Here we are after months of being on lockdown, social distancing, working from home, many zoom calls, and endless amounts of Tik-Tok videos. Some of us are transitioning out of lockdown, some of us are still in it for the foreseeable future, and some of us aren’t really sure what the future looks like for us at all.
Anyone else feeling guilty about how you spent your lockdown time?
“Months stuck at home, and what do I have to show for it? A few Tik-Tok routines that I’m still mediocre at no matter how many times I practiced? Shouldn’t I feel more rested and ready to get going?” Sound familiar?
If you’re feeling even more exhausted from the lockdown, don’t feel bad. You're not alone. Many people are feeling even more tired from lockdown than they were before they entered it. And on top of the guilt, there’s this overwhelming feeling of lack. “I should have done more. I should have started a new project. I should have remodeled my house. I should have gotten ahead at work or even started a side business by now.”
You’re not alone with these thoughts, and you are not behind. If you’ve survived lockdown thus far, then you did everything you were supposed to do- you survived. Let me rephrase to make sure that this message sticks with you- If you’ve been doing a whole lot of nothing during lockdown, THAT’S OK. In fact, we should all do a little more “nothing”. Take baths, go on walks, take more naps, and learn to thank yourself for surviving.
So why is this ok, and why is it so normal to feel exhausted from doing nothing? The first factor is the stress of the world and society today, paired with large amounts of uncertainty. With uncertainty comes stress and anxiety. Lockdown began with so many scary uncertainties. There was a disease that we knew virtually nothing about, economic disruption, protests, and contradicting news sources. Whether you watched the news and paid attention to all of this or not, it did have an effect on you. Even if your subconscious was feeling uncertain and anxious, you might not have even realized it had it not been for the physical symptoms you were experiencing.
The second factor for the fatigue is a loss of boundaries. In the blink of an eye, your home was turned into an office, homeschool, daycare center, restaurant, and workout gym. Because we had to cram everything into one space, our minds couldn’t tell when it was time to “turn off”. Our bodies have been all confused about when it’s time for work, play, or winding down. This confusion and lack of separation can cause more anxiety and fatigue than you might realize.
The final reason that you might feel more exhausted after quarantine than before is repetition. When you’re not able to leave your home, socialize, or plan fun outings, every day can start to seem the same. It’s like we got stuck in that movie “Groundhog Day” where Bill Murray wakes up every morning to live the same day over and over and over again. Our brains are not being stimulated enough- hence the lack of energy.
So give yourself a break, and give others a break. Lockdown was not a necessary time for new projects, personal growth, and reviving broken relationships. It was a time to simply survive. To do the best that you could do, keep pushing through, and being proud that you did. So give yourself a pat on the back, open a bottle of wine, and make a toast to yourself for doing the best that you could do. And for surviving a global pandemic.
Cheers!
Lots of love,
The Rivvly Team
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