Pandemic fatigue or the new normal?

[nala]

What do you see your loved ones doing now? Almost everyone that I know has embraced the new normal. Whatever is open, they visit. Some flew to Mexico. Road trips to Vegas, Arizona. Bars, casinos, small reunions. I know very few people who still stay in bc of Covid. What about you? What are your acquaintances up to and why?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Today is my SIL's birthday so the other half rang her up
She is on holiday (its labour weekend here) in Auckland on Hauraki island
We think that's stupid as you cannot exactly drive there, it would at best be a connecting flight in a plane or a ride on the ferry and Auckland is the place that had the latest out break.
What's wrong with just staying home ?

 

[PreRaphaelite]

I‘m in full-on pandemic fatigue unfortunately. Insomnia, vertigo, grumpiness/short temper, panic attacks, generalised overeating, and ‘doom scrolling’ are my daily experience. The only thing that bring relief is sitting outside in the back yard, away from my phone, watching the Florida sunsets. It doesn’t last long, but those colors are utterly opalescent and they are so therapeutic!

When things open up again I’ll enjoy traveling as long as there’s no imminent threat to survival. Sigh.

I hope everyone else is doing better than I am!

 

[nala]

Sick of COVID-19? Here’s why you might have pandemic fatigue

It’s draining and depressing to stay on high alert month after month after month. Understanding pandemic fatigue better might help you strengthen your resolve.

theconversation.com

 

[Austina]

My DS and future DIL are even more careful than we are. They’re in an area where it’s worse than ours.

We have restrictions, but we’re able to see friends, meet up for lunch, have them round to dinner, but none of them are going out to the cinema, bars etc.

We only mix with 2 other couples.

 

[Dancing Fire]

We never stop living our "old normal" life with the exception that I'm not going to the bar on Friday nights. We still see our daughters, grandkids and friends during this pandemic. I'd wear a mask when I go out in public. Either you live with it or be fearful of it,b/c this virus is not going away soon.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

We've embraced the new normal here in Sydney. The country has handled things well (for the most part) so there is a new normal. Things are definitely different from pre Covid days but people are getting on with their lives.

We have very specific rules on what we're allowed to do and most normal people abide by that (for example indoor gatherings can only have a maximum of 20 people) but they are making most of the rules. DS8 has been to a few birthday parties where it's drop off only so as to increase the number of kids who can attend. People have adapted whereas before you'd have parents at the parties too.

Restaurants are running gangbusters. Only difference is now you need to login, they take your temperature, mandatory sanitize you hands and it's really hard to get a booking since everyone is going out but capacity has been reduced.

The major difference is that most of the states are shut down so you can only holiday within your state (or Adelaide hehe). All the holiday venues are booked out.

I'd say we've been incredibly lucky here. It's not the same life but it's a very decent life all things considered. Everyone has pretty much embraced it too. We speak wistfully about the old days but we appreciate everything that's been done to safeguard us and understand why things are the way they are.

 

[dk168]

All my friends are embracing the new normal, however some are still avoiding certain venues or activities etc., myself included.

I only started to use public transport last Friday, to use the local buses to go into town and back so that I can drink. Each trip was no more than 15min, and the buses were quiet when I used them.

I am avoiding long trips on public transport, and have no plan to visit towns or cities that are considered as hotspots for leisure activities like going to bars and restaurants.

Most, myself included, are not taking any foreign holidays in the foreseeable future due to the rapid changing nature of the quarantine list and self isolation requirements.

The most vulnerable with serious underlying health conditions are shielding to certain extent, like avoiding crowded places and only mixed with their support bubbles.

DK

 

[ForteKitty]

My normal life besides work consisted of going to Disneyland, travelling, and dining out. None of that is open so I'm just home and pissed off. What am I supposed to do, go to the park and watch people exercise? We order takeout most days as we don't cook, but it's not the same as sitting down at a restaurant and getting a real drink. My self-made drinks suck. Cancelling 6 trips this year really sucked and I get ragey when I see people at costco wearing their damn masks on their chins. They can go F themselves.

 

[OoohShiny]

I am fed up of the 'new normal' and have effectively withdrawn from 'normal life' as much as I can.

