In one week, this lockdown—which has been so necessary to combat this deadly epidemic—will come to an end.
When you’ve been cooped up for so long, inevitably, some habits kick in while others fade away. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not natural or easy to get back into a routine.
That’s why it’s important to prepare well in advance. To do this, you need to get back into a dynamic, productive routine by setting rules for yourself.
Without this preparation, the transition can be rough, and getting back into the swing of things can lead to stress and psychological strain that will make it harder for you to keep going over the long term.
The anxiety caused by this virus, which has made us all feel insecure, will also have an impact on the recovery: we will have to relearn how to resume our daily lives without fear of being infected, while still remaining vigilant: the The lifting of lockdown restrictions does not mean that the virus has disappeared. So, let’s be very careful as we resume our activities.
1) Get back into a healthy routine:
It’s very important to get back into a work routine—that is, going to bed at regular times and waking up early. To do this, don’t hesitate to set your alarm clock in the morning as if you were going to work.
Don’t assume that getting back into the swing of things will happen naturally, as it does when you go on vacation—because you’re not taking such a long break. A week of easing back into it is ideal for getting back on track under the right conditions.
2) Start getting back into an active routine:
To do this, it’s important to get back into physical activity: set aside at least 2 hours a day—1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. You can go for a walk outside or do some exercise at home—ideally, do both. Just walking back and forth between the couch and the kitchen isn’t enough; you absolutely must start moving again, actively, every day.
3) Return to a healthy, balanced diet:
The lockdown has led to a lapse in discipline in many areas, including diet. Being confined at home and no longer being able to shop for and choose food as easily has often resulted in significant overeating. It’s therefore important to reestablish healthy eating habits to better prepare for the return to normalcy. This week, don’t drink any alcohol, avoid sweets as much as possible, and include vegetables in every meal: we’ve seen that there are no shortages, so you can find everything you want at grocery stores or markets. Also, eat plenty of fruit—it’s excellent on the French Riviera—and make sure to stock up on vitamins to stay in top shape.
4) Dive back into your files:
If you’ve taken a complete break from your professional life, you should ease back into it gradually. To do this, don’t hesitate to read anything related to your field. The goal is to prepare yourself mentally so that the transition back feels seamless.
5) Schedule all your beauty and spa appointments:
If you haven’t already done so, please note that you can now book your appointments on the French Riviera; hairdressers, estheticians, and manicurists are available by phone. Hurry, because everyone wants to go—the longer you wait, the less likely you’ll be able to get an appointment soon.
6) Wear your usual clothes:
No more sweatpants, shorts, or pajamas all day long! It’s time to get back into good habits: you have to force yourself to get dressed as if you were going to work. It’s also important to check if your clothes still fit. In our beautiful region, the sun and warm weather arrived all at once—which is, of course, very pleasant, but it will also have an impact on getting back into the swing of things.
7) Take advantage of this last week to take care of yourself:
You still have a week left to pamper yourself—make the most of it! Even if you’ve already booked an appointment for a treatment, you’ll feel more comfortable if you arrive looking at least a little put-together. Here are my favorite products:
For the face: Sephora offers a range of face masks for all skin types at affordable prices; personally, I like the Freezing Mask and the Gold Mask (starting at €3.90).
For your body: Remember to exfoliate your skin regularly—it’ll do you a world of good. I love the Ritual scrub with eucalyptus, ginger, and sea salt—it’s absolutely wonderful (available at Sephora for €14.90).
For your hands and feet: Even if you have a manicure appointment, be sure to moisturize thoroughly beforehand; to do this, put on gloves and socks soaked in moisturizer. Your hands and feet will feel as soft as a baby’s, and the results afterward will be even better. My picks: Sephora (starting at €4.99) or OPI (starting at €6.90).
For your hair: it’s suffered the most during this lockdown. To help your hairstylist restore your hair to its dreamy best, here are two products to use during your last few shampoos at home: L’Oréal Paris’s Extraordinary Oil and Orofluido—use them as much as you like.
8) Take steps to protect yourself against COVID-19:
Even though we’d love to forget about this virus forever, it hasn’t gone away, and unfortunately, we’re going to have to learn to live with it for a long time to come. That’s no problem if we’re well prepared: to do that, we need to protect ourselves—which will also protect others.
Here in the Alpes-Maritimes, we’re incredibly lucky! Our elected officials have been responsive and proactive from the very beginning to protect us as best they can, and they’ve succeeded. We can’t thank them enough. They’ve also been thinking about the reopening for a long time and have planned ahead: as a result, we’re all receiving free masks. As for hand sanitizer and gloves, they’re easy to find now, so there’s no need to worry.
We just need to continue following the hygiene measures we’ve been taking since the start of the pandemic:
- Wear a mask when you’re outside your home
- Wash your hands as soon as you touch something
- Carry hand sanitizer with you when you’re out and about
- Wearing latex gloves is a plus
- Wash your hands frequently
- Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose when you are outside
- wear glasses outdoors
- Be especially vigilant when using public transportation
- Forcing yourself to keep your distance from others
- No more kissing or shaking hands—ever
Get yourself in the right frame of mind to follow all these rules. The more you follow them, and The more you protect yourself and others, the better.
“Freedom begins where ignorance ends.” Victor Hugo
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