What Is Lockdown Fatigue & How Do We Guard Against It?

Quarantine is a term I had seldom come across outside the pages of the Enid Blyton novels I read as a child. Yet it is a term everyone uses now in the days after the novel coronavirus took over our lives. Social distancing is another term hardly ever heard before; which is now a part of our lexicon. Lockdown fatigue is another new term that the COVID-19 pandemic has coined for us.

It is as the term suggests, the ennui, the loneliness and the feeling of being trapped and helpless that follows being indoors for long periods; being cut-off from normal social interaction. After weeks of the lockdown being enforced in Italy and Spain; which are among the worst affected countries, citizens are getting restive, resentful and angry. While some are running out of supplies, some are running out of money. And then, of course, there are shops and establishments that are running out of business, literally coming closer to bankruptcy with each day that the lockdown persists.

Italy has been in lockdown since 9 March 2020. Reports are emerging that those same Italians who were earlier singing from their balconies are now feeling increasingly angry, helpless and frustrated. In poorer areas of Italy, there have been altercations between shop management and shoppers who need supplies but have simply run out of money to pay for these. Experts suggest that the longer societies remain in lockdown, the greater is the chance that this will negatively impact social order and public morale. Of course, the possible fallouts for a poor country such as India are going to be far greater; the utter chaos of migrant labourers trying to return home on foot from various cities is just one indication.  We will only be able to grasp the full implications of India's lockdown in times to come.

The distress of being unable to socialise and participate in regular activities can be disturbing and upsetting. This can also negatively impact physical and mental health. It is important to try and keep as sane and as healthy as possible right now:

• Eat properly. Yes, we may not have the luxury of shopping for all the produce we need right now, but with some forethought and planning, there is much that you can do with what you have stocked up at home. You may have more time than usual on your hands. Use it to create interesting, healthy dishes at home. Check the net for new recipes or variations on traditional dishes. Eat meals together as a family. Eat mindfully and remember to savour and be grateful for what you eat.
• Keep active. Not having domestic help means that many of us are doing our own housework. This is quite a bit of exercise anyway. Besides this, one can walk around the house, up and down the stairs. If and when possible, try going outdoors even if only briefly or occasionally.  Yoga, callisthenics, skipping, pushups, spot jogging are other ways to keep active during this time.
• Sleep well. Try and keep to a routine and prioritise sleep. You may think that you need less sleep because you are less active than usual, but adequate sleep is essential right now. Sleep is the time for the body to restore itself and, very importantly, to shore up its immunity.
• Get some sun. Put that balcony, window or garden (if you're lucky enough) to good use. Not only is the sun a natural disinfectant, but natural sunlight is also known to improve one's mood and strengthen the immune system.
• Keep connected. Keep in regular touch with all your near and dear ones. Besides this, call up friends and relatives you haven’t for a while and reconnect with them.
• Relax. Listening to music, gardening, doing repair work around the house, doing puzzles, sewing, some craftwork or painting and playing board games can be great. Not only are these activities very improving ways to pass the time, they help to relax you and put you in a better frame of mind.  Take some time out for meditation. It can be difficult, but with some practice, one can get the hang of it – studies have shown this to be a great stress buster.

In conclusion, just remember we will all get through this. Remember to appreciate your good health and that of your family at this time. Enjoy your time with your loved ones. If I feel upset or overwhelmed, I think about all my many blessings. This is a time when my tremendous privilege vis-à-vis so many others, really becomes clear – privilege that I just took for granted in the pre-COVID times.