Coronavirus Decision Fatigue

It may not be an actual diagnosis, but Coronavirus Decision Fatigue feels like a real thing our family is experiencing. As we continue to live in a world that’s battling a pandemic, I highly suspect in the coming weeks we will have far more decisions that will need to be made, leading to a whole new level of fatigue.

I know for us, in the very beginning we had to decide things like:

How do we feel about this virus? Is this something we need to be concerned about?

Others are starting to buy essential items, should we be doing that as well?

What’s up with all the toilet paper buying – and can you pick some up when you’re next out?

Should we wear masks or is that overreacting?

Do we want the kids to continue going to their activities or stay home?

Should you be working from home or still going into the office?

Then as things began to unfold rapidly, some of the decisions became easier (or even mandated) and there were a few weeks in there where the lines were clearer, the decisions were less. We got into a new rhythm. Every situation didn’t feel AS tiring mentally because the weeks started to look the same.

We knew the kids weren’t going to any of their activities because they were canceled. We wore masks everywhere because it was necessary. Work required us to stay home. We maintained distance away from basically anything and everyone. 

A lot of the decisions were made for us and there were several weeks where we didn’t face many new decisions, just figuring out how to live in the new, temporary normal.

But now as our country begins to reopen, it seems that every month will shift and change. I sense we are going to be faced with lots of new decisions. 

Simple questions like, “Will we hang out with friends?” or “Should we go to that event?” are now a little more complicated to think through. We have to take into consideration what our comfort level of exposure is. How large is the group size? Will people be able to be physically spaced out enough? 

We never would have batted an eye at most of these questions prior to a pandemic. They would have never been on our radar. 

I also believe that we are headed into a time where everyone will have different views for how and when they plan to reintegrate into society. So every decision will require more thought and sensitivity to try and weigh out the options for how to bring people together.

For those who will land more conservatively and choose to continue laying low for the near future, they may make decisions to opt out of activities. I can see where this would be hard for them – they might feel like they’re passing up on opportunities, like they can’t participate. They may wish the activities were postponed so they didn’t miss out on them. They may feel bad for not yet being ready to be around loved ones in person.

For those who are ready to get back to normal, they may commit to doing what is available and open to them. I can see where this also might be hard for them, especially if they’re wanting to hang out and be around family and friends that aren’t yet ready to reintegrate into these plans. This may feel emotionally difficult. Or maybe they have booked future plans that are frustratingly not yet open. This may feel deflating as they need to decide what to do instead.

We are ALL going to have lots of decisions we need to make in the coming months and we will most likely land in varying places socially, physically and emotionally. 

I believe Coronavirus Decision Fatigue might be something we will feel heavily in the coming weeks.

Let’s be gracious with one another and ourselves as we navigate these new waters. Let’s fight to keep in mind that we all see the world through unique and different lenses and this will impact the decisions we individually make.

If you feel exhausted with the onslaught of new factors that need to be considered with reintegrating yourself and your family, know that you’re not alone. These are unprecedented times we’re experiencing and it can definitely seem overwhelming. I know it does for me. I take comfort in knowing we’re all in this together!