Not because I am worried about catching Covid, but because I hate wearing masks, I hate the assumption that we are all Typhoid Mary carrying the spectre of death on our breath and our every touch, I hate not being able to read facial expressions, I hate the muffled sound that makes people say 'Pardon?' every other sentence and makes me feel like I'm suffering early-onset deafness in the high-treble range, and I hate the self-righteousness of those keen to enforce 'the rules' and who seem to wholeheartedly believe that the government are doing what they are doing solely for the benefit of the people and in no way as an act of self-preservation following their balls-up in failing to protect care homes.

I've been to a supermarket once, maybe twice, since the mask mandate came in. We've been out for a meal twice - once at a relaxed Indian restaurant where we are regulars and there was no issue with not wearing a mask (which was lovely), and once at a franchise/chain pub where a man whom I presume was the manager barked at me from across the bar that I 'must' wear a mask, despite the fact that the law states a 'face covering' (which meant I spent the first 20 minutes being angry at him and angry at government diktats based on limited data, and the rest of the time there on edge).

I can't go and browse round the shops, I can't go and hang out at friends' houses, I can't go to job interviews in person and create any actual rapport with the interviewers, kids' education is suffering and they are being made to think they are going to 'kill granny' if they hug them, the government are spunking billions that the kids of today are going to have to pay back for decades, entire industries are at risk of decimation, people cannot hold or attend weddings, people cannot bury their dead with any decency, fathers cannot be at their partner's side when they are told they have had a miscarriage, families cannot be at their dying relatives' sides in hospital in their last moments...

Meanwhile, the focus of the government and media has shifted from the number of deaths to the number of cases (seemingly because it's hard to scare the public or justify the vast expense and the prohibitive restrictions for double-digit deaths per day from an illness that doesn't even make the top ten causes of death for the month) and a 'case' is no longer an individual with symptoms and effects of illness (as was historically the case) and is now anyone with SARS-CoV-2, even with no symptoms, apparently to make sure that the numbers recorded are as large as possible, as is the use of PCR tests that until the recent increase in cases might well have been recording more false-positives than actual positives, and therefore not be fit-for-purpose.

And behind all of this seems to be vast government contracts, awarded at speed and without market competition, for testing (£785m per year for 200k tests a day, anyone?) and for vaccines, the latter of which may not give any lasting protection and would therefore seem to require constant repetition, which are basically unnecessary for anyone under retirement age with no underlying health conditions, and which are being signed-up to by the government with exemptions from liability for the pharmaceutical companies if anything goes wrong.

Meanwhile, the Government is talking about testing the entire population (60m people) weekly/daily in 'Project Moonshot' and only granting us our 'freedom passport' to enter buildings or public spaces or events if we can prove our 'safety' on demand. What happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? I don't recall handing the government my freedom and agreeing to only having it back if I meet some set of criteria dictated by them.



So, if you've made it to the end of that rant, yes, I definitely have 'pandemic fatigue'.

I know many do not share my feelings, for various reasons, and I acknowledge and accept that, but I cannot wait for Spring - by then we will know if this is just another seasonal respiratory illness or if it really is the world-ending plague we are being told it is.

Of course, by then we will likely have a vaccine foisted upon us and our freedoms limited unless we submit to having it... but perhaps critical analysis of the situation will be more widely shared and read by the general public, meaning it is used as any other vaccine, i.e. not being made mandatory by decree or effectively mandatory by restrictions on your activity if you don't have it, and targeted at the vulnerable only.


I feel like I'm in some sort of bad dream.

 

[missy]

People are taking risks as I see it. They are attending outdoor and in some cases indoor parties. This has been happening for a couple of months now. They are going out to eat and have been doing so since it has been allowed. My girlfriend called me the other week asking if I wanted to attend the movies with her. I said no thank you. This is a very smart woman. She is a healthcare professional. Yet here we are. Other friends keep asking are we ready to go out and eat with them. They have been eating out since it has been allowed. They are also pretty smart individuals but as I see it their risk tolerance is quite high as compared to mine. They are also visiting with their grandchildren weekly. I don't judge my friends. Everyone has different needs and risk tolerances.

