How to Continue Avoiding COVID-19 Burnout as the Pandemic Reaches Its 1-Year Anniversary
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When we were initially facing this crisis, we had to learn new routines and ways of doing things fast. But now after reaching one year it’s easy to find ourselves facing pandemic burnout.
However, we still need to keep up our best efforts and following the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But that’s still hard to do when we are burnt out.
Here’s how to continue avoiding COVID-19 fatigue.
Recommit to the Basics
First, it’s important that we recommit to the basic procedures we have all learned that help prevents the spread of COVID-19. These include:
Wearing a properly fitted mask.
Staying 6-feet apart when with other people of a different household.
Washing hands frequently.
This recommitment is important because it will be these safeguards that help us stay healthy and to move out of the pandemic.
Shake Up Your COVID-19 Routine
By now we have all established our daily routines. This often includes at-home learning and for many working remotely. There may not be much that we can do to alter school or work schedules. However, what about all the other hours? For example:
Doing something fun outside mid-day.
Turning off the TV at night to read, play board games or puzzles, etc.
Cooking outside on the grill.
Exercising.
Even in the best of times, we can get stuck in routines that make life boring. So it makes sense that we find ourselves in a COVID-19 routine. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have the power to shake things up!
Learning Something New
Another way to fend off COVID-19 fatigue is by challenging ourselves to learn something new. Perhaps one of the positive things to come out of the pandemic is that many people are in the same situation! Some examples include:
Learning a new musical instrument.
Cooking meals at home versus ordering takeout all the time.
Ordering books from the library (either physical books or virtually using an app).
Signing up for an online class.
Practicing art.
Trying out a new hobby.
No matter what our age or capacity, it’s always possible to learn something new and gain a new skill.
Serving Others to Avoid Burnout
It wasn’t just businesses that had to adjust to COVID-19 early in the pandemic. Volunteer and non-profit groups also had to adapt. Now, after a year, many have established COVID-friendly protocols to maintain health and safety while still delivering essential services.
However, if volunteering in-person just isn’t in the cards, there are ways to help remotely. For instance:
Helping with fundraising.
Database management.
Reaching out to target audiences via email, text, or phone calls.
Providing translation services.
Reviewing photos or satellite imagery.
Staffing a crisis hotline.
Tutoring students.
Volunteering is not just about helping others. It also is a powerful way for us to feel connected to people and know that we are making a difference. Those feelings might not always be present when going through the grind of a daily pandemic routine.
Getting an Outside Perspective
Maybe what we need to avoid COVID-19 burnout is talking about those feelings and thoughts. A therapist can help with this. It helps to simply have the acknowledgment that we are experiencing is a true concern. Also, we can get an outside perspective on what to do to stay fresh and not get burnt out. It’s way too easy to get stuck with our blinders on moving through each day. But a therapist can help us see new options that we might not have realized.
Even though it’s been a year since the pandemic, it’s still not over yet. But burnout can tempt us to lower our guard. However, by practicing the above tips we can still keep things fresh. Yet, if you are still struggling, contact us today to learn more about how online therapy will help.
