Guest article by Cheryl Conklin
cherylc@wellnesscentral.info

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The pandemic and Covid restrictions have been in place for so long, many of us have become comfortable living in our own little bubbles. As a result, we might have let our health and wellness goals slide a bit and our self-confidence may be especially low. With restrictions easing up and things returning to a state of 'semi-normal' it may be time to start thinking about how to regain self-confidence so you can re-enter the social world with your head held high. This article offers some ideas for how to rebuild some self-confidence as you head outside your pandemic bubble.

Adopt a healthier lifestyle

If your health has taken a back seat to other things, now may be the perfect time to refocus on getting your health back on track. Maybe you need to commit to a set exercise regime to realize your health and wellness goals. For example, if reaching your optimal physical health is something you need to do to feel good and more confident in yourself again, exercise and a healthy eating plan with a balance of foods and nutrients will be important to help get you there. 

Set aside regular time for self-care

 Taking care of one's mental health is vital to overall health. In fact, it is a priority for effective coping with the rapid changes and evolution of the modern societies we live in. If you haven't felt you have much attention to give to your mental health lately, this could be one of the reasons why you just don't feel up to starting afresh again. If this is the case, now is the time to figure out what and why you're feeling the way you're feeling. Only by understanding what you feel and possible reasons why you feel that way can you begin to address those feelings. For example, you may feel overwhelmed or believe you can’t feel better. You may need to learn more or more effective ways to deal with any negative emotions about yourself, your situation, and others. You may need support and some other perspectives about what you feel and think is possible to change so that you can manage the tough times, feel better, and develop more resilience for the future. 

Changing the course of your career, or start your own business

 Perhaps all these social and global changes have made you more aware that it's important to feel happy and fulfilled in the work you do. Maybe you've felt that your current job has been sapping you of your joy for far too long. Perhaps this is the time to consider changing the course of your career once and for all. 

 You may want to consider whether you want to work for someone else or would prefer to be your own boss. Maybe you've been thinking of starting a business and now is the time to start planning. Starting your own business can be exciting and can energize you and bring back your excitement for your own life. It can also create added stress if not reasonably well planned. You will need to decide what kind of business you want to have. Creating a business plan first and foremost helps ensure you cover crucial details, including options for financing your new business, so that you have a reliable blueprint to guide your business development. Starting some types of businesses, such as private practices for therapists or coaches, may need some additional knowledge and supports to get you off on a good start.

Be open to trained supports like therapy

 Sometimes it is difficult to get started on any of your goals to making your life happier and healthier. You may feel that there are obstacles in your way that you cannot overcome on your own. You may feel out of new ideas or weighted down by sadness or feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Perhaps talking to someone outside your usual circle of family and friends could help you break out of the bubble that protected you in the pandemic and now may be limiting you. There are many reasons why people seek out the support of a licensed mental health professional. Mental health professionals can help you work through fears and feelings of being stuck that you may have. If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of reentering society again, then it may be helpful to seek the personalized services of a counselor or therapist to manage these feelings and move forward with more control over your life and reaching your goals. 

 In summary, things might feel a little strange, scary, or difficult at first as you ease back into society and reestablish yourself into post-pandemic life. It is possible for you to re-enter the social world with self-confidence and positive goals for your future. When you feel better mentally and physically you are more likely to believe in your capability to make your future the best one possible!