‘I don’t have to say yes to everything’
Charlie King, 35 – who first rose to fame on TOWIE in 2012 and is now a fitness influencer and mental health advocate – says that having suffered from social anxiety, he won’t be making too many plans post-lockdown to avoid burnout.
He says, “While I can’t wait to catch up with friends and get back to the gym, the prospect of life returning to how it was and the pressure to fill up our diaries has got me feeling anxious about restrictions being lifted. I’ve had friends get in touch asking whether I want to go to a festival with them in the summer, or book a holiday, and I’ve just found myself thinking of reasons to avoid plans.
“I’ve always had some kind of social anxiety – I prefer being in smaller groups over a big party – so lockdown has suited me. I’ve enjoyed going for one-on-one walks with friends, where we can really talk things through, rather than going to a pub or party in a group. I’ve cherished the down time, taking long walks or bike rides outside with nowhere to be. I’ve had long chats on FaceTime with family and friends – something I never really had time to do in the past. Before lockdown, I was always running on empty and thinking about the next day or next event I had to go to. I’d burn myself out and end up feeling exhausted and low.
“To stop myself from feeling anxious about the next few months, I’m going to try to remind myself that I don’t have to say yes to everything. I think w we all need to avoid putting pressure on ourselves to cram our schedules full. I’m not going to plan too far in advance, instead, I’ll see how I feel closer to the time. That way I won’t feel pressured or overwhelmed.
“I think just as we slowed down to adapt to lockdown, it’s a good idea to re-adapt our lives to this new normal, and not rush
back into fast-paced lives. We should take the positives from both lifestyles.”