.
4. Take your time adjusting
Most of the people who got isolated came out with changed personalities and habits that they acquired throughout this time. These may be things like avoiding eye contact, not communicating with other people for safety reasons, or even living like a hermit to avoid contracting the virus. When you are ready to reenter society, take some time for yourself to adjust slowly. You don’t have to resume life as it was before the pandemic hit. Many others are also taking precautions and are working to keep themselves and the people around them as safe as possible.
5. Be open with others about your experiences
When you step back into society, you may find that other people are still hesitant when it comes to contacting others. Even if they understand your reasons for isolation, they need some time to start trusting each other again. Don’t hesitate to be open with them about what you went through and how you felt during this time. This will let them know why you do things a certain way and that you’re doing your best to keep yourself safe.
6. Spend time outdoors and get fresh air every day
Spending time outdoors is also important if you’ve been stuck at home for months. This will give you a chance to regain your outdoor skills after losing them. Take advantage of this opportunity by going out with your family or friends and enjoying the fresh air each day. If you feel that even outside of isolation, there are risks, always be careful and choose safe locations over hot spots.
7. Be careful about how you use social media
Social media can be a difficult obstacle to face during and after isolation. Some people may avoid these sites because of the information overload that’s dangerous during the rebuilding period. If you choose to be present on these sites, take some time to unfollow pages that post false or misleading information about pandemic safety measures. You don’t want to give unnecessary attention and risk being isolated again.
8. Make mental notes of your experiences
Finally, after a few weeks back in society, you’ll probably start forgetting about what you went through. This is normal and it’s also easy to get lost in the day-to-day activities of life so always keep a journal, take notes if needed, or write down your thoughts. You’ll be able to look back at this time and remember the struggles, lessons learned, and overall experience.
Reintegrating into society after isolation can be challenging, but it is not impossible. You should plan your day-to-day activities once you get out of isolation and take your time adjusting to the new environment. Be open with others about what happened during this period and always stay careful when using social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. Finally, make mental notes of your experiences so that you will remember them even years from now.
