I’ve got a bit of re-entry anxiety this week.

Yes, that is a new, presumably made-up term to describe the weird feeling of being both desperate for life to return to normal, and also slightly terrified of it.

And it’s not unfounded terror. This week, we had some friends over for dinner and I made a weird joke, which landed very hard on the floor. Everyone stared at me, and it was awkward. I was not equipped for that level of socialising so soon, and I am still recovering. 😉

Being in lockdown means being in a bubble of social and physical comfort. You don’t have to deal will other people’s annoying habits – talking too much, interrupting constantly, being grumpy etc. You don’t have to deal with YOUR annoying habits – being obsessed with Harry Potter, telling people how to live their life better etc. Yes, these are my annoying traits and I’ll only apologise for the second one.

In lockdown, you never get caught in the rain or miss the bus or wear the wrong undies to work and have to pull your wedgie out all day. You also don’t have to deal with crowds, which according to many people in the Wild Women team, are quite simply the worst.

On the other hand… Freedom.

Holidays. Haircuts. A three-course meal you didn’t have to make, and more importantly, didn’t have to clean up. Wineries! Walks! Weddings! Seeing friends and family. Going on dates!!!! Dancing. After-work drinks. Summer afternoons with a cocktail in the sunshine. Road trips! Discovering new bars. Family lunches that turn into dinners. Celebrating life’s special moments.

Experts say feelings of re-entry anxiety are normal in times of change. The advice? Take it slow, push yourself gently outside your comfort zone, and take time to rest and recharge.

In the meantime, I asked the Wild Women team to share their feelings about re-entry. They range from the petty to the profound and I hope they help you feel a little less alone.

Sasha, Marketing Director

What’s your lockdown situation?

My household includes a husband and two primary school-aged kids. We’re lucky to have a house with a backyard and an old trampoline that has seen more bounce in the past 18mths than its entire lifespan before then. Dinner parties have obviously been on hold, traded in for a dining room that’s been base camp for home schooling, remote working, whiteboarding, zoom calling, crafternooning and literally anything other than dining. Tripping over cables, fiendishly multitasking and swearing over patchy overloaded Wi-Fi has all become part of our “new normal”.  But so has eating together as a family, cake for afternoon tea and regular forays into the national park we’re lucky enough to be walking distance from.

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

Gleeful anticipation one moment (Cafes! Meetups! Theatre! Kids back at school! Going more than 5kms from home for NO REASON AT ALL), apprehension the next (Crowds… the ever-present spectre of exposure sites and 14-day isolation if declared a close contact… will my parents be OK… will my feet remember how to walk in “proper” shoes? Better start practicing…).

It doesn’t quite seem real yet, but give me the rollercoaster of “re-entry” over the not-so-merry-go-round of lockdown any day.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

It’s a huge mental shift to go from the full avoidance approach we’ve had here in NSW to understanding we’re living alongside COVID for the long term and in all likelihood will get it at some point – and this is a privileged position compared to the experiences of many of my loved ones living abroad. I am concerned given how mild or serious the virus is known to be, but I’m probably more concerned for my parents who are in their 70s and for my kids who are under 12, and what their future holds.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

It’s ALL about getting kids back to school for me! Also being able to see family again and use our dining table for the purpose of sharing a meal like it was intended!

Before lockdown and border closures swept through, this week I would have been hiking the Cape to Cape Track in Western Australia. My immediate excitement with lockdown ending is about simple freedoms close to home, but I also can’t wait to get back out there exploring. There’s nothing quite like the spine-tingling thrill of an upcoming adventure!

Lisa S, Customer Service Specialist

What’s your lockdown situation?  

I live with my hubby and 14-year-old son. I have my own office with 2 computers and beautiful view over Pittwater. It’s quiet and extremely comfortable.

Hubby goes to his office everyday as he owns a large business and has not missed a day since beginning of Covid. My 14-year-old is an awesome kid, self-directed with schooling.

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

Excited and simultaneously very reserved. Like everyone, our world has shrunken over the past 18 months, but that’s not all bad. Freneticism and stress from being too busy and cramming too much in has gone. Many simple pleasures have been re-explored (i.e. the picnic) which is a great thing, and so many people have realised what is truly important to them which for the most part is quality human connection and family.

I am in no hurry to race out to shops, crowds or mass gatherings.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

Not overly. I’m quite healthy and have a good immune system, supported by double vaccine so personally I will be okay. However, I have elderly relatives and my father living in Aged Care, so I would hate to contract it and not know, then visit him and infect others within the home.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

Seeing my daughter who lives in rural NSW and catching up with other family and close friends.

Really happy to go back to my yoga studio which is 250m walk from my house, yesterday’s class was pure bliss. Going out for dinner will be very nice also.

I’m so happy for small businesses to be able to open back up, though I know many didn’t make it through which is sad. Will also rejoice when I feel it is the right time for me to return to Italy and see family, but that won’t be for another year or so, I won’t be first on the plane.

I’ve learned a lot about patience and contentment during lockdown.

Alana, Digital Marketing Specialist

What’s your lockdown situation

I am a single mum in a one-bedroom unit! This has only been the case for this lockdown as before I was living with family, so I had more people around.

This time around I have gotten lonelier, however I did meet someone just before lockdown so that has been good.

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

Mostly excited, I miss being able to see my family (who all live in different LGAs) and I miss seeing my mum in particular. When the first stage of the lift happened, it was one of my good friends 40th and as all our other friends were in that LGA and I wasn’t, I couldn’t go!

