Isolation fatigue: why we’re suddenly impatient about lockdown ending

At this time of uncertainty, Professor Margareta James, Founding director of the Harley Street Wellbeing Clinic, tells Stylist the brain reverts to survival mode. We are over-vigilant, highly alert and as everything changes so rapidly, we feel we need to keep up with the news. This way, we cannot avoid what we fear most – sadness, loss and more uncertainty coming our way.

This also means that we might be experiencing a complete lack of routine,particularly amid the underlying stress caused by the uncertainty we find ourselves in, all the while being bombarded by negative news. When we lack connection and encouragement from family or friends we can slide into unhealthy habits. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to connect this frantic disassociation from normal life as the overriding nudge towards breaking the social distancing advice and reaching out to familiar faces. It’s a strong urge, but we have to find healthy ways to manage it until lockdown restrictions are lifted. Everybody finds different ways to cope and some are better than others.

However, we need to be extra careful that the short term means of coping don’t turn into bad habits. When we stay in bed late, skip showers, have late meals or drink too much alcohol, for example, we start to shift the body’s chemical balance towards a dangerous cliff-edge. Once the chemical shift happens, it becomes very difficult to break the cycle. This is why it is really hard to break habits in general as logic fails and chemicals talk. It’s important to remember that this isn’t a hopeless situation, though - no matter how hard the urge to break the rules, abandon isolation and break social distancing may feel right now. Ahead, Professor James further outlines some advice for managing right now. Keep a healthy sleep rhythm (the body’s circadian rhythm): this is so we can function properly and sleep better.

If the circadian rhythm is disrupted and we don’t go to bed until late and get up late, it has knock-on effects. We then feel fatigued, even depressed. So, make an effort to get outdoors in the daytime and reduce artificial light in the evenings, helping your body cope better. Find meaning in what you’re doing: we also need to make an effort to organise our lives. Think about what gives you and your life meaning and give it some attention. Take back control and adopt a positive attitude.

Focus on the positive: what we are currently experiencing shall pass and whilst it’s all going on, make an effort to focus on the positives. If you look for them, you’ll find them.Forge new helpful habits and structure your day: it doesn’t mean having a timetable, but it does mean being a bit adventurous and looking for ways to have some fun. Perhaps learn to cook or bake something? Read a new book? Learn a new skill? Finding a group of like-minded people you can connect with online to share your interest with? This is a time for adventure. Even if it’s from your sofa! Most importantly, do something fun for you.

Be open-minded. Forget about the news and try swapping it for relaxing music with a calming effect, for example. Humans are resilient and we will come through this time of adversity, hopefully with a wonderful, fresh sense of appreciating life in a different way.