Adapting to easing restrictions

As restrictions ease, adapting to life after lockdown may feel hard. Here are some things to help you manage:

• Go easy on yourself - this new period will require some adjustments and that's OK!

• Decide what lockdown habits you want to keep. - some habits may be healthy (hello lockdown runners and walkers!) and maybe some need to be reduced like alcohol content. This may not have been a bad time for some, so deciding what is and is not important in your life is a great time to reflect and change things that don't serve you.

• Stay positive and challenge negative thoughts - question the basis behind your thoughts and assumptions rather than letting them dictate how you feel.

• Be prepared - set aside time to organise your calendar so you don't feel overwhelmed

• Stay connected - Reach out to family and friends and talk honestly about how you're feeling

• Breathe. Relaxation techniques can help when things seem overwhelming like coming into a crowd of people at a park or entering a restaurant for the first time. Square breathing is a great way to help keep the heart rate down - breathing in for 5 seconds, holding for 5 seconds, exhaling for 5 seconds.