Coping With Stress, Boredom, And Monotony In A Lockdown

In an attempt to somewhat control the spread of the coronavirus, most countries have had to enforce ‘lockdown’ procedures and currently, people are encouraged to practice social distancing, self-isolations, and other forms of confinement.

Despite these control measures, the Covid-19 pandemic has wroth lethal blow on the economy and has wreaked similar havoc on both our personal and professional lives. In the face of several uncertainties and chaos, one question on everyone’s mind is “how to avoid boredom, monotony, and stress-induced food cravings?

Being cooped up at home means we have extra time on our hands, which can lead to increased boredom. Staying at home also means we have easy access to some of our favorite delicacies, which can result in more snacking and unhealthy eating habits. Moreover, social isolation is more likely to lead to mental health issues for lots of people.

This article will explain why we adopt unhealthy eating habits when we are bored and stressed, the psychological impact of being in a lockdown, and what we can all do to cope with life in isolation and lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.

Why we adopt unhealthy eating habits during the lockdown?

Monotony may very well be one of the hardest things about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a common yet surprising paradox that the periods we dub “amazing times” are often made up of several uneventful days. Even during World War II, a veteran called Paul Fussell noted that most soldiers adopted dull periods by taking naps considering that “sleep devoured boredom.”

Yet, here we are in the here and now, and most of our days seem to be defined by static surroundings, long lines, while nonessential employees and young adults experience unprecedentedly unstructured time. When you look back and feel that time had passed quickly, perhaps you are bored.

Boredom can slow down the perception of time because minutes and seconds seem to drag unnecessarily. The weird thing is that this can feel rather stressful as you discover that you don’t have the means to cope with the situation. The blend of the COVID-19 threat of sickness, social instability, and economic hardship can make even the strongest person feel uneasy.

One explanation for snacking and eating unhealthy during the lockdown may be the urge to distract ourselves from mundane situations. Many people are snacking more because their routines have changed and are at home surrounded by lots of food. It’s actually natural to eat outside of regular mealtimes.

Others overeat when they feel uncomfortable or stressed. Snacking is their own way of dealing with stress and other forms of emotional turmoil. Most of us eat different unhealthy junks based on our circumstances and mood.

What to do to snack-less and eat healthily?

A survey suggested that people tend to snack on unhealthy foods that are high in fat, sweetened, and heavily-salted when they feel uncomfortable. Sugar-heavy drinks, chips, and desserts are still the most common snacks in various countries. So what can you do at a time when you’re exercising less and consuming more junks?

I wouldn’t say the solution is an easy one. However, the trick to snacking less is to adopt substitute stress, boredom, and monotony management strategy to distract your mind whenever the urge for unhealthy meals set in. This can include having family time, brief meditation sessions, or simply dancing to a song you like.

You should also keep yourself occupied by playing games with your friends (while still observing social distancing, of course), face-timing to increase social interactions, or just completing some online exercise.

So, the question is what should you be eating during the lockdown? Easy, eat a balanced diet. A balanced diet is a meal that contains a wide variety of food, in their right proportions, and eating the right amount of food and drink to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We all know that you can eat healthy without eating the essentials.

The essentials include a minimum of five portions of vegetables and fruits, some dairy or dairy substitutes, meals that are high in fiber, unsaturated oils and spreads, beans, and pulses. There is no crime in stocking up on tinned foods during the lockdown, just ensure they are nutritious. I’ll recommend tinned tomatoes, frozen berries, dark chocolate, nuts, and frozen salmons.

The psychological impact of being in a lockdown and their solutions

Adjusting to social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, and other lockdown measures can disrupt our normal way of life. It often takes a while for people to adapt to new situations when transitioning into and out of unusual environments.

Monotony and boredom

As lockdown measures continue to be implemented, boredom and monotony are more likely to kick in. An increasing number of people will likely find the repetition of tasks and sensory deprivation extremely irritating and annoying. Lack of variety can cause boredom and isolation for an extended period can lead to depression.

What you can do is exploit the wide range of internet resources for entertainment that is available. You can stream movies, read eBooks, listen to podcasts, go online and connect as much as online interactions will allow, cook and bake, play card games, and use other online gaming platforms.

In instances where you’re unable to access enough outside resources and you’re experiencing sensory deprivation, you can go internal by giving yourself prep-talks, meditations, you can practice breathing in and out for a while, or try to go down memory lane (visualization).

Stress

Being cooped up in one place and in living in close proximity with the same people for extended periods, without being able to travel can be extremely stressful. Staying with the same people can cause disputes especially if you’re not a very patient and tolerant person. You have to watch what you say, be considerate of others, let go of things that can lead to arguments, and also learn to share.

To lessen undue arguments and conflicts you need to practice self-restraint. A good strategy to adopt to identify an area of personal space. This should be a location or space you can retreat to when you get frustrated or irritated. It’s also okay to have an open and honest conversation with the people you’re living or working with who are doing something you find irritating and resolving whatever issues may arise.

Anxiety and uncertainty

Not knowing for sure if you’ll still be employed tomorrow, or if you or your loved ones would contact the virus, as well as the general uncertainty of not knowing what lies ahead, can cause anxiety and fear. People who have contacted the virus and are in isolation or quarantine feel anxious about their setting and fear the unknown.

Research has suggested that trying to reexamine these emotions and looking for the upsides in the situation, instead of focusing on the downsides or negatives, can be immensely helpful. Individuals who have gone through self-isolation and quarantine have reported consciously detaching themselves emotionally from their environments, choosing instead to focus on rational thoughts about the real risks likely to be faced and what they can do to lessen those risks.

Although, the level of the current pandemic is devastating and there are hardly adequate information about what to expect in the future. you can choose to focus on the now, what you can achieve in the next hour, day, or week, instead of agitating over the endpoint.

Emotional instability and low motivations

It is almost impossible not to experience emotional instability and a lack of motivation at one point or the other during isolation or lockdown period. Being cooped up in a place for too long, having restrictive movements because some of your favorite stores can only be accessed online, not being able to sit down and eat with others at that restaurant or eatery you frequently visit can be annoying, which will eventually affect your moods and stress you out as well.

Well, the upside is that you’re not the only one with low moods, constant irritation, and lack of motivation. It’s totally normal in a lockdown. The truth is everything is moving at a slow pace, most people have had to cut back on spending, and organizations are going through more downsizing now than ever before.

What you can do is to acknowledge your progress and celebrate small wins to boost your sense of accomplishment. This will allow you to reinforce self-efficacy, which will constantly help you to remember that you can deal with the current situational demand. You can go to a trusted online social support network to celebrate these small wins or share it with the people you’re isolated with.

When you have or find a sense of purpose during this lockdown era, chances are you’ll find it helpful. You can try completing an abandoned project, learning a new skill online through YouTube channel or Instagram. This will give you something to focus on and help you stay motivated.

Bottomline

Get help!

Sometimes it can take a while to get past stress, boredom, or monotony, so getting professional help may you get through the next few weeks. You can’t just banish this ‘dip’ by taking up a pet project, acquiring a new skill, or watching a TV show since it was never about a lack of activities, to begin with. This can be an opportunity to learn more about yourself, be a better person, or be unexpectedly delighted with repetitiveness. So, while you’re at it talk to a professional.