We are still eschewing all social events. And intend to do so for the foreseeable future. Am I fatigued? Not yet. However, with winter coming, I feel a bit weary because I am an outdoor person and it's going to be more challenging with the colder weather because I am also not a cold weather person. We were cycling yesterday and it was windy and cloudy and 50 degrees and I was freezing. Yup. At 50 degrees. So time will tell how we hold up but at this point in time I do not feel comfortable taking more risks.

Our days consist of cleaning in the early AM and taking care of the kitties. Then I work out with weights on alternate days and a cardiovascular workout daily. Then weather permitting we go cycling for about 4-5 hours. Then we come home and take care of the kitties and relax and prepare dinner. Watch a movie on Netflix. Go to bed. Wake up. Rinse, repeat and so on and so forth. If the weather is inclement (which is happening more in the coming days and months with winter arriving) we substitute walking and running errands time permitting for cycling. I need to do something active outside on a daily basis.

We have been fortunate these past 7 months. We always run into friends when cycling and we stop and chat (an acceptable distance away and we are outdoors the entire time) so I don't feel isolated. Seriously, we have been running into friends (while we are cycling) on a daily basis lately. IDK what will happen once less people are outdoors in the colder weather but it has been quite lovely seeing friends this way and IMO safely with minimum risk.

 

[missy]

Cancelling 6 trips this year really sucked and I get ragey when I see people at costco wearing their damn masks on their chins. They can go F themselves.

I agree. When I see people wearing their masks like that I get so angry I almost cannot see straight. And when people aren't wearing masks and using public restrooms etc I am so pissed. But I calmly ask them to please put on their masks. And so far so good. Just yesterday again, a woman was about to enter the public restroom (and she was older like 70 if I had to guess) and no mask. I was approaching to use the restroom and said excuse me miss, please put on your mask before entering the restroom. She looked confused and then said oh yes, I have it with me, I forgot. And she put it on. Sheesh. I mean how do you forget? Here we are well into 7 plus months into this pandemic. Really? People who don't put on masks or wear them correctly and go out in public aren't helping the pandemic.


I miss my parents. I miss my sister and my nieces. I miss going out and being among people and enjoying just doing regular things without wearing a mask and being nervous about getting sick. I miss window shopping and just regular shopping. I miss all of it. I miss the freedom of our old lives.

I feel like I'm in some sort of bad dream.

Ditto.





But like all bad dreams it will end. Eventually. And hopefully with all of us and our loved ones well and intact with a brighter and happier more peaceful future ahead. Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[missy]

I miss hugging my friends when we see them. I miss that so much. I am a hugger. And it still feels so weird to bump elbows vs hugging them. Thank goodness I am quarantined with my DH (and the kitties miserable as they can be at times lol) because if I couldn't have contact with him I might go batty. Only because I am a hugger. I get that not everyone is or needs that on a daily basis. But I crave that.

 

[ForteKitty]

Omg @missy the last time we went to costco, about two weeks ago, some man wearing a handkerchief (open bottom) coughed right on my arm, droplets and all. I was livid and ran to the bathroom to wash it off. He stood right next to me trying to figure out what line to get into, when there were like 10 registers open and each only had 2-3 people. It was early and wide open, did you really need to stand right next to me?? That same trip, I saw one of the chin-mask people sneeze on some lady's face and she yelled it got in her eyes. I swear people are feral. Covid or not, it's disgusting, and could have easily been prevented if they had a disposable mask on. Those are thin and protect better, and don't muffle voices as much as the cloth ones. CA has 40 million people, LA County alone has over 10 million. People don't seem to understand that when outbreaks occur, they tend to spread exponentially and it happens much faster in densely populated areas.

Good thing I'm not a hugger or physically affectionate, or else I'd be sad. Right now I'm just angry people can't do the one simple thing that can get society moving again.

 

[House Cat]

I’m definitely in fatigue right now. We have been in our house since March.

