Overcoming the Fear That You’ve Done ‘Nothing’ During COVID-19

It couldn’t have been more than three weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic that iterations of the following began to emerge: “Remember that William Shakespeare wrote King Lear during quarantine.”

This early into lockdown the idea seemed—almost—admirable, though still irksome. The complete morbid reality of the pandemic hadn’t fully hit, and the belief that you could spend a few weeks at home being productive and then return to work by the end of the month was common.

Over a year on, we all know that was far from the case. Instead,grief和burnoutbecame the norm, and simply surviving could be seen as an exceptional feat. However, as a dim light at the end of this horrific tunnel grows slightly brighter for some countries, you may feel like just getting through it wasn’t enough. There’s a prevailing idea that you should have something to show for the past year-plus, instead of it becoming like “lost time.”

Reflecting on life post-March 2020 may cause this worry, but it has undoubtedly existed since then in some iteration. “As soon as the pandemic hit, an implicit competition began about who could be the most productive, positive, and efficient,” saysDr. Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

罗曼夫说：“植入了从不存在的通勤，快乐的时光和缔约方替代的时间，”缔约方必须替代。“

For many people, this supposed extra time never materialized. In its place came burnout, anguish, and enough motivation to do only what was necessary, if that. As Romanoff explains, “Replacing the mostly-mundane pre-pandemic activities with learning a new language or craft during a global pandemic is incongruous with the increased amount of strain folks held during this time.”

大流行期间停机的重要性

即使你发现能量开始朝着大目标工作，它也可能对你的幸福感到负面影响，如果它没有时间来收回和放松。“个人对于个人来缓解焦虑和领导更健康，更快乐的生活是必要的，”Dr. Leela R. Magavi, a Johns Hopkins-trained adult, adolescent, and child psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry, California's largest outpatient mental health organization.

Taking time for yourself is all the more prevalent, withmental health issuesspiking during the pandemic. In a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of U.S. adults reported having symptoms ofanxietyor depression in December 2020, compared to 11% between January to June 2019.

大流行的压力源的持续性质进一步优点了对停机时间的需求。“你的身体和思想都不能在紧急模式下，没有冒着健康的永久后果，”说Aimee Daramus., PsyD, author ofUnderstanding Bipolar Disorder。“当你让自己休息和感觉良好时，你也可以保护你的思想和身体。”

How to Cope With the Guilt Of “Lost Time”

Even if you’ve come to terms with the fact that the pandemic was not an open call for productivity, the idea of losing time to its continual despair can be challenging to accept. Exploring this feeling—yes, in your downtime recuperation—can help you move forward with a better understanding of yourself and the strength you’ve exhibited. Here are a few ways to begin coping with the guilt of lost time in the pandemic.

Avoid Comparison

Yes, some people may now have accomplishments that remain goals for you. That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong or should have pursued it. No one was exempt from experiencing the pandemic’s repercussions, but each person didn’t feel the same effects—or were as transparent about their struggles.

“Comparisontruly is the theft of joy. When you hold the unrealistic portrayal of others’ lives as a reference point—be it social media or even a friend’s experience—you miss out on all the challenges, struggles, and differential factors, both hidden and apparent, that color each person’s world,” says Romanoff.

Grant Yourself Understanding

Honestly reflect on your decisions and experiences of the past year, and you may cut yourself more slack. “If you were reading a book, it would be very strange if the characters focused on getting a promotion during a zombie apocalypse. Nobody in the Hunger Games brought a laptop and worked on writing a book. They allowed their priorities to change when necessary,” says Daramus.

Instead of focusing on traditional, big projects, your time and energy went towards a more immediate problem.

Pandemic-related anxiety can impact your mind’s ability to process and remember things, says Magavi. In a 2019 study from Frontiers in Psychology, researchers found a negative association between anxiety and working memory in adults who were not also depressed.

Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

没有写下伟大的美国小说或长期期待的旅行与任何东西都不一样。

此外，在导航大流行时，你本身确实完成了某些事情。“你有新的预防措施来记住和一些基本的科学来学习了解这种情况，”达拉姆说。“你可能一直在处理以前从未拥有的方式处理焦虑，抑郁，孤独或悲伤。您可能必须重新设计您工作的方式，具有关系和锻炼。您可能必须在房子周围学会一些新技能，以便您习惯了帮助。如果你回头看，你可能比你想象的更多。“

One clear example comes from parents who used their scant energy to help their children with virtual classes or spend extra time entertaining them.

Daramus suggests making a list of all the challenges you’ve overcome and new things you’ve learned. Commend yourself for this incredible achievement.

Look to the Future

没有让失去的时间回来，但在幸存下幸存下，你有一个充满可能性的未来。我们还没有完全进入后，但它足以开始思考你想要它的样子。罗曼诺夫建议识别你的内容goals和路径可以风险成事实h them.