WE CAN ADJUST TO THE NEW NORMAL!

The coronavirus outbreak has changed our lives in a legendary manner. This bleak situation that we are in made the term “new normal” ubiquitous.

WHAT IS THE “NEW NORMAL”?

The term “new normal”, coined long before the covid-19 pandemic came about, is a new way of living that people resort to settle with after an upheaval. This expression entered the spotlight again because of the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. It is believed that our situation will last for an indefinite time period. Therefore, people need to adapt to the new social conditions – wearing masks or face shields every time they go out, frequent hand washing, disinfecting, observing social distancing, working from home, and the like.

Dealing with a sudden change may be a struggle at times. Even so, there are still approaches to adjust to the new normal.

ATTUNING OURSELVES TO THE NEW NORMAL

Accept the reality. Accepting the situation we are currently in can help us become better problem solvers. According to Rachel Fintzy Woods, MA, LMFT, rejecting the reality does not change the reality. The moment we recognize the reality, our options broaden and we gain the sanity in choosing an appropriate action plan to deal with our situation. Furthermore, acceptance adds to one’s inner peace.

Set a daily routine. It’s important to keep ourselves oriented throughout the day. In the midst of this chaos, having a structured new daily routine can help us make adjustments. A day without a detailed plan can affect our determination to face the challenges that lie ahead. Start with a simple daily to-do list, and try your best to stick to it.

Check in. Isolation plays a significant role now in keeping ourselves and others safe from the threat of the coronavirus. But keeping our physical distance from others or even from our loved ones doesn’t mean we can’t communicate with them virtually. Take advantage of the modern technologies available to check in with them. Adjusting to the new normal will be easier with friends and family, even if it’s done online.

Keep hold of a healthy lifestyle. It’s not the time to stop keeping our healthy habits. The more we maintain our healthy lifestyle, the more we are able to deal with the virus’ deadly threat. Nutritious food, regular exercise, and restorative sleep are just some of the various ways to keep fit.

Keep yourself posted. Being aware of what’s happening around us reinforces our flexibility. Knowing about the latest news expands our options on how to adjust, thus allowing ourselves to become more creative in solving problems. However, we need to be balanced. Given that the majority of the news nowadays is negative, we need to guard ourselves from becoming overloaded with information as it can also negatively affect our focus.

We are encouraged to take this time to hone our skills, broaden our horizon, and extend our love to one another. With a balanced view of things, we can be confident that we can adjust to the new normal brought by this pandemic and face all the challenges ahead.