Conquering Quarantine Fatigue with a Mind-Body-Spirit Approach

How are you faring during this, shall we say, unique, summer, my friend?  Are you excited and relieved to be able to go more places with the restrictions slowly lifting?  (Some places being more or less restricted than others.)   Or, are you frustrated and drained with all the mask-wearing, social distancing, threat of illness to self and others, and virtual, instead of in-person, activities?

Quarantine fatigue is a phenomenon experienced by many during these times, and can include increased anxiety, decreased energy, social withdrawal, among other symptoms (https://www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/quarantine-fatigue).

In an article put out by Massachusetts General Hospital (see link above), tips for coping with quarantine fatigue include practicing mindfulness, self-care through healthy diet, sleep regime, and exercise, and connecting with others.  Many of my clients have found these very useful, as have I.  However, there is something else I want to address:

How are you feeling lately?  How is your body feeling lately?  I was reflecting how in this current summer of the pandemic, so much has become virtual and nonphysical (for good reason), and the truth is, so much of this takes a toll.  The boom in video chat and online forms of communication has been undeniably helpful to our society as a way to maintain connections while preserving safety.  However, this new practice of virtual relationships can contribute to experiencing increased isolation and quarantine fatigue, and also can lead to a feeling of disconnection from one’s body and physical senses. 

The threat of contamination can create a certain psychological affect:  chronic thoughts and feelings of threats or danger.  Some of this is helpful to keep our wits about us and follow proper cleaning and hygiene guidelines.  Some of these thoughts and feelings, however, may be affecting us in not-so-great ways though.  The lack of our usual in-person engagement with others (for many, but not all of us), combined with constant reminders of the threat of contamination and ongoing media overload can add to feelings of anger, disorientation, decreased energy, and disconnection with our bodies.

So what can we do?  I would like to suggest some holistic ways to ground and reconnect with ourselves and our bodies, (to add to the Massachusetts General Hospital solid list from above):

1. Connect with Spirit and your Higher Self!  In whatever way you connect.
2. Ground in Nature.  Smell the air, smell a flower, feel your body.  Hug a tree!
3. Find pleasurable ways to engage your sense of touch.
4. Pay attention to how your body is feeling.  Where is the tension?  Where do you feel relaxed?
5. Engage in activities that make you feel safe and grounded in your body and spirit.
6. Meditate. Pray.  Visualize.
7. Visualize your lower chakras being cleansed and expanding.
8. Do something to nourish (or, if you are able, pamper!) your body.
9. Limit your exposure to the news.
10. Come up with an uplifting or humorous phrase you can tell yourself when faced with annoyances.  Great, more masks.  It’s like Halloween in the summer. (laughter ensues) (or not). I tried!
11. Schedule in-person or virtual time with friends, family, and loved ones. 
12. Come up with a routine to give a sense of normalcy and structure.
13. Practice yoga.
14. Give yourself a massage, give someone a back rub.  Purchase a massage.
15. Make a list of all the ways you do feel grounded and connected.

As we take time to connect with the Earth, our loved ones, and our body-temples, we can bring ourselves back down to a grounded state of being.  We can create a foundation for ourselves despite the turmoil that takes place around us.  When we do this, we add to the peace and nourishment of the whole, of the world.  I encourage you to do just that, knowing it helps others when you nourish yourself. 

I am grateful to stay connected with you, reader.  Thank you for reading! 

In our Dream Circle this month, we will focus on using dreams for just the these topics: body awareness, nurturing, and grounding.  The Intuitive Development Circle will empower you to expand your clairvoyant abilities, (which we could all use right now, more than ever)! 
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I hope you can join us!  Take care of yourself.

Namaste,
Anne