March 11th, 2020: the day the world shut down. Since January of 2020, the world had known about this new pneumonia-type disease in Wuhan City, China, but we had no idea how devastating and impactful SARS-CoV-2 aka. “Covid-19” would be on all of us.
What is Covid Fatigue?
Covid fatigue is the tiredness and stress that health and safety protocols have caused people. In such a short period, we stopped seeing our friends and family, physically distanced ourselves, wore masks, and stayed cooped up in our homes. This sudden transition was strange and difficult to adjust to – but little did we know how hard the next 15 months would be.
Covid fatigue includes the type of burnout that can occur after following these measures for so long. We are sick and tired of not being able to see our friends and family. We are sick and tired of remembering to grab a mask before heading to the grocery store. We are sick and tired of sitting at home every Friday and Saturday night! By no surprise, this stress and social disconnection have increased mental disorder prevalence and careless attitudes. Don’t worry – you’re not the only one who is over the pandemic.
But carelessness and the continuation of protocols go hand in hand. When we go against protocols and act carelessly, we see a sharp rise in cases, which keep protocols in place. It’s quite the catch 22!
How to Overcome Covid Fatigue
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has outlined some ways to overcome Covid-19 fatigue. These include:
- Being physically active
- Talking to others
- Think differently: don’t focus on things you can’t control
- Meditate and engage in mindfulness
- Turn Covid precautions into a habit (masks, hand sanitizer, etc.)
- Give yourself a break: limit watching Covid news and related media
To learn more about these tips, click here.