5 ways to ease yourself back into the real world after a year WFH

This year's been a challenge for us all. Some more than others and definitely a hard, emotional and physically difficult year across the board. I have been incredibly lucky to be living where I live, doing what I do, with a family who have kept safe and well, and I know that's a huge privilege to be able to say that too. My thoughts are with all of the people who have lots loved ones, lost jobs or had difficult situations because of what we've been through during the pandemic.

But there's another thing I'm also not afraid to say. Despite the outwardly charmed life, and being able to work remotely and serve my clients via Zoom, this year has also brought home just how precious and rare 'alone time' is. My husband has been working remotely for a year in our bedroom. I've been working from the kitchen table like so many other women I know. Somehow we have navigated sharing a living/working/sleeping/eating space with all five of us all together, all the time. Wine was involved, as was a lot of Netflix.

The trouble with having a permanent office in your bedroom is .. all of it. Likewise my kitchen office has the wonderful bonus of surround child sound during coaching calls. And whilst clients understand, there's a professional vibe that has been sorely lacking during this past year.

The wonderful thing about working remotely is that you can do it anywhere - in the glorious days of sitting in cafes and siphoning up flat whites along with fast WIFI it was the best, all with the added benefit of being surrounded by people (who weren't talking to you or asking you for snacks, might I add). But during these last months, that's just not been an option. Which is why it's with a lot of excitement that I'll be getting out to town and hiring an office space once or twice a week, simply to get out, hide from my laundry pile, and get some semblance of working again and dodging tea requests from him indoors.

Here's how I'm going to get out of my lockdown funk and back into the real world - baby steps at first to avoid social anxiety going through the roof. It's been a while since we've exchanged small talk by the coffee machine and I'm afraid to say my own chat is woefully boring these days.. easy does it.

1. Go to a cafe, restaurant (or even dare I say a shop!) and make small talk with someone you don't know. Sounds easy? It's not! 14 long months of enforced familiarity with just immediate family means your banter is sub par right now. Ease yourself in gently! Too much too soon and you'll scare people. And try to avoid talking about all the Netflix you've been watching. Seriously.
2. Offer a compliment - 'Wow, I thought we'd all put on 10 lbs in lockdown, how are you managing to look so great?' or 'Is your skin glowing from all the walking you've been doing?' Are both good go-tos to ease yourself in when you've not seen your friends for ages.
3. Remember not to go too hard, too soon. Yes it's been a while since we've managed to get out for a meal, but don't get overexcited and block book until September - remember that lovely feeling of having an empty weekend? Yes, we're well and truly over that, but soon enough you'll be booking them all up again and realising you don't have a weekend now 'til 2022. Ease yourself in!
4. Take time for yourself too. It's going to be amazing to see our friends, near and far, in the not too distant future. But I for one will be far more thoughtful about planning things in just for myself as well as with mates. 'Me time' has been sorely lacking for so many of us in between home school/work/lockdown ennui. The best remedy will be booking in a spa day or two in glorious isolation.
5. Enjoy the now. I know it sounds trite, and can feel like a meaningless platitude in light of what we've been through this year. But being more mindful about the present moment, enjoying and being grateful for small things, can make a huge difference to these 'in betweeny' times, when it seems that life is in some kind of suspended animation, not quite fully in motion, but not totally frozen either. Time seems to have contracted and expanded like a worn out rubber band this year. I'm waiting for the moment it springs back with joyous anticipation mixed with a side order of nerves. But we've got this. See you in the outside world.