If people would simply wear masks and stop acting like total jerks, maybe those of us with pre-existing conditions could emerge from our homes and find some sense of the new normal. We can’t. We have to protect ourselves from them! Each time we have to leave the house out of total necessity, there are always a few people who can’t seem to bring themselves to behave appropriately in the midst of a pandemic.

Things aren’t supposed to be normal right now. We are living in a pandemic. I wish people would get that through their heads.

 

[lyra]

I can't bear to accept this all as the new normal. I respect all the restrictions, but have to believe that there will be an end point at some point. In our circle, everyone is staying apart, and staying put. No travelling. Likely for the next year as well. Daughter moved her wedding to next year, but we expect no one will come then either. Some people are doing things, but we have a closed border, and even provinces don't want you to travel to and fro. So we can't visit our relatives in BC from ON. So yeah, deeply in the fatigue part, but in a way, it's easier over winter when we want to stay cozy inside.

 

[inne]

I can't bear to accept this all as the new normal. I respect all the restrictions, but have to believe that there will be an end point at some point. In our circle, everyone is staying apart, and staying put. No travelling. Likely for the next year as well. Daughter moved her wedding to next year, but we expect no one will come then either. Some people are doing things, but we have a closed border, and even provinces don't want you to travel to and fro. So we can't visit our relatives in BC from ON. So yeah, deeply in the fatigue part, but in a way, it's easier over winter when we want to stay cozy inside.

You can go to BC from Ontario if you want, unless something has changed in the past few days. My friend just went to Tofino to go diving.

Almost everyone I know is still being careful, wearing masks, and limiting social contact. But some are travelling (including internationally), going out to eat, and seeing far more people than they did a few months ago. Many have returned to work and are sending their kids to daycare or school. My sister sees a lot of friends and goes shopping at malls and that sort of thing and although she wears a mask, I worry about her a lot. My relatives in Sweden are living life pretty much like normal, and I worry about hem too.

I haven't really changed my own behaviour since the beginning of summer, though. I don't want to hang out with anyone indoors or go to restaurants or fly. We didn't see anyone for Thanksgiving and just said happy birthday to my sister-in-law outside her house. Sometimes I'm fine with that, sometimes it is really driving me crazy and making me feel hopeless. One thing we did do recently was go to a hotel just to go somewhere (a very empty hotel in a very empty city) and it felt amazing to be somewhere other than my house! But then I went to Shoppers to get a flu shot a few weeks ago and had to wait for an hour inside the store and regretted that after - should just have gone to my dr. It's a hard time.

 

[Arcadian]

Def. a new normal here. I have not seen most of my friends in person since March. We're tentatively going to do Thanksgiving (hoping for great weather as we'll be outside!) Out of my close friends, only 1 has had it and with very little fanfare. Her housekeeper got it and has recovered.

So here's the thing: they don't know I'm in the study, I've not told very many people in person. You guys know but thats different, I gotta talk about it somewhere! I don't discuss it on facebook, my siblings probably have no idea unless my mom told them (they've never indicated that they know) But I've kept it pretty close to the chest otherwise because there's a pretty skewed perception of those of us who are doing it, with some apparently think we're doing it to get rich....lol or we're in bed with the government, or some other crazy conspiracy theorist thing. I'll shed light on it after the vaccine is out....maybe.

I still wipe down anything that comes in my house, I wear a mask as needed when I go indoors anywhere... I don't live life like I'm covid free or that I'm some super-being (obviously!!). when I ride my bike I keep one handy in case I have to be in close contact with someone.

But no dinner's out, no lunches out either. I support local and do take out or delivery. This weekend we'll go to the drive-in though for something different.

He's gone out for dinner's which were socially distanced and even did a convention. For me though, no thanks. he's also aware if he does another convention he's at HIS house and can't come back here until he gets tested like last time. Damn straight I made a stink about it!

I don't shop like I used to, which is actually not a bad thing?

In general I'm OK with being a hermit if that keeps my home healthy. I did it non Covid for the most part, but my friends would at least see me a few times a month for dinner or lunch or they'd come by and get my dog...lol I think the dog misses seeing them and her other families...lol

I do miss going to the gym. I have enough equipment to work out here but, I miss having a different environment to work out in.

