Cautiously Optimistic: the Return to School

September 7, 2021
By Heather Landells, MSW, RSW and Carrie Pollard, MSW, RSW

Mask? Check! Hand sanitizer? Check. Laptop? Check!

Packing your bag for school and attending some classes or labs in person this fall is a different experience that usual. If you have returned to campus, it may be triggering a lot of different feelings about what it will be like: uncertainty, nervousness, relief and excitement.

Since the first wave of COVID-19, people’s lives have changed drastically and so has the university experience. Students, staff, and faculty have done a remarkable job at adapting to online learning and providing services remotely; however, these changes have also created increased stress, uncertainty about the future, social disconnection, and financial hardships for many. Since the restrictions have eased, you might be wondering if the worst is over. Part of you might also be metaphorically ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ and for there to be news of another lockdown; yet another part of you might be hopeful of things slowly returning to the old (pre-COVID) normal.

Researchers have begun to investigate and anticipate the effects of social reintegration in our society in the wake of the pandemic. Social reintegration is a concept originally understood in the context of rehabilitating offenders back into society after a period of incarceration. Now, it’s applied to people reintegrating back to in-person classes, work, and social activities.

In many ways, having the opportunity to live in residence or with roommates and slowly return to in-person learning will bring a sense of relief, hope and, cautious optimism. It might also trigger some feelings of stress, uncertainty, and even anxiety. You might find yourself worried about increased health risks or feel overwhelmed by the pressure to be social and busy again. In fact, feeling some social or re-entry anxiety is natural because you’ve likely been limiting your social interactions and have not been in large crowds of people for over a year. In addition to social stress, you might have financial stress as if your ability to work was affected this past year. Some of your friends might be excited to go out for dinner, to the movies, shopping or do other activities that you might yet be able to afford.
Overall, social reintegration introduces more changes, and society has experienced A LOT of changes this past year. Change, whether positive or negative, can be stressful and ongoing, unpredictable changes are exhausting. Be kind and patient with yourself this coming school year, give yourself some time to adapt, and consider some of the following ideas to help you reintegrate’back to campus life.

Focus on what is rather than what ifs

It is natural to feel anxious about all the what ifs. Many uncertainties still exist, and there is less control in terms of exposure to others and possibly the rate of reintegration. Focus on what is happening in your life right now and create your own plan and pace (where you can) to ease back into school, work, clubs, activities, and socializing with friends and family. It is okay if you take smaller or bigger steps than your friends in terms of your commitments and activities. Be mindful of what feels right for you. If you start to feel overwhelmed, unmotivated, or depleted, adjust your re-entry approach according to your needs and readiness.

Say yes (and say no!)

To reduce feelings of anxiety and overstimulation, think about what your priorities are in terms of activities and commitments. Consider what positive changes have happened during lockdown—new hobbies or activities, regular exercise, or more sleep—what would you like to keep and continue to make time for? Also, think about what activities that you have missed and will want to add back into your life as soon as you can. Again, it will take time to adapt and adjust back to life outside of Zoom classes and Facetime conversations. Creating boundaries by deciding what you are ready for and when, will help ease some change-related stress.

Acknowledge Changes and Losses

Not only have there been countless changes on a global level, but individually, life has continued during these lockdowns. Mental health struggles have been on the rise because of collective traumas and individual struggles and losses. For example, the lockdowns might have made it too exhausting to maintain connections with friends and partners virtually, and some of these relationships might be more distant or lost. It’ll take some time to get comfortable and reconnect with others. If you’re worried about some awkwardness when seeing friends again (what will you talk about?), try seeing them while doing something else such as a walking, hiking, or bike riding. Some relationships might have ended for good, and you might find the grief resurfacing when you’re back on campus or in class with someone you’re no longer close to anymore. Furthermore, not all changes may have been negative, and you may find yourself in a healthier, more balanced state than before. If this is the case, focus on maintaining it and allowing others to adjust to the new you.

Allow for Mixed Emotions

As you adjust to ongoing changes and social reintegration, be patient and compassionate with yourself. You may feel excited and overwhelmed to be back on campus again. You might find yourself feeling guilty and happy to move away from home. An easy way to allow for this mixture of conflicting and confusing emotions is to create the simple linguistic change of replacing ‘either/or’ with ‘both/and.' This creates an endless space for all the feelings and thoughts you have about returning to campus. You might also find that your emotions change over time. The start of the year might feel overwhelming and then get easier, or visa versa. It’s important to acknowledge your feelings, share with trusted others, and access professional support if needed.

Help is Available!

Whether you find yourself completely overwhelmed or mildly nervous about reintegrating back into school and social routines, it can be helpful to have good supports, coping skills, and self-care. The Student Wellness Centre and Wellness Education at Laurier continues to offer support to students through professional counselling, peer support, wellness workshops, psychoeducational and support groups, and a variety of online resources in our Wellness Library.