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Life After Lockdown: How To Prepare For It

Life After Lockdown: How To Prepare For It

For everyone, the lockout because of Covid-19 was a difficult phase. We look forward to getting out and trying to lead socially isolated lives. But when the government revealed the prospect of lifting the lockout we thought the exact opposite. The fear of leaving the house and meeting the people struck us! Our work from home makes us feel particularly comfortable … the idea of taking our crowded metro to and from work (in the midst of a pandemic) terrified us. We were more concerned with our children on the other side. How to prepare children for life after lockdown.

How To Prepare For Life After Lockdown

Life After Lockdown: How To Prepare For It

Most of us were initially skeptical about the lockout, but the COVID-19 situation slowly adapted us to live in isolation. We should have begun loving it so much! Thus, for all of us, lifting the lockout was stressful.

Psychologists call this anxiety about returning to normal ‘cultural reverse shock’ or ‘reentry syndrome.’

In life after lockdown, we need to actively make specific changes in our everyday lives. Many of the reforms that we need to introduce include:

1. No physical contact

With the Coronavirus still spreading, we are meant to avoid all physical contact with anyone we encounter outside of our home, particularly in public places. Therefore, no handshakes or hugs to anyone.

2. Social distancing

Better understood as ‘physical distance,’ the new norm is social distance. Adapting to this new custom of standing at least 6 feet apart from those around us, not meeting in groups, and keeping away from crowded areas might be a challenge. Socialization would thus occur mainly via digital channels, and the weekend outings would be drastically curbed.

3. Hygiene practices 

We may not know anything about the virus, but we sure do know that when an infected person is a cough or sneezing, it spreads. If we touch a surface with the pathogen we may also come in contact with the virus. So one of the best ways to combat the virus is to follow hygiene practices, particularly those related to hand hygiene. Hence, rigorous hygiene activities will for quite some time now be part of our everyday routine.

4. Personal protection accessories

Getting used to holding things in your handbags, such as face masks, tissue paper, or sanitizer? Well! We ‘re in a process where we can’t even talk about going out without personal accessories.

5. Go digital

If your company already hadn’t, now propose to go digital. Save paper as well as the risk of getting in touch with papers that other people might have been going to handle. Then it scans and sends essential papers. Keep a digital signature ready for a situation that might need it.

To adapt to all those changes can be daunting. The psychological readjustment families would have to make in order to reintegrate back into society is immense.

How Parents Can Help Their Children Prepare For The Life After Lockdown

Life After Lockdown: How To Prepare For It

The ‘new normal’ for kids is radically different from their usual routine. Schooling and having fun with friends were substituted for limited access, no face-to-face group games, no in-person birthday parties, online classes, or chance of phased participation in schools. We can do the following as parents to help our kids adjust to life after lockdown:

1. Communicate

Communication is the key. Talk to your kids about the virus. Encourage them to share their worries and fears and to reach for the better of the ‘new normal in the discussion. rIn this battle against ‘Corona monsters,’ you should also emphasize security strategy and how they can be “warriors.” Ask the kid what it would be like after lockdown – it helps to get started at the child instead of assuming what the child feels, knows, and hopes for.

2. Spend quality time with family

One of the best ways to adapt to life after lockdown is to spend quality time with your family. Take measures to increase things that can be performed together with your children — workouts, indoor games, cooking, cleaning, baking, etc. Children will feel engaged and they will have fun if these activities are designed accordingly.

3. Balance digital usage

Online lessons and interactive media networks have greatly expanded children’s screen time. And it is also anticipated that post-lockdown would be heavily reliant digitally. Let us, therefore, concentrate on striking a balance between online activities and offline.

The rule of thumb will be Online avoidance of what can be done offline. The children can be educated and connected socially via online platforms. You can organize birthdays and social meetings online, but children need to engage in activities such as painting, play a musical instrument and singing, or reading books. You may also delegate them duties such as watering plants or feeding the pet fish.

4. Emphasis on the bright side

Teach your kids the positive around them to notice. It does not mean that the crisis is over and life is back to normal. The goal is to find the information that enriches our lives and makes them more enjoyable. The more we see the positive stuff in our lives, the more we begin to appreciate, and this is what our children need as much as we can.

Preparing for the ‘re-entry’

Returning to the ‘old normal’ might not in the immediate future be an opportunity. The way that the virus snowballing across the world, it’s clear that we will have to adapt to the new standard for a long time. Let us, therefore, discuss ways in which the post-lock-down life can be mentally adjusted:

1. Reintroduce the old routine for your family

One way to get ready for the pre-lockdown life is by slowly incorporating our family’s old routine. “When people are rigid and less focused, then they will probably be worrying about the stressful situation, which can also lead to more stress and anxiety.” Start by replicating the routines of the morning which you had previously enjoyed — set the alarm to rise during the day before the lock-down, shower, eat, exercise, and prepare your school children for school (though online!). So get ready to work and prepare them for school. Trying to restore the pre-lockdown routine helps you to regain your post-lockdown life.

2. Catch up with your social life

Human beings are social creatures, and our well-being calls for social interaction. Research has extensively shown that increasing social interaction leads to less stress and better mental health among individuals. The COVID-19 safety plan, however, insists on physical separation. But, fortunately, we are in the digital age, and social interaction can be maintained through online platforms while maintaining a physical distance. If the lockdown is lifted, we still have the option to interact with digital video conferencing options. There are other safety precautions, even though you want to catch up with your friends, such as hanging out with the minimum possible number of people (and spending time with the same individuals); not exchanging food, drinks, or utensils; no exchanging of the bat, ball and things which have passed away, and avoiding singing or chanting.

3. Focus on what you can control

The best way to deal with uncertainty is to realize what can and can not be managed and to concentrate on what we can do.

The way that mankind will move forward has always changed COVID-19. May we prepare to enter into the new reality whenever it is possible.

Also Read: How To Handle Kids Screen Time During Lockdown

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