Whilst all the experts in the medical field have been extolling the importance of social distancing, it is the actual practice of doing so that many people have had an issue. I was chatting to a friend of mine recently, Dr Matthew Boente, about how difficult it was for so many of us when it comes to staying away from people.
The current guidelines are that you stay 2 meters away from someone, although that is expected to be brought down to 1 meter in the coming weeks across many countries. Once lockdown is eased and we can get back out and about, here are some tips which you should follow when it comes to helping you to socially distance yourself from others.
It’s Strange
There is no getting away from the fact that this is a very strange situation and one which will take a while adjusting to. Ultimately we are social creatures and so many of us will hug and kiss when we see one another. There are going to be some awkward situations which you find yourself in but it is important that you just remind yourself that this is the new normal. Learn to get used to the weirdness.
Over The Top
The idea of social distancing is not to avoid most of the people that you are near, but all of them, this may mean that you have to wait until someone has moved before you move, and it may mean wasted time, but that is just the way that things are. Even if the rule is moved down to 1 meter in terms of distance between yourself and someone else, you can still look to move as far away as possible, just to be absolutely sure. Being over the top is not a bad thing at all, and in doing so you can ensure that you keep yourself safer.
Expect The Worst
There is nothing worse than keeping yourself far away from people in the street, only to have someone come behind you and walk past, not observing the social distancing rules. The best way to avoid this kind of frustration is to expect everyone to be ignorant of these rules. If you anticipate that people are not going to move or that they are not going to respect the rules around social distancing then you will be able to avoid many situations that will make your feel uncomfortable. Even if this means crossing the road, or walking in the road for a short while, do whatever you have to in order to stay away from people who are not properly respecting the rules.
Ultimately this is a very strange time for everyone and the sooner that we all get used to it the better. Do all you can to keep well away from people and make sure that you are encouraging your friends and family to do the same when they are out and about. Together we can ensure that everyone stays safe.
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