Beating the Pandemic Fog
Shifts that have resulted from the pandemic have affected people differently. Working parents with kids at home may feel like they’re always “on,” thinking about whether their kids are doing their schoolwork while they try to manage their sites, people, and workplace roles. People who live alone have found that loss of regular routines, such as meeting friends for lunch or a walk, has resulted in a lack of motivation and fuzzy thinking. That constant stress, with your brain bouncing from one thing to the next, can make it difficult to focus. We’ve all had to learn new routines and adjust to the realities around us.
These difficulties can certainly impact our ability to lead. Excessive stress outside of work can lead to poor decision-making, short tempers, and regrettable interactions with other team members. The persistent mental exhaustion can lead to other mental health issues. Being aware of these feelings is a major part of addressing them for yourself, as well as with your team.
What’s more, this brain fog may become more noticeable and problematic as people transition back to a lifestyle that is more reminiscent of pre-pandemic times, while navigating aspects of daily living that are not the same. This can elicit mixed feelings of excitement, anxiety and being overwhelmed. In order to combat this exhaustion, here are some things you can do:
- Keep a consistent routine that incorporates activities and aspects of life that are important and meaningful, and balance work and home responsibilities with leisure time.
- Make sleep a priority and don’t forget to exercise.
- Listen to music that boosts your mood and mental focus.
- Guided meditation and exercises like conscious breathing can redirect attention, increase focus, and help counter feelings of being overwhelmed.
- Try to spend more time outside, even if it’s just a walk around your neighborhood.
These suggestions can help regulate brain chemistry and combat stress hormones with feel-good endorphins.
Wellpath leaders are no strangers to these feelings of mental exhaustion. We’ve seen it in our teams and in ourselves. This fog can directly affect our ability to effectively lead our teams. Even as restrictions are lifted, that fog can still hang over as we continue to process the experiences of the last year. This kind of exhaustion can affect our decision-making, as well as how we treat those around us. It’s important that as we move forward, we are able to acknowledge this pandemic fog, address it, and continue to lead our teams successfully.
Additional Resources:
- If Your Brain Feels Foggy And You’re Tired All The Time, You’re Not Alone | NPR
- Coping with COVID Stress | Penn Medicine News
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Connected Leadership is Wellpath’s ongoing leadership education series published by Ann Hatcher, Wellpath’s Chief Human Resources Officer