Adjusting to work while coping with the COVID-19 side effects

Two years on after the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world, the pathogen remains deeply etched into our lives as the world learns to cohabit with it. In spite of high vaccination rates and inoculation attempts worldwide, COVID-19 cases remain rampant in today’s society, with reinfections and new infection cases surging daily. In fact, given that the pathogen is ever evolving (at the time of this writing, health experts have uncovered the new XBB strain ), it is without a doubt that COVID-19 is here to stay, and the only way to move forward is to learn to accept our present circumstances and adapt to the new normal.

For people who have contracted the virus and lived to recount the ordeal, life as they know it will never be the same. Meanwhile, those who remain COVID-naive, or individuals who have yet to contract Covid at all, are forced to be all the more vigilant and careful with their surroundings. Perhaps the most concerning group of COVID-19 survivors are the one who have recovered from the ordeal but are still battling with the remnants of the pathogen to this day. If you’re someone who has contracted COVID-19 in the past and are forced to live with the side effects for a longer time than usual, here are several tips for you.

Pace yourself

The long-term side effects of COVID-19 are well documented and reported. From a weakened sense of smell/taste to permanent lung scarring in severe cases, it’s hard to bring ourselves to admit that we might have to live with repercussions for an indefinite period of time. Although new research suggests that people will recover from the side effects completely, this recovery time frame varies between individuals, and the realization that your health is permanently damaged in some ways is deeply upsetting and psychologically traumatizing for many of us. You may be tempted to prove to yourself that you’ve still got what it takes to return to tip-top condition, but pushing your body past its breaking point may hinder the recovery process. Instead, learn to recognize the signs from your body and take a rest every now and then. This is the one time your body needs all the rest it can get to fully recover and overexerting your body will not aid the recovery process.

Reach out at work

For most of us who have contracted COVID-19, life unfortunately goes on and some of us are forced to return to work the moment we have recovered. One of the concerns to arise from Covid is how the episode may pose long-term brain fog following the episode. Brain fog is a commonly described scenario where people tend to experience a form of cognitive dip or sluggishness, that is their ability to think and focus is affected. Though more research is required to properly establish the link between COVID-19 and brain fog, many scientists believe the virus is capable of causing brain fog for many individuals. Furthermore, those who have contracted COVID-19 have reported experiencing frequent episodes of exhaustion, which affects their ability to focus at work.

The conditions can be unsettling for many people, as a dip in cognitive and physical performance translates to a dip in work performance too, which threatens their job. If you’re struggling with work, speak to your superiors and colleagues about it. Let them know you’re finding it hard to cope with the usual amount of work given and request for assistance or leeway. If necessary, speak to your manager or the HR regarding flexible work arrangements that will aid your recovery process without taking a toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. If your work performance starts to affect your mental wellbeing and your self-esteem, you may even wish to speak to a workplace counselor or therapist regarding your concerns. Put simply, talk to your management about concerns on how COVID-19 may be affecting you at work, and try to come up with feasible arrangements for both parties to overcome the issue together. While most employers cannot grant you full exemption from working, they are empathetic to their employee’s COVID-19 plight and are more than willing to offer aid in any capacity they can. Social support is key to helping a COVID-19 survivor reintegrate into the workplace successfully but it can only be done if you reach out.

Go easy on yourself

While most people have come to accept their fate and learned to live with the side effects that COVID-19 can pose to their lives, there are many others who struggle to face the reality of the situation. Perhaps some of us are innocent bystanders who were unfortunately exposed to the pathogen despite our best efforts to safeguard ourselves, perhaps we have caught the strain unknowingly from a loved one and it was too late for us to prevent the worst from happening. You may even find yourself trying to relive the past and ruminating on the what if(s):

● “If only I had learned to recognize the symptoms earlier, I could have protected myself in time.”

● “If only I didn’t catch COVID-19, my work performance would not be affected.”

● “If only I didn’t have COVID-19, perhaps my health would be better.”

Feelings of anger, denial, sadness and bargaining may cloud your mind for days, even months, and you may feel the urge to dismiss and suppress those feelings, but don’t do that! Instead, if you feel the need to grieve about the episode, go ahead. If you’re feeling upset about the incident and need a space to vent, feel free to do so. Catharsis is a part of the healing process, and only by coming to terms with your emotions can you heal from the experience. Just remember that you’re not at fault for what happened.

Talk to your workplace colleagues about it

As the world transitions into an endemic phase with COVID-19, the virus is slowly becoming a “rite of passage” for many. Often, it’s very likely that most people at your workplace have already caught the strain and are learning to adjust to their work lives while dealing with the side effects of COVID-19 just like you are. Talking it out with your colleagues helps you realize that you’re not alone in facing the ordeal, and it provides a sense of camaraderie in the recovery process. It also gives employees and colleagues a common topic to bond over, and allows everyone to keep a watchful eye over each other at work.

Establishing a routine

Establishing a routine is vital in helping you reintegrate a sense of normalcy into your life. With how much beating the body has taken due to the virus, it is even more important for us to pay attention to our self-care habits. Start by introducing a nourishing and healing diet to the system, that is to consume foods that are naturally beneficial and proven to aid in your recovery from the side effects. Health experts recommend increasing your fluid intake and doubling down on your Vitamin C, D and protein intake, as these nutrients are proven to boost immune system recovery. Getting sufficient sleep and reducing stress are also fundamental in allowing the body to heal. Once you have made significant recovery, you may consider incorporating light-intensity exercises that do not tax the lung into your routine. It’ll take a while for the lungs to acclimate itself to strenuous exercises so be mindful not to go overboard. If you find that you are not getting sufficient Vitamin C and D intakes from whole foods, you can increase your intakes with supplements instead.

Maintaining Covid-19 safety precautions

People who contract COVID-19 typically build immunity towards the pathogen, however, this isn’t a sign for you to take your safety precautions lightly as the immunity is only temporary, with experts warning that the body’s natural defense system may only last up to 11 months. With more variants of the virus being discovered each passing year, the new concern surrounding the virus is how often people are at risk of being reinfected. It’s important to remember that you should never be too complacent about your COVID-19 safety precautions. Stick to your usual practice standards and continue to mask up when you’re outside. Always remember to thoroughly wash your hands and practice social distancing from people in crowded areas whenever possible. While the virus is going to continue to remain in our lives for a long time, a reinfection can potentially hinder our body’s recovery progress and may introduce new ailments or conditions to our body, which can also predispose us to potentially new diseases previously not discovered.

Consult a physician

If you ever find that some of the side effects from COVID-19 continue to interfere in your ability to function on a daily basis, it’s best to consult your physician to determine the severity of the condition and get it treated as soon as possible. Having a professional’s opinion will help assuage and put your concerns to rest. Understandably, with the rise of living costs in play these days, healthcare can often be difficult for some of us to afford. However, remember that no amount of health is worth compromising for the sake of money, and the last thing you want to do is to leave these side effects unaddressed, as they can snowball into bigger problems of their own that will impact your quality of life for the worse.

Taking it one step at a time…

Coping with the side effects of COVID-19 can be a horrible and upsetting experience. No one wants to be infected with a virus that health experts are struggling to understand due to its ever evolving nature. However, while you may still be reeling in from the traumatic experience, you should never forget to take good care of yourself. While the world has grown accustomed to its presence, it remains to be seen how some of the reported side effects may continue to affect us in the long run. As such, maintaining self-care and taking continual effort to safeguard yourself from the virus remains a priority.