Covid-19 has been around for more than a year now. It has taken a toll on us in all ways, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. In the 2002 Journal of Health and Social Research, Corey Keyes of Emory University found that mental health can be understood as a continuum. At one end is poor mental health, with symptoms of depression, feeling drained, and being despondent. At the other end is good mental health, characterized by peak feelings of meaning and flourishing. In the early days and months of the pandemic, many people experienced intense panic, fear, and grief. Over several months of time, many of us have felt a gradual diminishing of this intense anguish. Another feeling, termed languishing, has taken hold. (April 19, 2021-NY Times-“There’s a name for the blah you’re feeling. It’s called languishing.”)
The problem with languishing is that you may not realize that you are in that state of being. In the continuum of mental health, languishing can be found in the middle. It is caused by the long-haul effects of Covid-19. You might have difficulty concentrating. You don’t necessarily feel burn-out or depression, but you might feel aimless and joyless. There probably is an absence of excitement in your life. At work you might take short-cuts, not work to full capacity, and lack motivation. This is a common feeling, yet you might be oblivious to it, and therefore you might not seek to overcome this general malaise.
How can we help ourselves? The concept of “flow” involves becoming absorbed in a new challenge, a new project, something novel that motivates you out of this lethargy. (May 4, 2021 NY Times-“The other side of languishing is flourishing. Here’s how to get there.”) In order to get that ”flow” moving, you need to find purpose and fulfillment by re-charging your emotional battery. Flourishing involves celebrating small things every day and savoring the moment. You can take a walk, spend time with a friend, enjoy a warm bath, or read a good book, all things that make you feel good. Finding and becoming part of a community again also helps, as more of us are vaccinated and feel comfortable in small gatherings. Doing things for others may give you new purpose and elicit feelings of self-worth. It’s also important to think about and verbalize or write down what you are grateful for. Thinking about your work in a novel way, such as how your work helps others, can stimulate a new feeling of purpose and drive. Accomplishing small projects also provides you with a sense of accomplishment.
To get from languishing to flourishing might take time. Seeking out new people, new experiences, new hobbies or projects, feeling connected again, and being interested in life are ways to get there. Be mindful of your emotional state and seek to enhance it. We will eventually conquer Covid-19 and regain a new sense of normalcy. It might take time, but being mindful of your own, and your family’s, emotional health is a most important step.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.