While for some couples the pandemic offered the time to get to know one another better, for many, it led to loss of privacy, personal space and novelty. With life offering a semblance of normalcy now, the threat of another wave next year can take a further toll on couples, says relationship counsellor Swapnil Pange. “For those who had trouble adjusting to the loss of space, it’s important that they assertively communicate their needs,” explains Pange. Those in long-distance relationships should take things one day at a time. Here are a few tips:

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>> Your relationship may have undergone changes during the pandemic. So, realise that and do not expect it to go back to the way it was. Increased stress during the pandemic may disturb physical intimacy. 
Talk to each other about it. 
>> Allow each other to experience me-time. 

Pange notes that people have started using the virtual medium excessively to express their love, a trend that’s likely to continue. “We’re seeing that more and more daters habituated to this are avoiding face-to-face contact, especially singles exploring online dating. It can lead to impulsive commitments.”

Fitness
Health first

Exercises  that involve moving the spine are good for tackling postural stress

Namita Piparaiya, a yoga and Ayurveda lifestyle specialist, and the founder of Yoganama, reckons that the two crucial areas that will deserve attention in the coming year, especially for working professionals, are mental and postural stress. Both can take a toll on our productivity and cognitive skills. A powerful remedy for mental stress is breath work. “Balloon-breathing, double-breathing, or yogic techniques such as vibhaga pranayama are suitable for beginners and can be done multiple times a day,” she elucidates. The fitness expert stresses on the need to dedicate at least an hour to psychological relaxation — through exercise, walks, music therapy, reading and the like — in a day. “When it comes to our posture, it’s best to incorporate a variety of yoga asanas in our daily routine, especially poses that move the spine in different directions. These include cobra, locust, triangle, cat-cow, twists, and forward-bending poses.”

It’s also important to identify the early signs of stress and burnout to prevent them from worsening; these include lack of motivation, fatigue, loss of interest, inability to focus and appetite changes. “These are common repercussions of not listening to our bodies and not making time for recovery. Dedicating time for yoga, pranayama and meditation can strengthen your body and mind for dealing with the unpredict challenges of the new year.”

Mental Wellness
Eye on anxiety

Both 2020 and 2021 have shined a light on the importance of mental health, and in the new year, too, the lived experience of the pandemic will continue to affect our mental well-being, points out clinical psychologist, counsellor and psychotherapist Priyanka Varma. “There is an increase in the number of people reporting severe symptoms of anxiety that didn’t exist prior to Covid-19,” notes the founder of mental health platform The Thought Co. In the new year, with restrictions easing and possibly more children heading back to school after nearly two years, their social skills will be an area of concern. “Children have been struggling with finding ways to develop social skills through the pandemic,” she explains. In case of another lockdown, parents will once again have to prepare to engage and educate their kids at home, which might lead to additional stress for them. Moreover, with a lot of professionals reporting that they’re feeling stuck in their careers, many might be pushed to change their profession, move cities and make unexpected life choices, Varma says.

Professional Life
Being work-wise

Having worked through several months of lockdown, which blurred the lines between personal and professional spaces, the key focus for most working professionals in 2022 will be on physical and mental well-being, family and personal interests, believes Rhea Punjabi, a career growth coach. “There will also be a shift to smaller towns or quieter areas to maintain one’s sanity and balance; and focus on learning new skills that generate additional sources of income and help in grooming.” Among other changes in the new year, Punjabi feels that quite a few permanent remote roles are likely to open up.

Employees are likely to have more flexibility to decide where they want to work from

“Flexibility is what 2022 is all about. Employees may also be given the opportunity to choose the type of work [WFH, WFO or hybrid] they prefer. We may possibly move towards four-day weeks. We may see hot-desking in hybrid formats or for that matter, companies might entirely give up offices and depend on co-working spaces.” As remote hiring isn’t as effective, it can lead to a trend of re-skilling current employees to address the shortage. “With the change in the meaning of success, employers will need to find creative ways to retain talent,” she notes.

Food
Just like medicine

Eating healthy can help build immunity

There’s been a reported increase in stress-eating, ordering in or eating out, and untimely meals, which have resulted in gut issues. According to nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla, a lot of people might hence move towards healing diets and home-cooked food. “I see people willing to make the effort to adopt cleaner eating habits in 2022, rather than indulging in processed foods.” With immunity becoming a buzzword, she suggests people take care of their gut microbiome — the bugs responsible for maintaining your cholesterol, managing blood sugar levels, regularising bowels, aiding detoxification, and increasing immunity.

Chawla insists on the following to deal with a sudden lockdown and to prevent from falling back into unhealthy eating habits:
>> Plan and prepare. Make a list of healthy food items and stock them at home in advance. 
>> Prepare a weekly menu. 
>> Encourage one another to eat food that is good for your health.