Coping With COVID Fatigue

I’ve had several conversations this week (like 7 already) where the running theme is personal fatigue, mental tiredness, and “fed-up-ness” with COVID.

This is a real thing! I don’t know if it's because we are approaching the anniversary of COVID and a year in this debacle if it's winter lows, or what. The reason isn’t really important. 

Sometimes as business owners we take the approach of “I just need to suck it up” or “I’ll just push through”. I like the idea of being more gentle with ourselves. Now is the time to get support from our teams, network of people and sometimes to just step back. 

I wanted to just address some of the things I have been doing AND have seen some of you implement to beat this.   

Stay-cation: If you can book a night or a few at a hotel, I found this at least changed up the routine (changing the routine seems to be key). Lisa and I got away to the Westin a few weeks ago - lots of COVID protocols - but it was at least a little break. Rates are good right now, so go, get away (outside of town is even better). 

Get outside: Many of us, myself included, are finding the daily walk outside, a weekend drive to the mountain or a ski day is helping. So BOOK these outdoor times as important appointments in your calendar! The fresh air and longer days are a relief and a coping tool for most of us for long days inside, on Zoom, and feeling contained. 

Rest: Just go take a day off. You’d give your team a day, so go take one. I’m going skiing with my brothers and dad next Wednesday and am pumped for the day away from work. 

Reframe it: We are all restricted from our normal routines. It is obvious and natural for us to focus on what we have lost: from sitting at our favourite coffee shops to the lack of in-person meetings to the inability to go to the movies. So think about what you CAN still do. What are your options? The four available seats at Starbucks might be difficult to acquire, but I am grateful for my coffee machines at home, the meeting room at my office is my personal coffee shop and being able to zoom with friends to catch up is still valuable. That focus of gratitude and where I DO have FREEDOM feels better than when I focus on what I can’t do. 

Talk to someone: I appreciate immensely the people that honestly share their frustrations with me. I also love the idea that sometimes we all need someone to be able to say “this is F*&^% B#%$&” to. Call me, text me, email me. I like to hear other people are struggling and as frustrated as I am. It actually builds solidarity. I have a couple of buddies and my wife whom I frequently vent with. It feels great. Find people to talk to and learn to speak your struggle — even to your team, because they are likely also struggling. 

Hope: I mention to lots of clients, we get too focused on today and not focused enough on the future. It is in the future that there is HOPE. It is the future with COVID ending, sales getting higher, meeting people in person again, our new marketing. Our future also holds that new car, the lake house, time with family on vacation. I review my visual business plan, my vision book of dream images, my affirmations and I visualize daily (sometimes a lot when I am grinding). 

News/Media Fast: Have you noticed that 2020 and into 2021 is a race to see what news outlet can have the biggest, most dramatic HEADLINE OF DOOM?! I check in with news media less and less and am very conscious about expecting NO good news. Take a break from this. It is going to have ZERO positive effects on your daily life. If something big happens, you’ll hear about it. Replace your inputs to be podcasts, audiobooks (I know a good one!) and alternative online sources beyond your IG or FB feed. 

Hang in there. Find the positive to focus on. Vent with me, or someone else. 

I wholeheartedly believe 2021 will trend UP up for all of us!