How to Overcome COVID-19 Fatigue: Tips for Recharging and Staying Resilient

COVID-19 fatigue is the state of being worn out about the precautionary measures and the threat of COVID-19. Anxiety from the threat of losing economic security and catching the disease both play a part in the feeling of fatigue in people. COVID-19 fatigue has caused people to not follow precautionary guidelines, increasing their risk of catching the virus.[12] Many people are tired of the lockdowns, and not having a normal routine.[13][14] Higher levels of alcohol and drug use also contribute to the feeling of tiredness.[15]

As lockdowns were lifted in many parts of the world, some people started to ignore stay-at-home orders. People went to bars and restaurants, ultimately causing the disease to spread faster.[16]

In a 29 November 2022 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) article, researchers correlated pandemic fatigue with indicators of discontent experienced by individuals including, "opposition to COVID-19 restrictions", "protesting over restrictions", "belief in COVID-19 conspiracies", "concern about democratic rights", "government distrust", and "support for strong leaders".[17]

Zoom fatigue

Zoom fatigue is described as tiredness, anxiety, or worry resulting from overusing virtual videoconferencing platforms.[18] Zoom calls may limit the amount of nonverbal cues the brain picks up during face-to-face interactions. The absence of these cues causes the brain to subconsciously exert more energy, leading to feelings of irritability and exhaustion after video calls. Another issue with Zoom is the close proximity of faces on the screen, which can trigger a sense of danger. Although the body recognizes being in a safe place, the mind remains on high alert.[18] Virtual Reality allows for "avatars" to interact with each other and gives the user the sensation that they are actually there, while still maintaining safe distances during lockdowns.[citation needed]