5 Ways to Sharpen Your Social Skills After Isolation – AARP

Lockdowns have changed social networks and, in some cases, strained relationships. Researchers at University College London found that 22 percent of adultsreported that their friendships had degradedduring the pandemic which might create a barrier when it comes to reaching out.

"Coming out of the pandemic, our interactions are going to be more strained, says Timothy Levine, chair and distinguished professor of communication at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It'll feel a little awkward at first, but it will become familiar pretty quickly.

Rather than continuing to isolate once it's safe to gather, Levine suggests being honest about your needs. It's OK to tell friends that you're only getting together one-on-one, outdoors orcontinuing to wear masksif that eases your anxiety about reengaging in social interactions.

While you might feel excited about getting back out into the world of dinners, celebrations and meet-ups, don't pack your social calendar too soon, warns Aderonke Pederson, M.D., a psychiatrist and instructor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Instead of parties and weekend trips, start with coffee.

"There is going to be a temptation to try to snap right back into our normal routines, she says. We're not robots; we can't switch back with an on-off switch."

Even brief social interactions with the best of friends might feel exhausting at first. For the past year, people have been on high alert, warned to avoid others and to avoid crowds or large groups of people. Pederson warns that the emotional toll of quarantine-induced social anxiety could cause you to burn out on social interactions faster than usual.

"It's so important for us to be patient with ourselves and the people around us. We need to pace ourselves through this process, Pederson adds. Burnout and the risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety come with trying to force yourself into a certain state of being when the emotional toll [of the pandemic] is very real."

Psychologist Robin Smith, author of Inspirational Vitamins: A Guide to Personal Empowerment who was therapist-in-residence on The Oprah Winfrey Show, refers to the pandemic as a form of trauma. In those initial social interactions, she encourages perseverance, adding, We can't assume that how we were a year ago is how we'll be today."

Smith calls it courageous to venture back into social interactions.

"Vaccines have come out and people are excited but a year in hiding, cloistered away, has taken its toll, she says. We need to be kind and gentle and soft with ourselves and with other people as we reenter social interactions.

Poornima Apte, 55, practiced self-described COVID absolutism over the past year, limiting contact with friends. She turned the garage of her Walpole, Massachusetts, home into an outdoor living room where she could meet with friends (mostly) outdoors while wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines.

The infrequent in-person social interactions coupled with texting and lots of Zoom gatherings helped Apte combat loneliness and stay in touch with friends, but she admits, A few friends fell off the radar and it was and continues to be difficult.

Although Apte compares the return to pre-pandemic social interactions with being told to jump from a fast-moving train without any safety net, she is looking forward to seeing loved ones again but she's not rushing to make plans. It definitely feels daunting to go back to activities as normal, she says. Trying to figure out the new rules is going to be hard, and I hope my friends patiently wait for me on the other side."

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5 Ways to Sharpen Your Social Skills After Isolation - AARP