Copyright © 2021 Lee Spirit 

The past year and a half of pandemic has put a pretty good strain on all of us in one way or another. Maybe you’ve lost your job, or worse, a loved one. Perhaps you have struggled with friends and family members over what’s right and wrong, or have dealt with differing opinions on issues. You may have had to re-evaluate your life and dreams, and find new ways of working and being creative. Any kind of change in our routines can cause significant stress, so finding ways to calm anxiety is important moving forward!

One way to calm anxiety is through being out in nature, like in this photo at Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada. The still, calm waters, healthy oxygen from the trees, and steadfast mountains will soothe your soul!

What Kind of Anxiety Are You Feeling?

If you’re anything like me, you have a bit of anxiety about getting back to somewhat “normal” after the pandemic. It isn’t over yet, but is thankfully dwindling. While it’s a relief to think that we can meet up with our friends, family, and colleagues, tear the masks off, and run wild and free, is it really safe to do so?

Easing back into our regular lives causes me a bit of anxiety. Who is wearing and mask and who isn’t? How close can we get? Can we hug? Who is vaccinated and who isn’t? Is the Delta variant going to spread rapidly when restrictions are eased? What if some people are comfortable getting together and others aren’t? I know I’m going to be having a case of “Covid Cave Syndrome”, or fear of going out!

Fear of Crowds

So one type of anxiety might be a fear of crowds or crowded places. I will fit into that category easily! I have learned to walk at least 2 metres away from anyone I approach outside, and I often cross the street to avoid others in my path. Feeling comfortable passing someone one the sidewalk without a mask will be tough for me. I’ve also been running and biking with a triathlon buff over my face when I pass others. I’ve slowly started just keeping it around my neck just in case, but haven’t quite gotten comfortable enough to leave it at home!

Fear of Our Loved One’s Safety

Another type of anxiety we may be faced with is leaving our children’s sides while we go back to the office. If you’ve been taking care of your loved ones in isolation, and have to suddenly leave them, you may feel anxiety about their safety.

Fear of Social Gatherings

You may also wonder if social situations are safe. If someone throws a house-party, will you go? I know I’ll be a bit nervous about heading out on the town in a crowded bar to catch some live music with friends, attending a concert, or being in an enclosed space with many others. I’ll probably avoid elevators all together, and I may see how many people will be in attendance at social gatherings before deciding if I will go. It may also be scary for kids to return to a full classroom.

Below, you will find some great ways to calm anxiety, but if you’re looking for a quick anxiety relief, you can meditate with me right here: 7-minute MindfulNatureNut Guided Meditation on Relieving Anxiety!

Ways To Calm Anxiety, Post-Pandemic

Mindful Breathing

If you’re experiencing crowd anxiety like I am, it’s good to practice mindfulness techniques like breathing exercises before entering a crowded place. Three deep breaths usually does the trick at calming the mind. If this doesn’t settle the anxiety, try doing it for a longer time until you feel more settled.

Expressing Gratitude & Positive Affirmations

If you’re worried about leaving your loved ones to head back to work, as they head back to school, practice looking for the good in everything. At the beginning of your days, when you wake up, think of a few things that you are grateful for. This gets the mind into a positive state to begin your day. Then at the end of the day, think about all the things that were great about the day you just had. This will train your mind to focus on the positive. You may also want to use affirmations like “I fill my mind with positive, nourishing thoughts”.

As the pandemic comes to end, we may also think about what we did well during our times of isolation, change, loss, and transition. Did you have a new, creative project you finally had the opportunity to start? What is it that helped you succeed during this time, and what do you need to do to sustain that going forward?

Visualization as a Way To Calm Anxiety

If you’re feeling afraid to return to social gatherings, it may help to practice visualization. This means using your mind to visualize what it will be like to return, in a positive way. Imagine the best possible outcomes, such as kids laughing and playing without masks, and sharing spaces again without the paranoia.

Kindness & Compassion

One thing we have to remember when we think about our own or other people’s paranoia is that the pandemic has affected different people in different ways. Everyone’s experience has been a little different. So it helps to have compassion for ourselves and our own feelings, as well as compassion for those around us.

If someone feels the need to continue wearing a mask, while you’re completely comfortable without a mask, remember to practice kindness and compassion instead of laughing at them. I know I’ve had people laugh at me on the bike path as I wear my mask over my face while running or biking if they’re within 2 metres of me.

