It has been a long haul for many churches waiting for the day when services can get completely back to normal. Most of the people in the country are eligible for the vaccine or soon will be, and many churches have already had some in-person meetings. Researchers, clergy and elected leaders are optimistic that the struggles the world is facing with COVID-19 are going to be much more manageable in the months ahead.

Despite this great news, you may still be anxious about returning to life as it was before the pandemic. It's perfectly natural to feel this way. For over a year, you have been instructed to exercise caution, distance yourself from others, wear a mask and increase the intensity of your cleaning routine. You may have watched with concern as others didn't seem to take the pandemic as seriously as you have, or you may have felt defensive for stretching the guidelines yourself when you needed to do so. It is understandable that some of these emotions may translate into fears of re-entry. The good news is that there are ways to handle any extra anxiety you have about returning to in-person services or face-to-face life in general. 

Embrace Good Habits

Whether you are feeling the effects of intense isolation or reeling from a little too much family bonding time, the events of the past year have likely prompted you to develop good stress relief strategies:

• Increased mindfulness
• Familiar routines
• Journaling
• Exercise
• Social connection

These practices aren't just for emergency relief. They are good habits to continue for the rest of your life. They can help you handle your stress more effectively and feel more relaxed about any upcoming shift in your routine. 

Maintain Healthy Boundaries

It's easy to feel pressured to jump back into pre-pandemic life quickly. Doing so before you're ready doesn't make sense, though. You have the right to establish the boundaries with which you are comfortable and expect others to respect them. It may help to have an objective listener to walk with you through this process, especially if setting relational limits is not one of your greatest strengths. Your therapist can guide you through your concerns and help you identify the boundaries you want through whatever sticks out during your discussion.

Take Small Steps

Part of the hesitation you are feeling may be due to perceived pressure to jump back into the busy daily schedule that you had before the pandemic. However, re-entry is not an all-or-nothing process. There is no rule that says you have to choose between practicing caution and testing face-to-face interactions. You may even decide that some of the things you were doing before need to drop out of your life completely, and a slow transition gives you the time you need to recognize these old obligations and bow out of them gracefully.

Start small. Find a local outdoor event where masking and social distancing are still encouraged, or agree to meet up with friends for drinks on the patio of your favorite restaurant. Pay attention to how you feel when you're there, and make note of any issues that come up for you. A few days later, you may have extended family members who have been vaccinated over for dinner. Choose the things you have missed the most and find a way to slowly and safely incorporate them back into your life. 

Re-entry anxiety is normal, but there are many things you can do to alleviate it. Engaging in reliable stress relief measures, talking it through with a qualified professional and coming back to in-person activities according to a timeline you are comfortable with makes the transition happen more smoothly.