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How to navigate the roadmap out of lockdown (with a Spring in your step!)
Posted by Claire Boote, on March 16, 2021.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
Can you feel it? The warmth of the breeze, the birdsong in the morning, the daylight lingering into early evening…we think (whisper it) Spring has finally arrived!
Arguably the most joyous of seasons, this year Spring feels extra joyful as we slowly emerge from lockdown and into something resembling ‘normal’ life. The roadmap out of our cooped-up lives has been revealed – it’s definitely exciting, we’ve been waiting long enough, but hands up who also feels a little nervous? As everyone around you breathlessly plans garden get-togethers and mini breaks, you may feel a little hesitant to jump in. Please remind yourself…
It is perfectly normal to feel anxious about the “return to normal life”!
Here’s why: we’ve been living through a global pandemic FOR A YEAR! That’s a year’s worth of new emotions to contend with and habits to undo. The pandemic has proved extremely difficult for our mental and physical health with loneliness, home-schooling struggles and financial worries to deal with. But some of us have found positives in lockdown life – a slower pace, time for new hobbies, a better work/life balance, and less pressure from social commitments – many good things we may feel reluctant to let go of. The key is to get the balance right and take it one step at a time. Just imagine yourself slowly crawling out of your hibernation cave, blinking in the sunlight of freedom!
The phased move out of lockdown is dependent on data, but if things keep moving in the right direction, here are the milestones to plan for (N.B. these dates are for England – visit the government website for dates in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland):
29th March
The end of March will allow outdoor gatherings of either two households or six individuals in public spaces or private gardens, which means…it’s picnic time! Parks and playing fields allow lots of space for people to stay distanced from each other and for children to let off some steam. Or choose a woodland for a bit of shelter from the (inevitable) mixed early-Spring weather. BBC Good Food magazine has compiled their best ever picnic ideas including recipes for food and drink, plus the best hampers and accessories.
If you’re not ready to mingle in public (or feel a warm day will make the park too busy), you can invite up to five other people to your garden. If you’re still cautious about social gatherings this is a good way to ‘practice’ socialising again by starting small. Don’t be hard on yourself if the conversation doesn’t flow past the usual ‘what I’ve been watching on Netflix’ – no-one else has been doing anything interesting either!
12th April
The next phase will see the opening of non-essential retail and services such as hairdressers and salons – time to sort out your lockdown hair or treat yourself to any other personal care you’ve been missing (back massage please!). Remember that rules will still be in place – this BBC piece from summer 2020 includes lots of, still relevant, tips on what to expect during your first post-lockdown hairdresser appointment.
Fitness fans can rejoice in the fact that indoor swimming pools and gyms also plan to open from mid-April. When leisure facilities reopened after the first lockdown, they proved to be some of the safest places with the lowest infection rates – spaced out gym equipment, reduced numbers and chlorinated pool water all helps reduce risk. Before you hit the gym, refresh your kit bag with a new sports bra from our wirefree range.
We hope to also be dining and drinking in pub gardens and outdoor eateries from mid-April (remember, pre-booking will be essential). Try one of the Telegraph’s best UK pubs with beer gardens or Vanity Fair’s best London restaurants with outdoor dining.
17th May
Potentially big changes to the rules around social contact are scheduled for mid-May. Subject to current reviews, social distancing rules may be relaxed or removed altogether putting responsibility on the individual to assess the level of personal risk they wish to take. This will probably feel quite weird for a lot of us – however much we’ve missed hugging our family and friends, we’ve become almost conditioned to avoid touch wherever possible. This may take a lot of re-learning. Help your body and mind reconnect with its sense of touch before you get out there – read our recent blog post about the power of touch and how to enjoy it solo.
21st June
The big one. The day (which also happens to be the summer solstice) where, with “a good wind behind us”, normality arrives and all rules disappear. This could mean festivals, big parties, foreign holidays, weddings, hugging, kissing, explosions of happiness… But after more than a year of avoiding crowds this date may just make you want to hide under your duvet for a while. Take it slow and remember that just because you can do all of these things, it doesn’t mean you have to. Keep checking in with your emotions and look after yourself. The charity Mind have compiled a useful guide to coping with the changes that the lockdown easing period brings, both for yourself and to help others around you; and BUPA offer six ways to manage post-lockdown anxiety.
