How to Deal With Entering Another Year of COVID Fatigue

2022 is here at last, and yet, in a lot of ways it feels like we're still stuck in the throws of 2020.

What was supposed to be "two weeks" of restrictions and shutdowns has somehow turned into two years, leaving most of us with a feeling known as "COVID fatigue." This term is used to describe the general, well, fatigue we've been experiencing when it comes to the constant back-and-forth of what this pandemic has done to our society, as well as the constant disappointment of the things we miss out on.

Tired of feeling tired of COVID? Yeah, us too. While we can't just make it go away (don't we all wish we could), there are a few ways to deal with entering yet another year of this COVID fatigue. Try some of the following:

1. Remember All the Good Things That Have Happened

The last two years have been not great in a lot of ways. However, there are some things that deserve to be recognized for their positive effects, whether that be as a society or just in your own personal life. Did you take up a new hobby while stuck inside so much? Or maybe discover your new favorite book series? Whether you found a new passion or simply spent the time trying to relax and take care of your mental health, there's a lot of goodness to take stock of. Plus, on a global level, there have been major shifts and advances in medicine, environmental protection and so much more, so it really isn't all bad out there.

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2. Recognize How Far We've Come

While things may not be fully back to "normal" for most of us (we'll refrain from using the dreaded, over-used "new normal" term we've all grown sick of by now), we have come a long way since things hit a sudden stop in March 2020. Most of us can spend time with our friends and family members again, or even just go see a movie—things we couldn't really do for a good bit of the last year. While our worries aren't gone forever, our reality has gotten much better than where we started, and that gives us a lot to appreciate and a lot of hope for the future.

 

3. List Off Things You're Grateful For

COVID fatigue can come with a big sort of "woe is me" energy, but you probably actually have so much to be grateful for that you don't realize. With so much loss occurring over the last two years, it's important to be grateful for even the small things we usually take advantage of. If you live with a family that was able to help you with virtual school, for one. But on an even more micro-level than that, you probably have a roof over your head, food on your plate every day and some sort of screen to be reading this off of. These are all things that we tend to forget are actually pretty big luxuries compared to other people, so remember to be thankful for the big and small things that make your life full.

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4. Get Some Exercise and Fresh Air

Nothing is a better distraction from what's going on in the world than a good workout or simply taking some time in nature. For many of us, getting active or just getting outdoors was a major source of solace during the early days of COVID, and there's some solid evidence to back up why. Exercise releases endorphins (happy hormones), and spending time in nature has also been proven to be beneficial for mental health. So, when you need to tell your COVID fatigue to take a break, it's best if you yourself take a break outdoors or at the gym (or just your bedroom with a virtual workout—whatever works for you).

 

5. When In Doubt, Laugh About It

If nothing else works, laughter is a pretty solid form of medicine for COVID fatigue. We've literally all experienced a pretty wild two years, and that shared experience gives us all something to talk—and joke—about. Obviously, there are some things we just don't joke about when it comes to the tragic nature of everything that's happened, but at the same time, we can at least all laugh about the hot mess that has been 2020 (and most of 2021). Laughing literally makes us happier, so why not give it a try? Even putting on your favorite go-to romantic comedy can help, if nothing else.

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So, while the last two years have been undoubtedly hard for us all, there's still a lot to look forward to in 2022 and beyond. We've come a long way so far, and there's never been a better time to embrace a bit of self-improvement and discovery!

With that said, you can get started on embracing some new healthy habits that will help set you up for success and a better new year—click HERE to read more about them.