5 Ways To Cope With Covid Fatigue

Within the past couple of weeks, many of us have been slammed with major pandemic fatigue.  It makes sense—we’re burnt out. We’re expected to be productive as though we haven’t been living in hell for the last year. On top of that, for many of us, the winter has been bleak. And even though the distribution of vaccines is bringing us some much needed hope, our feelings of exhaustion and hopelessness are swallowing any positive emotions whole. We’ve been at this for a year now, and our fight or flight system—the emotional reaction to stress that has been otherwise energizing us throughout the pandemic—is totally overloaded. 

Feeling emotionally zapped, especially in this stage of the coronavirus crisis, is very normal. It’s been a year since we first heard the term Covid-19 and that we all had to quarantine in place.  No one could have imagined that a year later we would still be dealing with the pandemic. A common theme amongst my clients is the feeling of running in place. Doing the same chores over and over, talking to the same small pod of people, waiting to see if their businesses will make it. If they will be able to visit far away family members. If they’ll get sick, or if the people that they love will get sick—all while staying within the confines of their homes, only able to see others on Zoom meetings. Some days, they are filled with gratitude that they even have a home, food, and work that they can do virtually. On other days, they nurse a feeling that can’t seem to quite get a handle on: a mixture of fear, worry, and impatience. 

If you find yourself experiencing similar feelings, here are a few ways to help you cope with the mental health effects of the Covid-19 crisis. 

1. Give yourself space to feel how you’re feeling and know that you are not helpless.

Oftentimes when we feel sad, anxious, or fatigued, we criticize ourselves for feeling that way. We think we should “suck it up” and launch into a cycle of negative self-talk that only serves to push us further down the rabbit hole. Instead, I encourage you to give yourself a break. We’ve been at this a long time now. We’ve dealt with perpetual uncertainty for over a year. It’s okay to cry or break down. It’s okay to feel frustrated and resentful towards this situation. Giving yourself space to feel your emotions will help you process them, and by doing so, you can start to move past them. 

2. Establish new routines, or stick to the ones you have. 

Everyone is hitting the wall, but now more than ever, we have to A) take care of ourselves and B) take measures to keep ourselves grounded. I recommend taking stock of your daily routines. Are you getting enough physical activity? Adequate sleep? Healthy food? Do your routines need an overhaul, or do you need to double down on the ones you have? These are all crucial questions to ask yourself, and the answers will inform your course of action. If walking every morning has been your saving grace, keep it up. If you’ve been indulging in unhealthy food to soothe your emotions, try to scale back and find another outlet.

3. Lower your expectations, and take pressure off of yourself. 

Every now and then I catch myself being overly self critical and I have to remind myself that we’re still living through a pandemic. In other words, I know that the pandemic is going on, but sometimes I dismiss it, as if it’s not impacting how I’m feeling or functioning… of course it is! How could it not? I find that lowering my expectations—for my productivity, my organization, and my energy levels—has been helpful. We don’t need any additional pressure put on us. We’re going through enough. For now, we have to continue to exercise patience and cut ourselves some slack. We’re not living in a normal, everyday world, so we can’t expect ourselves to feel and function like we are. 

4. Maintain connection at all costs. 

After a year of virtual-only communications, you might be thinking “if I get on another Zoom call I’m going to lose it,” but maintaining connection with loved ones, friends, and even colleagues during this time is crucial for being able to cope. If you’re bored of your typical catch-up calls, try switching it up. Maybe get a group of friends together to play a game online, or start a book club with monthly video calls to discuss. Grab a friend, pick a recipe, buy ingredients, and make a meal together over Zoom. Take an online workout class at the same time as a friend. Whatever you like to do, there’s a creative way to do it with someone else—at least until we can see each other safely again. 

5. Seek out a professional. 

If your coping mechanisms are not enough, I strongly recommend seeking out the help of a psychologist, therapist, or licensed clinical social worker. Having the support of friends and family is wonderful, but there’s no real replacement for a professional. If you know someone who sees someone for their mental health, reach out and see if you can get their contact info, or contact your health insurance company to see if there are professionals in-network. Whether you’re feeling depressed, lonely, or just want someone to talk to and empathize with, therapy is an amazing resource to have in your mental health toolkit. 

Looking for more support? I know just the place you can find it. Head over to our Pure Joy Wellness Private Facebook Group, where you’ll find a community of badass women who are ready and willing to lend you a hand.  

Xo, 

Renata