Many HSPs have been sharing they are experiencing some nervousness about the world opening back up after such a long time of being in a pandemic with a lot of quiet time at home. Now the pressures of more sensory stimulation and social engagements can feel like we are almost “out of practice”. Because this trait of high sensitivity is a Sensory Processing Sensitivity that all makes sense! Many of us settled into a quieter routine at home and found more balance in our nervous system.

We have had some wonderful conversations and shared ideas and support around this in my Sensitive Empowerment Community that I thought might be helpful to you. I want to validate and normalize the fact that it makes sense that after almost a year and a half of things being closed and not having as many social engagements that the idea of having a lot can be overwhelming. I definitely recommend being conscious and intentional about easing yourself into it.

For example, if you’re invited to social events you might want to bring your own car and arrive later or leave earlier. Give yourself little breaks by taking a walk outside or spend a little longer in the bathroom. Remember to protect your energy!  It’s OK to say no too. Your well-being and balance are always a priority. It doesn’t matter if “everyone else” around you is doing it. What matters is what’s right for you. We discussed in the community that even fun socializing can be overstimulating with a need for quiet time before and after to restore the nervous system. 

Are you feeling overwhelmed or nervous about your social engagements increasing? What can you intentionally do that might be supportive? You can get inspired and learn from each other’s shares! ❤️

Here are some shares from my Sensitive Empowerment Community that you may relate to…

• Such a great topic to address Julie. I think we are all finding our feet again as a population following the pandemic. In some ways, it can be easier to establish a new way of spending time socially. I think so many of us developed new habits during the lockdown period. In other words, if we need to leave early or go to fewer engagements it can be easier to establish these types of boundaries now. A great practice to speak up and share our needs in a way that can be understood and respected. With that wonderful awareness that 'No thank you is a complete sentence! 🙏✨

• Thank you for this, Julie! I hit the ground running this week with a little too much socializing and all I could fantasize about was driving myself home! Those little plans in place make all the difference. I found myself taking *many* mini bathroom breaks or walks to the kitchen for water and some deep breathing. I think just having this little tool is so important (stepping away into a quiet room, checking in, doing breath work) because we can take it with us wherever we go and it’s a helpful tool when things don’t go as planned!

• It has been hard navigating it all but self care, grounding and setting healthy boundaries have been helping me at this time. Those Tips to Thrive topics (in the community) I have dipped into have been
  -Conscious living choices
  -Calming yourself through anticipatory anxiety/panic
  -Listen to your body and read your energy
  -Releasing expectations

• Thanks for bringing this up, Julie Bjelland. I have so many emotions around going back into work, and I think it’s because during these months of working from home, I am cultivating all the good habits of HSP self-care. I’m checking in with myself and identifying my feelings, where they’re located in my body, breathing mindfully, meditating daily, taking intentional time in nature, grounding my energy, writing. I was fighting and pushing against my sensitive nature for so long! Decades! In my career and in my family life. I am, frankly, afraid that my self-care, and the time that it takes, will be what I let go of when the extreme stresses of daily life return. It will require much strength to construct and maintain boundaries that honor what I do need as an HSP. It will require that I say “no” in honesty and confidence. I’m “working” as hard as I can these months to embrace these tools as a habit before having to re-enter my job…

• Thanks so much for this Julie!  In many ways "COVID world" (of course without the pain and death to so many of us) was temperamentally perfect for me.  I felt for the first time that the world was operating at my speed.  With lots of Zoom and phone and email/text contact, and a dear partner living with me, I had all the contact I needed and a much quieter life.  Now, returning to "normal," I find myself feeling a bit like the oddball again BUT luckily this time I have knowledge about my HSP nature, tools, the community, and a strengthened muscle to say no.   Building the muscle of daring to be me!!

• I’m noticing that I’m more sensitive than I was before the pandemic to crowds and to a lot of external energy.
  As I’m trying to plan the months and year going forward, I’m just padding *everything* with extra time, extra space, easier options when traveling, skipping some travel I can get out of, really never violating my 2 hours alone in the morning, and really emphasizing that concept to my friends and family etc. And then just really trying to stay on message in my own brain that this is a time I basically need a pillow of extra time, rest, ease attached to me for when I overdo it and fall over! The to do list and progress right now really can’t be allowed to push ahead of stress reduction and keeping things peaceful.

