Feeling worn down and at your wits’ end? The prolonged COVID-19 crisis has everyone feeling drained and demotivated. What do we do when we’re too tired to even fight back?
We see this more and more every day.
That friend who refuses to get vaccinated because numerous videos have them convinced it’s a hoax. That uncle who wears their mask below the nose or on their chin (if they wear a mask at all), because “it’s annoying” and “it’s hard to breathe.” That lady at the grocery who deliberately disregards social distancing guidelines—even with the giant “Please Keep 4 Feet Distance At All Times” sign in front of her—and has the audacity to get offended and slam her cart at the wall when you *very politely* ask to keep her distance.
We’ve all seen, heard, experienced something like this, one way or another. Maybe we’re even guilty of being that guy ourselves! It’s easy to dismiss these actions as irresponsible, dumb, or selfish, but this can also be pandemic fatigue rearing its ugly head.
We’ve been living in this pandemic limbo for what feels like an eternity now and it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed. The sustained barrage of disinformation, social and economic pressure and mental distress keeps knocking us down over and over. It’s frustrating, tiring, disheartening—and you either just snap, or become too tired to even care.
This is what pandemic fatigue is: the exhaustion brought about by the extended struggles of the pandemic, and the resulting lack of motivation to keep following the necessary preventative measures.
Some symptoms of pandemic fatigue include the following:
Neglect of pandemic safety protocols, like wearing masks and social distancing
Increased anxiety and paranoia around other people
Isolation, withdrawal from socializing even with friends and family
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Lethargy, lack of motivation, feelings of exhaustion and burnout
Restlessness, being short-tempered and quick to anger
It’s a vicious cycle: being both mentally and physically exhausted contributes to feelings of anxiety and helplessness. This in turn causes decreased motivation to actually address your exhaustion, which makes you frustrated and even more susceptible to distress. It feels like being stuck in a veritable quicksand pit of despair, slowly sinking, and you can very easily find yourself just giving up.
Pandemic fatigue has caused a troubling decline in adherence to pandemic safety regulations everywhere. The rise of disinformation and distrust in science is definitely a contributor to the declining rates, but pandemic fatigue also affects even the most willing and cooperative citizens. It is important to understand that pandemic fatigue is a multifaceted problem caused by a myriad of social, economic, and psychological factors, all affecting our basic motivation and willingness to comply.
If you’re feeling the effects of pandemic fatigue yourself, remember that this is a natural result of the prolonged pandemic and its adjacent problems, not unlike chronic stress. You are not a bad person for feeling it.
Pandemic fatigue is the product of multiple factors, most of which are realistically outside of our individual control.
The solution to pandemic fatigue is, ideally, an informed, organized, and robust response from governmental and authoritative health sectors, involving socio-economic, political, and psychological plans of action. But we cannot wallow in the mud while we wait for this to happen—we cannot give up. We must do what we can to alleviate our situations.
Here are some ways we can overcome pandemic fatigue:
Check your mental health
Feeling helpless is a huge contributor to pandemic fatigue, so we’ve got to wrestle some of that control back. Take the reins and take charge: be mindful of yourself and your status. Assess yourself and listen to your body’s needs. How are you feeling? Are you coping well? Do you need space and support? In the midst of all this doom and gloom, there is no shame in admitting that your mental health is deteriorating. Reach out to your friends, family, a counselor, or a therapist; don’t be afraid to take a break and get the proper help you need.
Socialize!
Living in quarantine has upended our social lives, which is not ideal for us naturally social creatures. Isolation can exacerbate feelings of depression and demotivation. Do your best to socialize as much as your mental health needs you to. We all need to feel like we matter, and sometimes that entails a lent ear or a shoulder to cry on. If you are able, create a social bubble with people you trust to meet with physically and spend some quality time with them whenever you can.
A healthy body, a healthy mind
We’ve now probably heard the phrase “self-care” a million times, but its importance cannot be overstated. The pandemic makes it very easy to fall into an unhealthy lifestyle. And yes, while we can allow ourselves some leniency for coping mechanisms (sometimes we just need to binge watch, okay?) it’s more critical than ever to stay healthy. Eat right, get some exercise, and sleep well. It not as easy as it sounds, but making sure you’re in good shape is its own reward.
Live life—safely
The lack of both stability and variety can make life seem bleak and repetitive. Consider cautiously doing low-risk “normal” activities that you can be excited for, to help boost your morale. Take a walk at a park or follow a hiking trail and bask in the sunshine. Get a new hobby or learn a new skill. Schedule backyard lunches with close friends or family to get out of the house. Scheduling activities that make you feel some sense of normalcy will be good for your mental health while giving you something to look forward to.
A little compassion goes a long way
Realize that we all have our own thresholds. Some people may be more patient and resilient, and others may be at their last straw. We all have our own struggles, no matter how different we are. It is more important than ever to always lead with kindness—not just for others, but also for yourself. Pat yourself on the back for getting through another day. Appreciate and congratulate your body for taking you this far. Don’t be too hard on yourself, life is already difficult enough as it is without you being your own nemesis. Instead, cheer yourself on! We’re all doing the best we can.
The pandemic health crisis is a battle of attrition, and we have to take it one day at a time. It’s hard, but we have to try to remember that all of our actions affect more than just ourselves. That pressure and responsibility can seem overwhelming, yes; but realize that it also means that we are all here for each other, and we can all help lift each other up.
If you feel you need help regarding your mental health, please don’t hesitate to seek support.
Here is a list of resources that you can contact for help:
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