Right now there are probably many of us thinking; “I am so over this COVID thing”. Trouble is, COVID-19 is not done with us, and chances are won’t be for a long time to come.

But the sun is still shining, the lawn still needs to be mowed and summer holidays are just around the corner, right? Isn’t it time we all just…go outside? Sadly, not yet. As you can imagine, there is a term for what many of us are feeling. It’s called “Quarantine Fatigue”. 

Contributing psychologists at verywellmind.com explain that when COVID-19 first appeared, we were focused on staying safe and alive. And now that we’re in the next phase of feeling like there is no end in sight, the focus may seem unclear resulting in a feeling of tiredness and lethargy. Here are some reasons behind Quarantine Fatigue:

Our fear is receding. 

At the beginning of this crisis, people launched themselves head-first into panic mode, making giant changes to their lives with the idea of staying alive. But now the immediate terror and urgency of the moment are beginning to recede. The actual numbers and the real science are no less concerning, but because we have done some accommodating psychologically to the fear we stop feeling it as intensely say psychologists. This leaves us with is a growing sense of non-productivity, repetitiveness, loss of many things of our old life plus the loss of excitement and newness in our day. 

We miss human connection. 

We also miss and crave contact with other people, especially since we are social creatures. While a few weeks of separation may have felt tolerable or even a welcome change, the social urges and needs are intensifying and we’re craving more human connection. 

Crisis mode is hard to maintain. 

As people’s awareness heightened about the virus, we went into crisis mode, developing a sense of urgency, anxiety, and quick decision making. But now the dust has settled and reality sets in. We are tired of it; quarantine fatigue.

We all experience quarantine fatigue differently, but one thing’s for sure, having healthy ways to cope is important for our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.  For example, you could practice new forms of caring for yourself such as mindfulness meditation, yoga or journaling.

Be kind to yourself. If you are feeling overwhelmed or experiencing severe mood swings, talk to your doctor for
help and advice.