Relaxing restrictions without letting down our guard

The reopening or relaxation of restrictions on commercial and social interaction has begun. However, by no means are “things going back to normal”.

There are still limitations on the number of people that are allowed to congregate in various public spaces, there are still physical distancing guidelines, and the directive “no mask, no service”. The wearing of face masks when going out in public, the frequent washing of hands, and remembering to avoid touching your face, is being strongly advised by those in authority.

​               Is this then the crafting of the “new normal” or the “not-normal”?

However we may wish to view these practices, the fact remains that this is all very different from how we’ve been accustomed to going about our daily activities. So we all need to be making a very conscious effort to ensure that we are following these protective guidelines.
And as in all other areas of life, parents and caregivers have the responsibility to lead by example, to demonstrate to our children safe practices.

What can be seen as one of the significant benefits of these pandemic practices is that we have all been made to be so much more mindful of our behaviours and actions. We have been forced to slow down, to be present in the moment, in order to be aware of protecting others and ourselves.
We have also been forced to think about our priorities and focus on our basic needs versus many wants.

By extending this ability to be mindful to other areas of our daily lives we can improve our mental health in many ways.

​This can help to reduce our anxiety levels, help us to feel more balanced, more calm, more purposeful, and help us to be more appreciative or grateful. Whatever our situation may be, and there are many who are experiencing significant hardships at this time, as long as we have life and breath, there is always something to be grateful for.

Expressing gratitude and practicing mindfulness can help us to focus on what is important and what we can do in the here and now to nurture ourselves and our families and to build a healthy and positive future.
                   
 "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more,"
                                                                                                                  (Melody Beattie)
To learn more about Mindfulness Meditation training go to selfcarepsychotherapy.com