Even More Covid Fatigue?

Will you be reactive or proactive? Most of today’s media tells you to espouse the latter. Choose to lead, make decisions for yourself and then power your way through. Be mindful is the latest variation; understand yourself and go after your passion.?

Many parts of our lives are decided by others and by a higher power. Which family we were born into, whether the company we worked for was bought out, what health situation we have. We cannot make decisions about those things even though they are big determinants in our circumstances.

There is an anomaly, however, that confounds determinism. The narrower the circumstance, the more freedom you have to make choices.

Stuck in jail not of your own making? Exercising your will to be happy, creative, and positive is your choice. If you let the jail imprison your thoughts and aspirations, you will be a victim, not a human being with intelligence and free will.

Now that we are enclosed again with strange flus and variants striking so many around us, we can be proactive in our responses. We can make freeing choices about what to make of our limitations. Many have. They have reassessed their priorities and chosen new lifestyles, locations, and jobs.

At present, however, we don’t exist in an environment of death and danger as we did two years ago. We’ve already made changes. We’ve taken steps already. We have completed covid projects. ?

Most of us now have covid fatigue. We just want to ride this one out and get through it. We don’t want to be so energetic and proactive in strategizing solutions. It’s just hard to summon up the energy again for radical decision-making and follow through.

This feels like being reactive, not proactive. Your gut and your brain are telling you that you need to be in a less intense mode.

Feeling guilty about this is unwise. Not having the energy to undertake something new tells you that you need some down time, some rest from the challenges. You can call it self-care, regrouping, or chilling. That’s fine. It’s smart to change your mindset and tell yourself I am choosing this for my mental health, for my mood, for my ability to continue.

Do the same thing as you would do in a responsive mode but with a reset of attitude. This is what I need now; I am choosing to take a break now and go with the flow. It’s smarter and healthier that way.

And don’t just veg out. Download music that you find soothing; engage in activities that calm you-read the oldie-but-goodie books that bring you back to a peaceful world. Look at pretty things on your screen. Enjoy comfort food and don’t worry about acquiring new skills in the kitchen

You will feel more powerful and truly proactive if you make a list for yourself. Write down the activities that you find relaxing, comforting, and joyful. Those could be categories, if you like.

I like to think of it like a good cup of coffee. It’s often a reward or a boost when you are well into your day. It’s often not about the caffeine and heat. You know you need to keep motivating yourself to do what you have to do so you reason with yourself. You say, I will break for a cuppa and then I will do what I have to do.

You can get more restorative items on your list if you ask yourself: what will give me the emotional boost I need?

Cat videos on TV?

Going for a walk?

My favorite music?

Looking at the ocean?

A relaxing bath?

And go ahead and do three timeouts for the senses and self each day and five on weekends. It’s not an indulgence.

Don’t just survive this period; choose to restore yourself to a state of thrive. It’s being proactive.

Feel free to choose restoration and passive activities. You do have control. You have freedom.