 

[monarch64]

My family hasn't changed anything except for wearing masks. Only thing I changed was only socializing outdoors and only dining outdoors at restaurants. One street in my town has closed down every weekend so all the restaurants can move tables out into the street and allow people to have socially distanced meals al fresco which is an excellent new normal. We have more and more places now that are prepping for winter by installing heaters and overhead coverings (to keep precipitation at bay, not to enclose) which makes me very happy. Dining out is a big part of my life and without it I would have suffered pandemic fatigue for sure.

I traveled more this year than I ever have on my own, because flights were so cheap and I got my stimulus check fairly early. I really packed in a lot of outdoor activities with my daughter because I know we're going to have a long winter if it's too cold to get out and do much.
We've been to several botanical gardens, horseback riding, state parks, and I'm getting tickets for holiday lightscapes, ice skating, and maybe skiing for the winter. It doesn't usually get intolerably cold here, and at least not until mid-January, and we have warm spells in February most years. Still, shorter days and so much darkness can really bring you down. I did great last winter going to the gym at night and getting those endorphins but I'm not going back to my gym for a while yet. Too risky. Another thing I do to lessen the effects of SAD is spend 10 minutes in the tanning bed twice a month in the winter. The benefits far outweigh the risks in my case and it keeps my seborrheic dermatitis under control.

I don't mind wearing a mask for short periods of time. My 8-year-old has to wear hers for 7.5 hours a day in school. But she is IN school and there hasn't been a single case since August 7 when she went back which she'd rather do instead of deal with virtual learning. I like fun masks and in fact, pre-ordered one from Revolve a few weeks ago; it should arrive mid-November. It's metal but it comes with a typical mask with filter opening to wear underneath, which I will of course be doing. I can't wait to wear it!

 

[lyra]

@inne We can go to BC, the family just doesn't want us there. BIL and SIL had COVID, MIL is just now moved into a LTC facility. ON has gone up to 900+ new cases per day. They won't come here. I don't blame them at all.

 

[partgypsy]

Definitely pandemic fatigue. I miss hanging out with friends at restaurants, going to see bands and dance, lots of stuff. My youngest has learning disorders and learning remotely, well alot of burden falls on parents to try to keep her up (while also working from home). I feel stir crazy and would love to plan a trip this spring and be somewhere other than my home. That said I am not going to risk getting COVID (for multiple reasons). Might possibly plan a trip in summer. I am generally careful but I do socialize with a couple people outside my home sans mask. I still go to grocery store, other stores as well (with mask). I have 2 times during COVID eaten inside at a restaurant with their precautions in place. So I do take risks, but try to balance safety and sanity. I DO feel once a vaccine is in play that things will open up more. anyways talking to friends on the phone helps. taking walks helps.

Ooh Shiny as far as vaccines, I am a US government employee. Even though I don't work in the main hospital, I have to get the flu shot, or have a note from dr stating why not getting flu shot in order to continue to work. Not for me, but to protect vulnerable patients. There is always a bit of a blurry line in the balancing act of freedom, and safety/health of others. I trust the health officials (since I work in the sciences as well) to make those kind of judgment calls because they have experience doing it in many other epidemiologic health areas, for example evidence based rules for example for childhood vaccinations, tests like for colon, breast, prostate cancer etc that is done to balance efficacy at the population level while minimizing risks to the individual. If I'm going to accept that they know what they are doing in those cases, and throw it all out for the COVID case simply because I do not like wearing masks, does not sound very logical.I'll be honest. I don't like wearing masks. No one method (mask wearing, distancing, washing hands) is 100% effective, more that it approaches 100% the more all of them are done by the POPULATION. It is a sucky situation but it could be a lot worse if people were not social distancing.

 

[MelMc]

I feel guilty for having enjoyed the stricter guidelines while they were in force. But as the only introvert in a family of extroverts (or as I like to think of it the only cat in a family of puppies) I was happy to be left alone for two minutes. The extroverts only ever did a half-hearted job of social distancing at best and now that things have loosened in my area they are back to almost normal and grumbling about the little they still do. And they are back to dragging me along. There is a strong history of agoraphobia in the family so they probably think they're being helpful but really I'd rather be home.

