Quarantine fatigue, the reason why quarantine makes you tired

As time goes by, the COVID-19 pandemic has many people facing ' quarantine fatigue’. Quarantine fatigue is physical and mental fatigue that arises from prolonged quarantine. If your days during the last few months have been heavy and tiring, this could be the cause.

Why is that and how to solve it?

What is that quarantine fatigue ?

Everyone is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways. Some see quarantine as a moment to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life. Of course it is not easy to adapt, but in the end they find a sense of comfort.

However, many also feel stressed during quarantine. News of pandemics and uncertain times of quarantine can leave you anxious, exhausted and irritable. These are the most recognizable signs of quarantine fatigue.

In addition to these signs, you may also experience changes in your appetite, have more trouble sleeping, feel less excited, and keep thinking about things. The quarantine that initially felt easy gradually became heavy.

Quarantine fatigue is a condition that is common to many people at a time like this. In general, there are three factors causing this, namely as follows.

1. Less fear

When they first heard about the COVID-19 pandemic, people's initial response was panic. Now, people are no longer too worried about the number of cases. They are more focused on finding ways to stay productive at home.

However, this also raises new anxiety. You are afraid of being unproductive like other people or insecure because you are doing the same activities. In the end, you no longer like to go about your day-to-day activities and may end up feeling tired.

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2. Needs to socialize

This is the factor that most plays a role in triggering quarantine fatigue . You may be able to get through several weeks without interacting with other people, but the need to socialize will gradually increase.

Even if you live with other people at home, you still want to meet old friends, spouses, or anyone else at work. The only way to interact that you can do is video call , but this is still not enough in the end.

3. Mixed emotions

The COVID-19 pandemic puts your emotions in crisis mode. You continue to feel anxious and afraid, but you also need to be able to make decisions quickly. This condition does not last long and can trigger fatigue during quarantine.

Coping tips quarantine fatigue

The best way to deal with quarantine fatigue is to balance activity and rest time. Here are the steps you can take.

1. Control anxiety

It's natural to feel anxious every now and then. When this feeling comes, the important thing is you try to control it. Try taking a break and catching your breath. Focus on other thoughts that can make you more relieved.

Look for something that energizes you, whether it's exercise, watching a TV series, or maybe eating something delicious. Chatting with people at home or calling friends can also help you.

2. Focus on the little things you can do

Quarantine fatigue is the result of negative emotions that accumulated during quarantine. Thinking positive during a pandemic is not an easy matter, but you can start it with a few simple steps, for example:

• Take care of the day's responsibilities (work from home, college on line , etc).
• Prevent transmission of COVID-19 by washing hands, wearing masks when leaving the house, and applying physical distancing .
• Eat healthy foods.
• Doing light exercise at home, such as jumping rope, push-ups , and others.

3. Finding information from appropriate sources

The news about COVID-19 can be a bit scary sometimes, but you still need to equip yourself with information. Facts and the right information can help you make decisions and prevent disease transmission.

Look for information from reliable sources. Don't believe in conspiracy theories that will make you even more scared and confused. Don't forget to share information with the people around you.

4. Don't isolate yourself

Isolation is a behavior that can make things worse quarantine fatigue . The reason is, you tend to think about bad things that cause you to feel anxious when alone. All bad thoughts will build up if you don't interact with anyone.

Try calling a partner or a friend every few days. Join groups or events on line where you can interact with other people, at least through writing. This will benefit you and the people around you.

5. Create and do routines

Fatigue during quarantine can arise if you don't have a fixed routine. Even simple routines give the impression that you are in control of your daily activities.

You don't have to make a detailed schedule of activities. You only need to wake up, work, eat, and do activities during quarantine at the same time. In this way, you can save energy and emotions so you don't get tired easily.

Humans are actually able to adapt well. This also makes you quickly accustomed to new things during a pandemic, such as working at home, not leaving the house for a full day, so that you socialize less often with other people.

Even so, humans still have limits and quarantine fatigue is an example. You can overcome this by balancing activity and rest time, staying in touch with people, and sticking to a routine.