5 Steps to overcoming covid fatigue
I don’t know about you, but I am SO over COVID.
The problem is, COVID isn’t over me. Not yet, at least.
The Omicron surge this winter has hit me harder than previous surges. And I am not talking about getting sick, because luckily I still haven’t caught the virus.
Some of the discomfort is what I dub “COVID fatigue.” It’s been almost 2 years of this shit. How much longer can it go on for?
At some point, we will have to get back to “normal.” People should be able to celebrate the joys of life again - birthdays, weddings, births. And we should also be able to mourn losses in the comfort of others.
I’ll never forget how disturbing my grandfather’s funeral was (who died at the age of 100 from COVID, by the way). It was on Zoom, with only a handful of nuclear family members present. No gatherings to comfort my father and his sister afterwards. No hugs goodbye.
Throughout the pandemic, I have erred on the cautious side of things. I was going through IVF and then was pregnant for most of the time, and as a result I was pretty strict. No travel. No indoor gatherings. Masks and frequent handwashing. 3 vaccines so far.
But my hands are starting to feel like sandpaper, and no amount of lotion can repair the damage.
I find myself sometimes gravitating towards the other side of the spectrum. No, not the crazy COVID-denying anti-vax side, but the side that looks at this and says, where do we draw the line? Is the risk of serious illness and death still more than the cons of living this way? The depression, the isolation, the cessation of some of life’s biggest joys, the loss of income for many. The constant fear.
I don’t have an answer for this yet. It’s hard being a first time mom in a new city in the dead of winter. Adding COVID to the mix is the icing on the cake.
But then I look at my beautiful baby Ella, and I wonder if I can confidently risk her health and wellbeing right now for the sake of my own mental health.
Unfortunately, things are still so unknown with COVID. Data is still emerging. Variants are constantly shifting. Hospitals are still overflowing and staff is struggling to keep up with the workload. Patients are being turned away for life-saving treatment because they’ve tested positive. Healthcare workers are getting tired of the frequent Sophie’s Choice decisions they face. I hear the horror stories from my husband, a surgeon in a major medical institution, on a daily basis.
And yes. People are still dying from COVID. Mostly unvaccinated but not 100%. Is it fair of me to say that going out to dinner or hopping on a plane to the Caribbean is worth the life of Jim, or Nancy, or Barbara?
So as uncomfortable as I am, I’m sticking with my stringent COVID protocols for now. But that doesn’t mean that my mental health has to fall by the wayside. Some of the things that have helped me are:
Acceptance: Sometimes, life is hard, and we don’t always have control over a situation. Trying to control something that we have no control over just increases frustration and suffering. Accepting that the situation exists and that our feelings about it are valid helps relieve some of the additional angst. Once we are in acceptance, we can focus on what we can control.
Self-Compassion: This pandemic is HARD. So give yourself a big hug and know that you are not alone. So many other people are feeling this way right now.
Resilience: Focus on the positives that you CAN control right now. Are there people in your COVID pod that you can connect with? I know we are Zoomed out, but can you make it a point to stay in touch with people? Can you bundle up and meet a friend for coffee outdoors? Reach out for support and offer support to others.
Mindfulness: Sometimes, we make an already painful situation even worse by letting our minds run wild into the past or future. How long will this last? I can’t take it anymore, if I can’t go on a trip this year I’m going to FLIP OUT. My kids are never going to make friends if their school keeps closing! Hit the pause button on these thoughts and bring yourself back to the present. Breathe. This is how it is right now. It isn’t forever. This too shall pass.
Finding Meaning: This one is HUGE. Remember, right now you are choosing to act (or not act) in a certain way because it aligns with your values. That’s something to be proud of. Ask yourself what lessons you can learn from this experience, how you can grow as a person, and how you can be of service to others who are also suffering right now. For some of us, this is a true WTF Moment - which is an opportunity to upgrade your life if you are willing to trust and take a leap.
For my part, I’ve found meaning throughout the pandemic in my work and have helped dozens of women harness the power of their WTF Moments in order to discover and create fulfilling and soul-aligned careers, prioritize health and wellness, and improve relationships.
If you need support right now and are ready to go beyond survival mode and start thriving, I invite you to book a free coaching consultation with me. Who knows, maybe this is the catalyst for change you’ve been waiting for!