How to cope with COVID burnout:
It is important to be reminded that this general feeling of exhaustion and anxiety is completely normal, given the fact that you’ve been exposed to prolonged extraordinary stress. We made a list of some strategies that will help you cope with this kind of stress.
- Keep your routines – During times of crisis, health experts noted the importance of sticking to a daily routine. If it’s hard to do it, because you switched to work from home or you’re out of work altogether, try focusing on the routines that are absolutely important for maintaining your livelihood and basic health needs. Exercising and socializing are also important to your mental health, so make sure you do your best to maintain good health!
- Strengthen ties with your most important relationships – You need to cherish those already-established relationships in your life, that give you a sense of connection and community, no matter how many emotional resources you might have left. And by that, we mean family, close friends, close colleagues. They can all contribute to your well-being.
- Be aware of addictive behavior risk – Mental health experts pointed out that with this ongoing economic uncertainty, food insecurity, and isolation, people might be tempted to fall into toxic habits, such as disordered eating or substance abuse. To back this up, there is one small study that showed how 38% of people that were treated for an eating disorder had an increase in symptoms during the pandemic. To avoid that, focus more on enjoyable activities, practice deep breathing and meditation, and keep a diary of positive experiences during the day.
- Build your resilience – Resilience is what keeps us on our feet when the times are a bit shaky. Professional athletes have a dedicated task on building resilience because it’s part of their jobs. But their example is worth taking because these times are challenging us to be stronger. Believe in yourself, pay attention to the present, and exercise, to keep your mind clear and focused.
