How to manage a return to routine in September

In the current situation, It is very difficult to think of an adaptation to the routine after the holidays just as we did other years.

The return to the usual day to day in September is usually accompanied by nostalgia for summer getaways, preparation of the course if there are children, new purposes, and maybe a glimpse of the next bridges until you arrive Christmas.

This year, however, all those aspects normalized by the previous experience are altered, being able to produce thoughts such as "so less I have been able to leave and disconnect a few days "," to see how the children return to school "or" I hope we can enjoy forever". Undoubtedly, what will go hand in hand with this new routine is uncertainty.

Frequently, changes in our habits have part of our own decision and, although the fact of assuming risks can generate losses, the reality is that maintaining a flexible attitude favors facing them in a effective.

What makes this moment special is that our control capacity is minimal, and therefore decision-making does not come from a process of reflection but from an external order. For this reason, we want to give you some tips to avoid a pessimistic attitude due to living in a situation that you feel is unfair.

• Related article: "Work stress: causes, and how to combat it"

Tips for managing the return to routine in September

Follow these tips and advice to make it easier for you to adjust to the habits and responsibilities that await you after your vacation.

1. Be cautious

In the same way that when the spread of the virus began to be worrisome, we established different behaviors in our routines, both social and hygiene, it is very simple that the feeling of recovery from the previous life involves the loss of these. This is so because the perception of danger may have decreased and as a consequence, certain preventive behaviors as well.

In this sense, it is key that our sense of responsibility at the individual level and as part of society is in a appropriate point, producing the thought that normality as we knew it can be closer if we all act same. Remember that having a clear conscience is essential to achieve an adequate level of well-being and feel inner peace.

2. Work negative thoughts

Automatically, our brain generates a series of spontaneous thoughts over which we have no control, at least to avoid their appearance. Although they can be both positive and negative, in times of more anxiety these thoughts often take on an unpleasant look.

After months of confinement and seeing the current situation, these days messages such as "I liked my previous normality", "this is going to change us forever" or "I wouldn't take another lockdown". Our objective here should not be to try to prevent them from appearing, but rather to manage them well so that they do not cause discomfort.

It is very easy for an intrusive thought to attract another and we are involved in a spiral of worries that are difficult to handle, and that is why techniques such as training in positive thinking are effective not only to get out of that loop but also to produce an alternative one with ideas optimistic.

• You may be interested in: "Rumination: the annoying vicious circle of thought"

3. Trust the decisions of the experts

Distrust, in a way, implies anticipating something negative and therefore preparing ourselves at all levels to face it. One of the most frequent effects is hypervigilance to try to perceive the threat in time, which implies, on the one hand, a high level of tension and anxiety and, on the other, an inability to enjoy or achieve tranquility in the day-to-day.

In the health crisis situation that we are experiencing, mistrust is the order of the day and it is important that, despite political differences, you think that the goal of saving lives and preventing complications is common. Only by trusting the experts and assuming the instructions they give us at all times will we achieve greater peace of mind, and only by all acting in the same direction will the gear work.

4. Manage expectations of the new normal

Throughout our quarantine, we have all fantasized about those things in our previous lives that felt good, and probably at some point we have assumed that after the de-escalation we could get them back. The fact that the deadlines that are in mind do not fit with reality generates a high level of frustration that can be avoided.

If working out at the gym, going out at night on weekends, or taking long trips were part of your habits you will have to think of other options that also make you enjoy and are feasible in reality current.

For example, training outdoors, continuing social gatherings at friends' houses, or short-distance trips could be a solution. Focus your mind on everything that is within your reach and not on the limitations it is the best way to keep disappointment at bay.

5. Patience on the return to work

At the work level, there are many changes that are taking place and that can generate a feeling of strangeness if they are far from our previous day.

On the one hand there is the emotional part, since contact with colleagues surely has to be more distant and your workplace may be unrecognizable and give you a feeling of emptiness. Situations as basic as going down to breakfast and seeing the deserted cafeteria can remind you that something is still happening.

On the other hand, the functions may have also been altered, having to use specific protection or carry out disinfection measures constantly. There will come a time when they are automated and do not involve extra effort, but until then only patience will make you reduce the feeling of discomfort.

The same can happen at the productivity level, worries can reduce the ability to concentrate and as a consequence, also effectiveness. In this sense, forcing yourself to be in the pre-pandemic level will make you feel a pressure that may take you further away from the goal. Be tolerant of yourself and naturally everything will get you there.

Concluding

As we have seen, the return to the routine after the summer holidays has more nuances than ever, But it may also be that a few months ago we did not believe that summer vacation could be a done. Now, optimism, a flexible attitude and patience will be your allies to face the new normal.

In the meantime, if you are interested in seeking professional help from psychologists, get in touch with our team of therapists.