I sent birthday wishes then had a cry when they were going to catch up as I miss them all. However, now I will be able to see her and give her a birthday extension so that will be amazing!

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

For myself I am not worried, however, my mum is undergoing chemo so I worry if I got it that I would inadvertently pass it onto her. Plus, as a single mum you always worry when you are out of action as you can never be “out of action”. But I know my family would rally behind me and help out.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

Going on a date with my partner, meeting my new workmates IRL (LOL), and taking my son somewhere fun (he actually wants to go to a museum! Words I never thought I’d hear).

Robby, Partnerships and Customer Service Manager

What’s your lockdown situation?  

I’m a single mum to two boys (15 and 17) so it’s a little ‘all or nothing’ around here – week in, week out.

It’s either three of us testing our Wi-Fi limits (they in their rooms home schooling and me in my office), or it’s me alone in a large place with oodles of bandwidth. We also seem to have spent an inordinate number of evenings zooming with school over the changing goalpost that is the HSC in 2021!

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

Relieved, happy for my kids, concerned about my community and my life becoming ‘congested’ (traffic, tourists, parking, incidental ‘busyness’), thoughts of both FOMO and JOMO. I’m delighted for friends/acquaintances who have small businesses and are able to open them again. Their livelihoods (and for some, their mental health and sense of ‘validity’) have been challenged.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

Not really. I assume we will all get it at some stage and I hope it will become like a ‘regular virus’ (is there such a thing?) for the majority of healthy, vaccinated people. I’m so pleased both my kids are also double vaxxed.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

Travel (regionally, domestically, internationally – just becoming ‘one world’ again), incidental socialisation, the joy of dining out, going to the theatre, dinner parties in homes. Rites of passage – graduations, celebrations, gatherings (as humans, I believe we are meant to share these things).

Susannah, General Manager

What’s your lockdown situation?

Sharing the home ‘office’ with grown up children working and studying has meant more time together!! Having lunch together and fitting in a walk most days has been an added bonus.

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends outside the lockdown LGA’s and hopefully those overseas too. I’m apprehensive of booking travel despite the reassurances just yet and can’t imagine how it will feel getting that first flight.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

Not for me personally but yes, for those around me that have higher risk factors I would not like to be the person that causes infection. This is probably making me a bit wary about the first indoor gym class. I might be embracing the amazing walks I have discovered a little longer.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

My family and friends are spread out and seeing my sister and her family who live in Canada is my no 1.

Watching my adult kids play sport again will be great. They have strong ties to their local clubs and communities, and it has been hard for them to lose something they both love.

I’ll also delight in the simple things like having lunch in one of my favourite waterfront cafes, catching up in person and creating new memories after months of sometimes monotonous routines. Finally, ending the news cycle with the single COVID focus and being able to refocus on some of the other challenges of our time like climate change sounds oddly refreshing.

Lisa, Marketing Specialist

What’s your lockdown situation?

House of four late 20 something year olds (with two smelly boys hehe).

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

So pumped! Although I don’t think I’m used to it yet and keep forgetting I can have a coffee and actually sit down.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

I wouldn’t say concerned, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am likely to get it at some point in my life. I am extremely grateful for modern medicine and the ease of access to different vaccines.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

The pub! Beer at the pub! Food at the pub! Friends at the pub! 😉

Di, Founder and Chief Adventure Chick

What’s your lockdown situation?

I move between a two-bedroom unit on the Northern Beaches with my adult sons and my partner’s house in the mountains. This means I’m working from home with a lot of action unfolding around me at the dining room table, or in calm silence on a couch.  

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

I’ve got mixed feelings. I’ve loved spending time with my boys, doing workouts and cooking with them, and I’ve especially loved seeing them create and achieve their own lockdown goals.

I took up mountain biking during lockdown so I can’t wait to go on a real mountain biking adventure in the wild. I’ll miss my one-on-one walkie talkies and sip-and-strolls but love being back at Trek Training with the girls. And especially sitting brazenly at a café without a mask.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

Nah. Rather get it while I’m 61 years young.  

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

I can’t wait for all the COVID bush explorers to get back into the café’s, bars, gyms, and yoga studios so I can have my beautiful national parks back. I’m even happy to clean up the mountains of rubbish they’ve left in some of my favourite sunset spots.

Georgia, Event Production Coordinator

What’s your lockdown situation?

I live in a 2-bedroom apartment with my flatmate. It’s a pretty small space with no balcony or direct sunlight which drives me crazy! I work at the dining table and my flatmate works in her room. I also spend a lot of time outdoors exercising so it’s not too bad.

How are you feeling about lockdown ending?

Buzzing! Especially for the radius to be lifted as I do a lot of cycling. Just keen to get back to normality and socialising more. I’m not too anxious as I think things will be back to normal so quickly and we’ll probably forget lockdown ever happened.

Are you concerned about getting COVID?

No.

What are you most excited about with lockdown ending?

Doing bunch rides! Socialising in groups. Feeling free, and being able to go wherever 😊. Also working in the office a few days a week and not spending heaps of time at home.

Got re-entry anxiety? Desperate for life to return to normal? Come and tell us how you’re feeling in the Wild Women Community. You’ll also love… No, You Don’t Need to Do These 6 Things Once You Get Out of Lockdown.