How to manage the return to routine in September

Tips and recommendations on how to emotionally manage the return to routine in September.

In the current situation, it is very complicated to think about an adaptation to the routine after the vacations as we did in other years.

The return to the usual day-to-day routine in September is usually accompanied by nostalgia for summer getaways, preparation for the school year if there are children, new resolutions, and perhaps a glimpse of the upcoming long weekends until Christmas arrives.

This year, however, all those aspects normalized by the previous experience are altered, and may produce thoughts such as "at least I have been able to go away and disconnect for a few days", "let's see how the children return to school" or "I hope we can enjoy Christmas as usual". Undoubtedly, what will go hand in hand with this new routine is uncertainty.

Changes in our habits are often partly our own decision and, although taking risks can generate losses, the reality is that maintaining a flexible attitude helps us to face them effectively.

What makes this moment a special one is that our capacity to control is minimal, and therefore the decision making process is not a decision we have to make.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 advice to avoid a pessimistic attitude for living a situation that you feel unfair.

Tips to manage the return to the routine in September

Follow these recommendations and tips to make it easier for you to adjust to the habits and responsibilities that await you after the vacations.

1. Be cautious

In the same way that when the spread of the virus began to be worrying, we established different behaviors in our routines, both social and hygienic, it is very easy for the feeling of recovery of the previous life to imply the loss of these behaviors.. This is because the perception of danger may have diminished and as a consequence, certain preventive behaviors as well.

In this sense it is key that our sense of responsibility at an individual level and as part of society is at an adequate point, producing the thought that normality as we knew it may be closer if we all act the same. Remember that a clear conscience is fundamental to reach an adequate level of wellbeing and to feel inner peace. and to feel inner peace.

2. Work on negative thoughts

Automatically, our brain generates a series of spontaneous thoughts over which we have no control, at least to avoid their occurrence. Although they can be both positive and negative, in times of heightened anxiety, it is common for these thoughts to take on an unpleasant turn..

After the months of confinement and looking at the current situation, these days we may be invaded by messages such as "I liked my previous normality", "this is going to change us forever" or "I would not put up with another confinement". Our objective here should not be to try not to let them appear, but to manage them well so that they do not generate discomfort.

It is very easy for an intrusive thought to attract another intrusive thought. This is why techniques such as positive thinking training are effective not only to get out of this loop but also to produce an alternative one with optimistic ideas.

3. Trust in the decisions of experts

Mistrust, in a certain way, implies anticipating something negative and therefore preparing ourselves at all levels to face it. One of the most frequent effects is hypervigilance in order to try to perceive the threat in time.This leads on the one hand to a high level of tension and anxiety and on the other hand to an inability to enjoy or achieve peace of mind in everyday life.

In the current health crisis situation, mistrust is the order of the day and it is important that, despite political differences, you think that the objective of saving lives and preventing complications is a common one. Only by trusting the experts and following 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 system work.

4. Manage the expectations of the new normality

Throughout the quarantine, we have all fantasized about those things in our previous life that made us feel good, and probably at some point we have assumed that after de-escalation we could get them back. The fact that the timelines you have in mind do not match reality generates a high level of frustration that can be avoided..

If training at the gym, going out in the evenings on weekends or going on long trips were part of your habits, you will have to think about other options that also make you enjoy yourself and are feasible in today's reality.

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

5. Patience in the return to work

At work there are many changes that are taking place and that can generate a feeling of strangeness if they are very different from our previous day.

On the one hand there is the emotional partOn the one hand, contact with colleagues will probably have 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 cafeteria deserted may remind you that something is still going on.

On the other hand, the functions may also have been altered, having to use a specific protection or carry out disinfection measures constantly. There will come a time when they become automatic and no longer require extra effort, but until then only patience will reduce the feeling of discomfort..

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

Concluding

As we have seen, the return to routine after the summer vacations is more nuanced than ever, but we also may not have believed a few months ago that summer vacations could be a fact of life. Now, optimism, a flexible attitude and patience will be your allies to face the new normality. to cope with the new normal.

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