Avoid Letting “Covid Fatigue” Beat You! | Ep. 154

<p>If I say “Covid fatigue,” I bet most of you know exactly what I am talking about. Are there days when you wake up thinking; I am sick of worrying about Covid; I am tired of reminding people to wear their masks; I want to go out and eat and relax; I am tired of worrying about everyone else when many people don’t worry about me. And I could go on. We are just plain tired, and you know the saying from General George Patton, “fatigue makes cowards of us all.” He was talking about physical fatigue, but I think many of us are suffering from the emotional and psychological fatigue of protecting ourselves from an enemy we can’t see. We are staying in the house, dealing with kids and their education 24-7, and virtually teaching our students who are also suffering from Covid fatigue.</p> <p>There is little doubt that Covid has put us all on edge. Mental well-being is based on having a positive outlook and confidence in the future. Unfortunately, Covid has changed our behavior and created a new normal. Couple that with changing timelines about when we will be past the pandemic and it creates a lot of emotional stress. So much of what we read in the media is about what we can’t do, and it makes us feel like life will never be the same again. How our communities are reacting is supported by research on how catastrophes are handled. The first stage is that everyone pulls together and there is a lot of bonding and support for others. As things go on over time, this pulling toward a common goal is fractured by our personal difficulties and stress. Citizens lose their optimism and begin to wonder when it will be over and how long they have to endure. Some even begin to decide, “I am going to live my life as I want to, regardless of the impact on others.”</p> <p>Many believed that the peak of the pandemic was over in August but here it is again at even higher levels. Like everything else in life, those who are able to use their coping skills will avoid the pitfall of Covid fatigue. You have all heard of the best ways to cope bu