The last few years have been quite strange for everyone across the world. We've been told to keep our distance from people and places, we've been confined indoors and we've not been able to go into school, university or work. Now that places are opening back up and we are able to see friends and family once more, understandably this can be an overwhelming moment for people. People might feel scared, excited, worried or nervous. Relationships, bodies, our social meters and many other personal factors may have changed during our time of isolation. For some, returning to day-to-day life might be a simple matter, whilst others might struggle seeing people again and life may not look the same. There is no right or wrong reaction to the ending of covid-19 restrictions and we need to be empathetic and understanding to the feelings and reactions around us. More-so, when we feel overwhelmed or believe that what we are feeling is 'silly', it is important to take a moment to appreciate just how difficult and changed our lives became in such a short space of time. Covid-19 was an incredibly overwhelming and difficult time for many across the world. We went from being sociable and going out, to slowly watching the news and death rates soar. We saw countries across the globe suffer and watched with bated breath as our leaders announced the closing of spaces and restrictions to daily life. We were separated from loved ones and our usual routines. What we have experienced is something never before seen on an intense and global scale. Therefore, when we feel apprehensive, sad or excited, remember what you have come through and be proud of any successes along the way.
From the perspective of a nutritionist in the UK, the easing of pandemic restrictions has come during the summer, creating an additional expectation for people to come out of isolation ready to enjoy summer time activities: beer gardens, picnics, beach days and more. In addition, there is the pesky notion of a 'summer body' we need to contend with. My news feed has been bombarded with quick fixes and articles advertising ways to 'lose the covid-19 pounds' in time for summer. Time in isolation may have influenced our eating habits, exercise regimes and thus, the way we look. However, I urge all my readers to please remember there is no quick fix to diet and our relationships with food. If our bodies and relationship with food has altered over the course of the pandemic this is understandable and we can now use the coming months to reestablish a healthy and balanced routine. Therefore, as we begin to return to our lives before the pandemic, let's remember to approach our daily activities with a sense of self-love, patience and self-forgiveness.
With regards to food and eating habits, the pandemic may have changed the way many of us ate. Some individuals might have found a new hobby in food. The banana bread and baking frenzy certainly hit the UK and it was incredible to see people discovering a passion for cooking. On the other hand, many may have turned to food as a source of comfort or perhaps found control in food in an otherwise 'out of control' world. Now, with the easing of restrictions, people who live with an eating disorder may feel anxious about the reopening of eating spaces as this is something they were able to avoid during the pandemic restrictions. For individuals struggling in this space, I urge you to firstly seek professional assistance and the support of family and friends. Do not feel pressured by others to immediately jump back into society and eat out all the time. We lived for two years meeting people for walks and doing activities that did not involve sitting around tables at restaurants. Come back to these activities and suggest taking part in them to friends and family if you are not ready to face
eating out. If you found a source of comfort in food, I would urge you to begin practising mindful eating to try and regain your personal sense of hunger and fulness. In addition, it is important to begin exploring other areas of your life where you may be able to gain comfort. A useful starting point may be to write down activities and people that make you feel calm and positive. You can do this over the course of a week by making a physical note moments where you felt comforted that were not associated to food and eating. If you are finding this search difficult, experiencing anxiety or are unable to begin seeking other sources of comfort, you might need the help of a professional. For anyone struggling with disordered eating, please be sure to place yourself on a waiting list sooner rather than later. Many charities, such as BEAT, and phone apps, for example 'Headspace', also created useful materials which you can access for free in the meantime. With regards to mindful eating, you can explore these two wonderful articles by the BDA and Headspace.
In addition, the easing of restrictions means restaurants and gyms will begin to open, creating spaces and feelings of anxiety for some individuals. We may feel anxious to return to fitness as during the pandemic we might have lost progress or motivation. In this case, it is important to remember that during restrictions, not even professional athletes were able to access their usual fitness equipment. It is unlikely that the majority of people returning to gyms and exercises spaces will have created new personal bests or become elite athletes during isolation. Take it slowly, perhaps only going into your usual place of exercise a few days a week. Look online for fitness bloggers and books to find inspiration for new workouts. In addition, if you have discovered a new type of activity during lockdown, I urge you to continue with these activities. I personally cycled and discovered yoga for the first time during the pandemic. I fell absolutely in love with these activities and will continue to do them even when restrictions are fully lifted. For those that are still not ready to resume outdoor fitness or exercise in a public sphere, it may be useful to look for at-home exercises. Many companies and fitness experts created fantastic at-home classes during lockdown. If you are not ready to return to the gym or exercise in public, these may be a good starting point. Joe Wicks certainly became a PE teacher for us all at home in the UK. Popsugar Fitness released incredible home workouts on their channel, many bloggers even added 'silent' workouts which were perfect for those living in flats. As usual, my favourite yogi instructor, Yoga with Adrienne, also made plenty of yoga routines to try out. It is ok to take your time in returning to fitness and find what you truly love.
Finally, and most importantly, realise that all of our lives have changed and we should move forwards slowly. Do not feel pressured by your own expectations or the expectations of others to come out of lockdown feeling particular way. Everyone is different and we should embrace and love these differences. So, whether you are excited to get back to the squat rack or nervous about being out again, all these emotions are valid. Take your time and find a new routine that suits your needs. You do not need to go out everyday or resume 'normal life'...whatever that means anyway. Build a new lifestyle that meets your current needs and mental state and ensure that you get support from those around you. Looking out for each other in this challenging period is just as vital as looking out for our own bodies and minds.
I cannot wait to hear what you all get up to or about any new hobbies or discoveries you made during the pandemic. Let me know in the comments below or feel free to pop me a private message.
Best of luck to you all, we're in it together!
Comments