• A great topic to be discussing. What I have learnt is that when we're making decisions, especially when we have to say no to things, if this decision comes from a place of self-love and acceptance in supporting our needs at the time we tend to lose the weight of any guilt, obligation or anxiety which means we are calm and happier with our choosing.

• Thank you for posting this. That’s actually what brought me to this group. I went to a big party and got completely overwhelmed. I realized that just wasn’t for me anymore. I found myself online looking for my tribe and found myself here. I realized I need more heart-centered People. During the pandemic I did a lot of work on myself and really opened myself up even more. My sensitivities are greater than my heart is more open. There are pros and cons to that. Thank you for creating this safe space.

• So grateful for this conversation. Had my first full day in the office. Needless to say, I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the change. I gave myself lots of time yesterday morning to be quiet and have alone time. I just wanted to hide in my office and give myself time to acclimate to this change before also bringing in the aspect of socializing w/ people. And it was helpful and I plan to do that, hopefully w/o too much self-criticism, for as long as I need.

• Yes, I can relate. Today I met with good friends for the first time in person in over a year (we kept in touch on the phone and email and occasional letters). I think I actually strained my vocal chords, out of practice as you said- - -of talk talk talking like that for hours even though I enjoyed every minute and it felt like I got a vitamin shot or something when seeing them, hugging them today.

• Yes! It is a bit overwhelming. It is nice to see things opening up more and gradually moving back to ‘normal’ but it is strange to see at the same time. I think taking things at your own pace and not feeling pressure to return to everything all at once is the key. 

• Yes! I want to do more, see more but I think any stamina I had for social interactions got really depleted from underuse during the pandemic. I saw a friend yesterday and while it was good, I was exhausted, crabby, and had a headache afterward. I need more of that beautiful unstructured alone time Julie Bjelland  talks about so I can have those interactions that I do want.

• Yes I can relate to more invites now and what to do. For me, this is also against a backdrop of a paradigm shift I’m trying to make in my life in terms of how I spend my time and who I spend it with. Getting used to this new way of being. Being OK with listening to my intuition and taking care of my needs. It just so happens to coincide with the reopening which makes it interesting because I feel like many others are also navigating a new way of being after over a year of isolation. The downtime I had during pandemic (and this community!) really helped me see the value in downtime and focused me on more effective ways I can meet my needs.  

• Very timely post as I’m navigating this re-emergence and how to be social again. I live alone and the pandemic has been a very solitary time. Fortunately I’m an introvert who really likes alone time but even for me it’s been too much! I’ve started to see people a bit and like you said, I feel like I’ve forgotten how to be around other people and have conversations. I’m definitely very rusty socially. I also seem to get exhausted easily. I don’t know how I used to work in an office all day and sometimes socialize after. I guess I’m just so out of practice. Even a few hours and I am drained and want to go home and be alone. I do know I need a balance but I’m trying to take it really slow and not rush out there and also not say yes to everything even if it’s tempting after so long. There’s definitely some anxiety there too but it helps to know a lot of people are feeling this way as we all go through this together. I too don’t want to go back to the way things were before completely. I learned a lot this year and self care was such a huge part of that, which I hope to continue.

Do you relate? I hope these shares help you know you are not alone if you are feeling some overwhelm as the world reopens. There are so many ways that we can take care of ourselves as HSPs and protect our energy. If you would like to come join our supportive conversations we would love to welcome you into the Sensitive Empowerment Community! It’s quite magical to be together with HSPs from all over the world that are dedicated to growth and learning how to thrive in the world with a sensitive system!

Join us! I’m there every day!

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Julie Bjelland is a Psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, host of The HSP Podcast, and Founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community, whose mission is to create a paradigm shift where sensitivity is embraced, valued, and honored. Julie offers multiple essential resources for educating, inspiring, and empowering HSPs.

Register for her free Masterclasses and profoundly transform your life in her courses and community.

Her HSP Dating Group is a safe space bringing together conscious, kind, caring HSPs (both Hetero and LGBTQ+).

Her HSPs in Business Group supports and empowers sensitive people to grow heart-centered businesses, share their voices, and be part of the change the world needs.

Explore Julie’s website dedicated to supporting HSPs and download a free letter to give medical and mental health professionals about high sensitivity. ❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)