Pandemic Fatigue
There is a clear difference between our pre- and post- COVID worlds. After a year of living with restrictions and extreme uncertainty, it was expected that people would be full of energy and enthusiasm, ready to get out and do things. Instead, many are finding themselves particularly exhausted and fatigued. People are experiencing a type of burnout that experts are calling COVID-19 fatigue; the exhaustion you may be feeling after months of spending extra time and energy dealing with our pandemic lifestyle and all the struggles it brought. The problem can become worse by focusing on aspects of pandemic life (e.g., things we cannot do) that reinforce the actions of pandemic fatigue.
Everyone has experienced some kind of trauma as a result of the pandemic and these experiences deplete the immune system, affect our circadian rhythm (sleep) and impair our digestive health. Our bodies produce a surplus of energy to combat mental and physical stressors. The body goes into survivor mode and without sufficient time to recover, this can deplete our energy reserves. It is not until the stressor starts to be removed that our body can transition out of survival mode and the effects can be seen.
People are recognizing that they are not taking enough time for themselves and are more stressed than usual. Our expectations of how life “should” be have been turned upside down and these changes have brought on greater exhaustion.
So how do we deal with trauma-induced fatigue? It is important to adjust our expectations as needed. Having high expectations of what you should be doing can be a major source of internal conflict if you are not meeting them. The biggest step is to practice a good sleep routine. Give your body the rest it needs. During the day, find time for restoration such as meditation, yoga or a walk in nature. Prioritize “me time,” taking time for yourself each day to rejuvenate, to take a nap, to avoid screen time (including the news) or try other activities that make you feel good.
While it is helpful to engage in outside activities, both from the physical and mental standpoint, do not feel the need to over schedule activities with potentially risky behaviors and try to catch up on all the social activities. Unfortunately, it is difficult for people to recognize the difference of an activity’s impact on them versus being stressed out and having anxiety. Set small goals and find new coping methods, find new ways to stay connected and maintain a sense of hope that things will get better.
There is no clear timeline for how long it will take each of us to recover. Be patient with yourself. Just as there was a slow process building up to this stress and fatigue, it is going to be a slow process bringing that stress and fatigue down to more normal levels.
Here are today’s Wellness Wednesday Program reading resources:
Diane M. Goodman, Pandemic Fatigue -- Yes, It Is Real, Medscape, Jul 23, 2021
Sara Berg, What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Pandemic Fatigue, American Medical Association (ama-assn.org), January 29, 2021
Saralyn Cruickshank, The Ills of Pandemic Fatigue, John Hopkins University, February 9, 2021
