Summary

The article outlines four coping strategies to combat the emotional toll of pandemic fatigue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining social connections, outdoor activities, reading, and journaling.

Abstract

The author of the article shares personal experiences of the impact of COVID-19 on daily life, particularly the inability to visit favorite places like coffee shops and libraries. To cope with the resulting feelings of boredom, restlessness, and social isolation, the author has adopted several healthy coping skills. These include scheduling regular virtual social interactions, taking walks to the park for fresh air and exercise, utilizing the local library's digital services for reading eBooks, and daily journaling to process emotions. The article aims to provide readers with practical and effective methods to navigate the challenges of the "new normal" and manage mental and emotional health during the pandemic.

Opinions

The author expresses a strong sense of loss and nostalgia for pre-pandemic routines and social interactions.
Virtual socializing is seen as a valuable tool to combat loneliness and maintain a sense of community.
Regular walks to the park are highly recommended for mental clarity and physical well-being, especially when combined with mindfulness practices.
The author values the continued access to books through the library's digital app, despite the disappointment of canceled in-person events like the annual book sale.
Journaling is considered an essential daily practice for emotional validation and self-compassion during the global crisis.
The author acknowledges the difficulty of the situation but remains hopeful and proactive in finding ways to adapt and cope with the ongoing pandemic.

4 Helpful Coping Skills for This Terrible Pandemic Fatigue

This is hard, but there is a way through it.

My favorite coffee shop is a local establishment. It has on-site parking, an outdoor patio, and enough indoor seating to make it plausible any time of day or night (they’re open until 10).

I pull into a parking spot, walk across the wood-planked patio, and through the glass front door. I approach the friendly face at the counter and order an in-house white mocha. You can bring your own mug, but I always use theirs.

I sit at a table near the wall because I’m working today so I want to plug my laptop in. I glance around the cozy shop and smile at anyone who catches my eye. Then I unpack my laptop, notebooks, pens, and planner.

The barista brings my coffee to my table and I smile and say, “thank you so much!”

Being here makes me feel happy. Honestly, I feel like a badass — having the luxury of working from a coffee shop anytime I want.

I take my first sip of white mocha out of a mug and slowly let it fill my mouth with its sweet frothiness. I swallow and think to myself, “this is really nice.”

Then it’s time to get to work. I check email, check my to-do list, and start writing, taking breaks to sip my drink and people-watch.

After a few hours, I congratulate myself on a job well done, pack up my belongings, deposit my mug in the dirty dishes tub, and head home.

It’s been seven months since I’ve been to a coffee shop. Or the library. Or a restaurant.

I know I’m not alone here, and I don’t mean to complain. But the truth is, this is hard.

And even though the “new normal” feels sort of normal by now — I’ve gotten used to being homebound — it’s still affecting my mental and emotional health in adverse ways.

Being stuck at home because of social distancing guidelines has me feeling bored, antsy, and restless. These feelings are hard enough when they happen occasionally, but right now, I’m having them on a chronic basis.

And I’m not sure what to do about it.

Being socially isolated is hard. I haven’t been to a bar with my friends in months. I haven’t met anyone for coffee since early March (it’s now October). I’ve barely been out of the house and when I have gone out, it’s been to run “essential” errands.

I miss shopping. I miss seeing my friends. I miss life as it used to be.

So, how am I dealing with it? By using healthy coping skills. In this story, I’ll share them with you with the hopes that they help you too.

Socializing Virtually with Friends and Community

Since it became clear in March 2020 that we would be socially distancing ourselves in the name of safety, I’ve made a point to remain socially active online.

I have a weekly phone call scheduled with a friend of mine. I have a few monthly zoom calls on the calendar to check in with fellow writers about our work. And I routinely text other friends to invite them to virtual coffee dates.

Just because we can’t meet in person doesn’t mean that we can’t meet at all. Knowing that I still have social events on my calendar helps me feel less alone.

On days when I have a call or a virtual meeting scheduled, it puts a little pep in my step. I feel energized on days when I know that I’ll be talking to other people during the workday. (And I’m an introvert!)

Going for Walks to the Park

I’m lucky because it’s about a five-minute walk to the nearest park. I try to walk to the park every afternoon, weather permitting.

Being outside, in the fresh air, waving at neighbors, and getting exercise all help my mental health. When I’m having a severe case of cabin fever, walking outside can relieve that feeling of panic and claustrophobia.

When I pair walking with mindfulness, I feel better faster. If I ruminate and think about things that worry me while I walk, I tend to get to the end of the walk faster and feel like nothing happened.

But if I pay attention to the flowers and trees, to the color of the sky, to the sounds of the birds, I feel better. My walk feels longer and more productive in the sense that I get to the end of it and feel like I actually did something besides worry.

Reading eBooks from the Library

I’m a big fan of my local library. I was crushed when their annual book sale was canceled this year because of the pandemic.

But I can still use the library through their app. I access eBooks all the time. It feels good to know that I can still use the library, even if my local branch is closed.

I miss actually going to the library, staying a while, and getting some work done while I’m there. I miss being around people, even people I don’t know, at the library.

Someday, I’ll get to go back. But until then, at least I still get to access books (albeit virtually).

Writing in My Journal

I write in my journal almost every day. It gives me a place to put my feelings when I don’t know what else to do with them. Sometimes I’ll just make a list of my feelings and then write something like, “it’s understandable that I feel this way; anyone in my situation would feel the same.”

When I journal, I feel validated. I can see my feelings on the page and give myself credit for getting through this global crisis the best way I know how. When I journal, I make sure to practice a lot of grace and non-judgment towards myself.

That doesn’t mean I never criticize myself or think negatively about my efforts. I do. But when I write it down, it’s easier for me to catch myself in the act of judgment and to release that feeling.

Those are four ways that I’m coping with crisis fatigue during this pandemic. I hope they help you too.

Enroll in my FREE Email Masterclass for entrepreneurs: Focus Your Vision into a Plan.