After so many months on lockdown, you might be feeling more than just the regular amount of tired. Like so many others in the world, it’s possible you’re starting to go stir-crazy, not to mention physically and emotionally depleted. If so, you’re suffering from what’s being called “quarantine fatigue”. Read on to find out what Quarantine Fatigue is and how you can get past it even while you’re still in isolation!
What Quarantine Fatigue Is
Isolation, a lack of social connection, an absence of routine or structure to your life, and the loss of a sense of freedom can all contribute to feelings of emotional and physical depletion. Even if you can work from home and you have some sort of home workout setup, things are still so different and restricted that you can start to feel the emotional stress of the situation. For some people, the actual act of working from a home filled with kids or noise can contribute to the stress. Social isolation definitely makes the problem worse. Together, all the factors combine to create a state of perpetual tiredness and depletion that is being called “quarantine fatigue”. The never-ending feeling of the anxiety-inducing situation definitely triggers the fatigue!
How Quarantine Fatigue Manifests
How can you tell if you’re feeling quarantine fatigue? More than likely, you’ll experience actual physical fatigue and a noticeable loss of energy. For some people, it’s a mild thing, but some experience it surprisingly intensely. Anxiety and disturbed sleep are two common symptoms, as is irritability. You may start to develop a sense of apathy, a lack of motivation, and a lethargy that spills into every area of your life. Some people become emotionally unstable, and they experience depression, feelings of hopelessness, and, worse of all, feelings of intense loneliness as a result of their disconnection from the people in their lives.
Why Quarantine Fatigue Develops
Aside from the anxiety-inducing nature of the situation (a pandemic sweeping the globe that’s inflicting a high death toll), isolation is one of the primary contributes to quarantine fatigue. Humans are social creatures, and a need for relationships is literally hard-wired into our DNA. When we lose those connections while in lockdown, our mental and emotional health suffers. Not only can social isolation and loneliness lead to higher rates of depression, but it can impair your health and raise early mortality rates. The increase in alcohol intake is another consequence of isolation like we’re experiencing during lockdown, which can lead to more health problems and higher anxiety.
How to Deal With Quarantine Fatigue
Let’s be honest: you’re not going to feel back to 100% until the world opens up and you can get back to the new semblance of “normal”. Only once you can restore those social connections will you start to feel more like your old self. But, in the meantime, there are a few things you can do that will lift your spirits and help you get through the remaining lockdown time in a better state of mind. Your daily routine is one of these things. Focus on eating healthy, taking good care of your body, following a work and sleep schedule, drinking enough water, and trying to live a healthier life. Reach out to friends and family via the internet and spend as much time socializing that way as you can. Read books and listen to music that lifts your spirit and makes you feel happier. Actively redirect your thoughts and behavior in a positive direction, and it will be easier to stay positive despite the lockdown.