 

[LLJsmom]

Definitely some fatigue, although work had been very busy so I was mentally occupied. There have been some silver linings. We're doing lots of house projects that we had been putting off when everyone had a packed schedule. Attacking old boxes of stuff, donating or dumping stuff that has been sitting around for 20 plus years. I have never been so excited to go to the dump. I can't wait to drop stuff off at Goodwill and Salvation Army. Got rid of my kids' childhood furniture and some toys. My bedroom is next. Just set up a decent functional home office. It's all actually very exciting and long overdue.

 

[Begonia]

My normal life besides work consisted of going to Disneyland, travelling, and dining out. None of that is open so I'm just home and pissed off. What am I supposed to do, go to the park and watch people exercise? We order takeout most days as we don't cook, but it's not the same as sitting down at a restaurant and getting a real drink. My self-made drinks suck. Cancelling 6 trips this year really sucked and I get ragey when I see people at costco wearing their damn masks on their chins. They can go F themselves.

Maskholes

 

[missy]

Maskholes

Omg yes. We just went food shopping and these 2 old men had their masks completely off their noses. I was pissed but walked out (we were done shopping) holding my tongue. They looked like the stereotypical grumpy old men. Grrrr. So freakin irresponsible and rude. And selfish. The male equivalent to the “Karen” I’d have to say. Lol.

 

[Elizabeth35]

We are holding up really well.
Our house sold and we bought a new one so busy with packing and selling things, as well as planning for the new place.
Only get together once a month with friends outdoors and 6' apart---but winter is coming and that will come to an end.
I work out at home as I always have so no change there. We didn't really eat out more than once a month so that is no hardship.

We've done quite a bit of research regarding flying and we are thinking of still going to Mexico next month. I am not concerned about sanitation or the air on the plane. Contactless check in and spacing at TSA.
We will fly first class with N95 masks, wait for flight in the Admiral's Club which enforces masks and distancing. One 4 hour flight. We will board last so the entire Coach cabin is not traipsing by us. Also will be first off the plane.
We feel comfortable with the resort we have booked. 50% occupancy, contactless check-in, they sanitize your luggage and shoes on arrival. Employees wear masks and face shields and guests have to wear masks. Limit of 2 people in the elevator and rooms are sanitized.
Quintana Roo has fewer cases than my own county.
We will be outside most of the time and stay at the resort--no excursions.

I know many will disagree with our choice. But we feel we are making an informed decision regarding our risk tolerance.

 

[partgypsy]

Elizabeth I would so love to go to Mexico. Still too scared to go at this time though.

 

[stracci2000]

Every morning I have this nagging sensation of impending doom.
The election, Covid, unforseen car repairs, upcoming taxes and insurance bills, big changes at work......sometimes I feel like I am drowning.
I guess this is Covid fatigue?

 

[Gussie]

Very fatigued with the new normal. I go places occasionally but am careful to avoid crowds and places where people are foregoing masks. I held my kids out of school this term but will be sending them after the new year. It's draining them to stay home. My oldest daughter is severely depressed. My other two are sick of it as well. There have also only been a handful of cases in their school so I definitely feel the risk to their mental health is worse than the threat of covid at this time. Trying to be positive but it's really hard.

 

[MMtwo]

I‘m in full-on pandemic fatigue unfortunately. Insomnia, vertigo, grumpiness/short temper, panic attacks, generalised overeating, and ‘doom scrolling’ are my daily experience. The only thing that bring relief is sitting outside in the back yard, away from my phone, watching the Florida sunsets. It doesn’t last long, but those colors are utterly opalescent and they are so therapeutic!

When things open up again I’ll enjoy traveling as long as there’s no imminent threat to survival. Sigh.

I hope everyone else is doing better than I am!

Yes, Yes, doom scrolling - brilliant descriptive. I'm going out as needed. Hubby and I are not on the same page as far as masks - so squabbling ensues. Interesting, he claims some of his contacts in the medical field say this is completely overblown. I disagree. I drink wine and doom scroll (thanks PreRaphaelite).

I'm done with 2020 and would like to move directly to 2022.