Stay At Home Exhaustion

Have you suddenly been feeling more drained than usual? There's a reason for that. 

A few short weeks ago the whole world was officially affected by COVID-19, hitting the US especially hard. Adjusting to a new life primarily at home isn't an easy feat. Even with all the understanding sentiments, it is still a shock to have many normal aspects of life taken away. 

As easy as it seems to keep the normalcy alive, that shock can act as a low-level stress trigger which can lead to emotional exhaustion. Your body instinctively senses tension and stress, leading to lower energy levels, fatigue, and restlessness over time. Just knowing that you are going to stay in the same state for an unknown time will affect your mental health.

Maybe at this moment you're thinking, "But I'm taking this time to relax." Although you are doing things you would normally do to feel "relaxed," it is possible that you are actually overworking yourself. Mundane activities have suddenly turned into bigger tasks. Every small decision is now starting to affect your well-being. Health and safety is the utmost priority, so much that even thinking about stepping outside to simply get groceries requires mental stamina. There is always the nagging feeling in the back of our minds to avoid the virus. 

Our brains need a certain level of positive stimulation and growth signals to function properly. Being cooped up inside all day everyday for an uncertain time period, even if you are keeping busy, is hindering the ability for that positivity to thrive. It can be hard to ignore all the noise. Yet there are still things we can do in order to stay positive. 

Leave behind the unspoken pressure to use this time "wisely." We are in the middle of a serious crisis. There is no correct way to respond to it, but pressuring yourself to be amazing will only drain you more. It's okay if you aren't pursuing all your goals every single day. You have plenty of time to accomplish what you want to. 

There are so many resources to help cope with being stuck at home. I'm sure you've heard most of them already. But this is what has helped me: 

Pick Up a New Activity

I know I've done a lot of things I've always wanted to put more time into. And while I'm still working on them, trying something new will give you a change of pace in your schedule that is needed. Remember to take a break from that new activity so it doesn't become boring. 

Journal

Journaling doesn't have to be pen and paper. In fact, just the action of writing your thoughts out can be very therapeutic. I use Google docs to type out my feelings, but there are also a ton of apps available for writing. Once everything is typed out, I feel so much better and just forget about whatever was bothering me that day.

Drink More Water

Home is cozy and comfortable. It's so easy to make a warm cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the sweetness. Sugar raises dopamine levels, giving a sense of happiness. And I definitely enjoy my coffee! But it is important to stay hydrated. Dehydration leads to increased levels of stress and anxiety. You might not feel thirsty, but you could still be dehydrated. So, remember to keep drinking that water! 

Don't Overthink

I'm guilty of always having a project to accomplish. I give myself hard deadlines and won't stop thinking about it until I feel prepped enough or have finished it. Even when my brain feels overloaded, I still try to think of a solution. Then I feel super tired and all I want to do is lay in bed. Learn to skip a day of exercise or chores or whatever is making your brain spin. You don't always have to force yourself to be productive. 

Do what makes you feel at your best. There is no set guide on how you should handle the situation. While I like to do a little something every day or so, I know some people who are enjoying playing video games all day and others who love to chat online endlessly. Maybe you are perfectly happy keeping busy with a bunch of tasks. That is totally okay too! 

Wishing the best for every one.