Someone even said, “Seriously??” and a child yelled at me, “Don’t wear a mask! Don’t wear a mask! Don’t wear a mask!” Each person is comfortable with what they’re comfortable with. Make no judgments, and be kind to different comfort levels. You never know what someone else has been through. What if you laughed at me, but I actually work in ICU and have seen hundreds of deaths? What if you laughed and made fun of me, but I lost a parent or a good friend?

Read more here about Living In the Now With Kindness & Compassion!

Notice How You Feel

When looking for ways to calm your anxiety as the pandemic dwindles down, it’s important to pay attention to how you feel. Your beautiful body temple is a great teacher when it comes to noticing how you feel. Notice if your belly is tense with anxiety, if you aren’t eating properly, or if you don’t have healthy elimination. Your chest may be tight, you may have extreme tiredness, headaches, or tight shoulders at the thought of the return to “normal”.

Through yoga and meditation, you can really get in touch with how your body feels. During the postures and meditation, you can breathe into the tight areas of your body to create new space. You become aware of the sensations in your body, such as where there is pleasure, and where there is pain. Then you breathe more into the painful areas.

Learning from your body is a great tool to use to notice what is also happening in your mind. It’s a great way to calm the mind and the anxiety it creates. As well as noticing how you feel, you can also notice how you feel about how you feel, and adjust yourself accordingly.

Of course, if you notice that after some time, your anxiety levels haven’t dwindled off and it’s affecting your life, it may be beneficial for you to ask for help. There are many mental health resources available to you to learn new ways to calm anxiety if nothing else is working for you.

Ask Yourself These Questions

When looking for ways to calm anxiety as you ease back to normal living, ask yourself:

• How am I being today? I deliberately say “being” instead of “doing” because our culture is so focused on “doing” things, and we need to focus more on just “being”, and noticing how we are feeling in this moment. For example, “Today I am being over-sensitive”, or, “Today I feel accepted”.
• In a year’s time, what do I want my life to look like? For example, “In a year, I’d like to have made some new connections”.
• What steps do I need to take today in order to support what I’d like my life to look like in a year’s time? For instance, “I need to join a meditation circle”.

Easing Your Way Back With Healthy Boundaries

There is really no rush to drop all restrictions and measures if you’re not comfortable doing so. Each person will be going at their own pace, and own comfort levels, and respecting that will go a long way to helping others feel safe. If you don’t want to go to a big party, maybe just ask how many people will be in attendance, and go only if you’re comfortable.

Respect other people’s comfort zones, but also communicate your own boundaries about what you are comfortable with. Hopefully your friends and loved ones will understand where you’re at, and respect your boundaries. If they don’t, then you can back off from whatever you’re not comfortable with.

Set Your Goals

When finding ways to calm your anxiety going forward, it’s helpful to set some goals for yourself that are measurable and attainable. After a lengthy pandemic, we may want to re-evaluate what is important to us, and what we can prioritize. I’ve had a gym membership for years, and now I’m considering doing the majority of my exercise in the outdoors, or at home. But I need to stay motivated, so I have to look at what has worked for me at home, and outdoors, and what hasn’t worked so well.

It has also been a time to consider what we really want, and who we really are. What impact do we want to make on the world? Where do you find purpose and meaning in your life? Really consider what lights you up and gets you excited!

Goal-Setting Questions To Consider

What have you enjoyed about working from home? For me, I’ve had roughly 2 extra hours in my day to get other things done. I’ve been more relaxed, less irritable, and have been home to receive all kinds of packages in the mail. How can you bring these positives back into your work days as you return to the office? How can you adjust your schedule and time?

Maybe you’ve realized you don’t like the work you do, and want to make a change that requires some new skills and learning. You can sign up for a new course to get these skills – There are many free courses being offered these days.

When setting your new goals, take baby steps to get there so you’re not overwhelmed all at once. All it takes to make a change is one tiny step in a new direction, and the Universe will support your decision going forward.

What To Do Now About Your Anxiety

Anxiety is debilitating and it can stop you from living your best life.

Despite all its negatives, one good thing about it is that with some work and perseverance, it is manageable. With the right tools and techniques, you can manage your anxiety!

Now that you know some ways to calm anxiety as you get back to regular life, you can rest assured that the days ahead will become easier for you.

Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the  study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report!