“Covid fatigue” has been on everyone’s mind. Many people feel overwhelmed, stressed, and just plain tired from the pandemic. And, for immunocompromised and older individuals who have to continue staying safe at home, seeing the world reopen can be tough. But, those feelings are valid, and there are many ways to manage them.
What is Covid Fatigue/Burnout?
Research has shown that in disasters, prolonged stress can often lead to feelings of anger and disillusionment. We’ve seen this happening through the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people have experienced job loss, isolation, and other stress factors, and that has contributed to a very widespread sense of discontent and fatigue. Furthermore, the length of the pandemic has led many people to feel stressed for longer than in a typical disaster situation, which has led to burnout. You and your loved ones aren’t alone in feeling burnt out. These feelings are common in any stressful situation, and the pandemic is no exception! However, understanding your emotions can be the first step to finding healthy coping mechanisms and ways to work through them.
Coping with Covid Burnout
Finding ways to cope with feelings of Covid fatigue is important to staying healthy and persevering through the pandemic. While everyone has their own preferences and desires, we’ve compiled a few general recommendations that we hope will be beneficial for you and your loved ones.
- Find a support system: It’s important to confide in others and avoid bottling up negative feelings. Support systems can be found in many different places. Whether it’s family, friends, or a local community group, having conversations with loved ones can go a long way toward alleviating stress. But, if feelings of stress become overwhelming, it may be best to speak to a licensed professional or trusted individual who is better equipped to help.
- Exercise and get sunlight: Getting sunlight is proven to help improve mental health. While it won’t make stress factors go away, being out in the sun and fresh air can be a mental break from the monotony of quarantining at home. Staying safe while being outside is key since it is important to avoid contracting Covid-19. There are many easy, yet rejuvenating ways to spend time outside. From just sitting outside to enjoying springtime outdoor activities, getting outdoors can release endorphins and decrease stress.
- Find a hobby: Taking advantage of the time spent at home to learn a new hobby is always a good idea. It can add excitement to an otherwise monotonous routine, and it will also give you something to look forward to. One hobby that may be especially relevant to the current Covid-19 situation is journaling. Journalism can provide opportunities to process complex emotions or even just to enjoy unlocking your artistic side!
As the pandemic continues, it’s normal to feel worn down. But there are many ways to combat these overwhelming feelings and look to the future.
