6 tips to beat COVID fatigue
Posted on December 29, 2020 by Michelle Gauthier, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
We have been in survival mode. Now it's time to be living. 6 tips to reduce stress and reconnect with yourself.
6 tips to beat Covid fatigue.
It’s real and can be debilitating. This year your body has been responding to constant adaptations and stress. Add into all the societal responsibilities and experiencing what others are (not) doing. This pandemic has been going on for 9 months now and maybe it has crossed your mind that you ‘should’ have accomplished ______ while you’ve been at home during lockdowns, or while you haven’t had those extracurricular activities with the kids. Your time has opened up and you’re reflecting on what you didn’t accomplish. You have not failed. You have survived.
Every person responds to stress differently. Some people thrive in stressful situations and they are extremely productive, while others shut down and are constantly exhausted. Notice how stress shows up for you. Do you feel it in your muscles, do you get headaches, have difficulty concentrating, are tired no matter how much sleep you get? The good thing is you’re not alone. Your body has been in a survival mode (whether you have been working or not). Basic tasks become more difficult, anxiety can be high, joy seems a thing of the past.
You get to make a choice. Are you going to stay in survival mode, or are you going to live your life? I am not saying this is easy to choose the latter. Survival mode can make small decisions appear huge and full of effort. Here are 6 tips to beat Covid fatigue that I have put together to help reduce stress and reconnect with yourself during this time.
1. Connect with nature. Get out for a walk every day for even 10 minutes. If you can, go barefoot on grass so you can feel the earth. There are calming and healing principles that come from the earth’s vibrations. Going barefoot connects you with the energy of the earth. If you are in a cold winter, put yourself in water. That could be taking a bath, a long shower, or even a foot soak. Water still has energetic properties and is often associated with peace, stillness, and relaxation.
2. Gratitude. Connect with things you are grateful for every day, especially in the moments where you feel numb, unmotivated, or holding onto last threads. Starting your day off with gratitude sets you up for the rest of the day and brings you to a positive mindset. This will help shift your perspective to see the good things in your day. Ending the day with gratitude brings peace to your night and can help you sleep better. When you focus on gratitude, you invite more opportunities for gratitude in your life.
3. Journal. One thing that I have experienced to be extremely beneficial is writing. Whether it be pen to paper, or electronically, getting your thoughts and feelings out of your head and heart. You do not have to share these writings with anyone if you choose not to. Let your words flow. Start with a thought and write whatever comes to you mind. It is better if you do not stop yourself to think about what to write next, but just trust your hand, head and heart to know. Many of us repress feelings and thoughts, only to add additional weight and stress to our lives.
4. Spark joy. Engage in an activity that you know brings you joy. It might take a couple times to rediscover that feeling but it is easier than starting new. It can be as simple as listening to a song, or more complex to cooking a favourite meal. You can do it on your own or with others. If you cannot think of things that bring you joy, ask a loved one. They will have ideas of what you have done in the past. If you want to challenge yourself to rediscover hobbies and enjoyment, commit a schedule to try something new. It can every day for a week, once a week for a month, once a week for 4 months, once a month for 6 months. Whatever you will stick to and is consistent enough to keep you interested and engaged.
5. Sleep. Make sure you are getting sufficient sleep. It may not help you feel less tired, as that is a stress response, but it will help your body function and keep stress from escalating. Sleep is vital for your body to recover. If you are struggling to sleep, set up an evening routine. Go to bed at the same time every night (it does not mean you will fall asleep the same time every night), minimize screens half hour before bed, maybe use this time for gratitude or brain-dumping in your journal (getting all the thoughts out). Also set the bed aside for sleep itself. Do not use it as a desk or TV stand. It will help train your body and brain that the bed is for sleep.
6. Sex. Engaging in sex boosts endorphins and dopamine (the happiness drug produced by your brain) which lowers stress, keeps you ‘active’ which promotes healthy heart health, and creates a stronger connection with a partner. That intimate connection can help ground you back to living instead of existing.
You cannot control what is happening in the world due to the pandemic, but you can control how you respond. If you recognize your stress and how it shows up, you can battle it. These are just some tips on how to reduce stress, there are many others that can be individualized to you.
