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Exhaustion....It's a Thing!

Leigh Choate
Dec 8, 2020
3 min read

So many people are exhausted, I know I am. There is COVID/Pandemic exhaustion, decision exhaustion, sleep exhaustion, political exhaustion, and just regular everyday life stress exhaustion.

In an online article in USA Today states that, "Six months since the United States declared the coronavirus pandemic a state of emergency, millions of isolated Americans are at their wits' end, exhausted from making a seemingly endless series of health and safety decisions for themselves and their loved ones. There's a name for this phenomenon, and researchers call it decision fatigue" (Hauck,G., 2020, USA Today).

When facing all these decisions, we find ourselves so tired of deciding, that even the simplest decisions become a challenge and just add to the exhaustion and frustration. Things as simple as what to have for dinner. As an administrator, it is my goal to take as many unnecessary tasks off of my teacher's plates. Remove the busy work so to speak, so that I am not adding anything else that might add exhaustion into their lives.

If adults are feeling this exhaustion, it is no wonder that our children are struggling with it as well and they are much less equipped to handle it than we are. They are tired of being home, tired of participating in school via Zoom from home, tired of Zoom, and tired of not getting to be social and participate in the various activities that bring joy to their everyday lives.

Motivation levels have dropped for most all of us and it is hard to just keep moving forward during this groundhog day of continual monotony.

The exhaustion, no matter the form, is relentless and seems to never end. So what can we do when there is not an end it site it seems? One of the ways to combat this continual exhaustion of all kinds is to practice self-care. By "practicing active self-care and developing a plan that incorporates wellness and sticking to it we can help combat some of this exhaustion. For the plan to be successful, it doesn’t have to be elaborate or require extensive time. It could be as simple as taking a 5-minute walk, grabbing a healthy snack, or talking with a friend for a few minutes"(TFA Editorial Team, 2020. TeachforAmerica. Tackling COVID-19 Fatigue as a Teacher).

Aside from practicing self-care, which to be honest, lots of my teacher friends are tired of hearing about, there are some other tips that might help to combat this exhaustion or funk. These are described in an online article by Brittney Newcomer, ane she states it is important to set and maintain boundaries, reflect on your feelings and needs, recognize what is and isn't in your control, and acknowledge moments of gratitude or joy. These do not need to be monumental moments, just small amounts of mindfulness surrounding these four tips throughout your day.

Most importantly is for us not to not give up and to keep taking baby steps forward and to support each other in any way that we can during this time. Things may never be the same again and if they are, probably slightly different that what we are used to. What we really need to remember is to be patient and kind with ourselves and to always give ourselves grace,

because as we know we are all doing our best and we will do better if we all support each other to get through this time in our lives together. A nap every now and again wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Hauck, G. (2020, August, 30). USA Today. You're Facing A Lot of Choices Amid the Pandemic Cut yourself Some Slack: It's Called Decision Fatigue. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/30/covid-mental-health-what-decision-fatigue-tips-amid-pandemic/5618163002/

Newcomer, B. (n.d.). Practicing Self Care During the Coronavirus: 5 Tips for Teachers. https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/for-educators/universal-design-for-learning/practicing-self-care-during-coronavirus-5-tips-for-teachers

TFA Editorial Team. (2020, October, 20). Tackling COVID-19 Fatigue as a Teacher: How Educators Can Build Resilience Amid The Pandemic. https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/tackling-covid-19-fatigue-as-a-teacher