Pandemic fatigue is like a Monday after a long weekend. Pandemic fatigue is like the Sunday before returning to work after a long vacation.
Pandemic fatigue is living in that space where there’s nothing to look forward to or be excited about. It’s where malaise and anxiety cloud everything, and while everything is generally fine, you still feel things could go off the rails at any moment. Not to mention the weight of everything that just sits on top of the insufferable fatigue.
Pandemic fatigue is something we all experience. It binds us. Every line of work and industry is affected, and no one gets a free pass. Including our neighbors in need who are living on the streets or those on the brink of poverty. We are all literally in this together, whether we act like it or not.
Sorry planners, pandemic fatigue is ubiquitous, and there is no finish line. *Friendly reminder: mask up, social distance, get vaccinated.
Clearly, pandemic fatigue is many things to many different people. In the end, after all the house projects are done and you’ve purged the attic and basement to make your home seem less cluttered, pandemic fatigue is still there to mock you.
Okay, enough darkness, I come to you in hopes of providing solutions and recommendations from many Memphians trying to make the most out of a strange time. I polled some friends and family recently to see how they are coping with the endless Groundhog’s Day nature of life in 2021, and here is what I learned.
For some, it’s all about nature and enjoying the outdoors. From hiking to slow strolls with man’s best friend, one friend said walking without her phone every day is key to staying grounded. Others have extolled the virtues of riding their bikes and shooting hoops or throwing the pigskin. I agree that exercise is paramount to staying sane. Personally, I try to move in some way every day. Maybe I’ll join my wife Annie for some living room yoga soon.
Others have said it’s all about staying connected via FaceTime, Zoom, or other group apps or visiting with friends and family in safe and responsible ways. Fire pits and porch hangs are all the rage. I can attest that it’s one way to feel social without feeling COVID-compromised.
Learning new skills, like knitting or speaking a different language or cooking, is another way to make good use of this homebound time. I grill at least once a week and even pulled off my first brisket on New Year’s Day. I probably would have never accomplished that feat in normal times.
In terms of a common theme, mental health above all seems to be the most important. From meditating to intentional breathing, as well as regular therapy sessions, many are focused on navigating this brave new world with as many tools in their toolkit as possible. I, for one, can confirm the importance of speaking with a non-biased partner in health. It can really do wonders.
As we surpass a full year dealing with COVID-19 and its restrictions on normal life, I think it’s fair to say that most people are fatigued with the day-to-day monotony of living in a global pandemic. Here’s to hoping that finish line comes into view real soon.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Vollintine Evergreen neighborhood with his wife
Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and two dogs Chalupa and Princess Freckles.