I'm Working From Home. Why Can't I Get More Done?
Like millions of other middle leaders, during this time of social distancing, I’m working from home. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work from home, but I thought I’d get more done. I feel more tired and less motivated than ever before. It seems like my body, mind, and spirit are struggling all at the same time. What’s wrong with me?
Last week I was talking on the phone to a friend from the Czech Republic. My wife and our two sons lived in the Czech Republic for many years. During the conversation, I said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I feel like I have jarní únava all the time.”
When spring comes to the Czech lands, people often speak of feeling tired, having a lack of motivation, and a general feeling of blah! They call it jarní únava, which can be translated as “spring tiredness.”
But why am I having the symptoms now? One psychiatrist in the Czech Republic says that the pandemic fear has placed every cell in our bodies in stress mode. This stress-mode makes us feel like we have jarní únava.
I think it’s an interesting conclusion, as I do believe that our body, mind, and spirit are inexplicably linked. So much so that when one part is not healthy, it impacts the whole. The pandemic is affecting every part of our lives.
There are some simple things we can do to help, but first, we’ll look at some research and then end with a reflection.
First, we are social beings. We were created as social beings, and therefore, being social is essential to our well being. Even hardcore introverts have told me that during this pandemic, they feel especially closed off from the world. Imagine those who are extreme extroverts! Mental health specialists stress that protracted “social isolation increases the risk of anxiety, mood, addictive and thought disorders.”
We are social people, and every cell in our body is rebelling against the reality that we have been forced into isolation. The isolation is impacting us mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Second, we are survivors. In homage to Galaxy Quest, always remember: Never give up! Never surrender! Our body is made so that we respond to threat with the fight or flight reaction. When we’re faced with a threat, our body secretes a hormone that serves two purposes. One, it gives us the ability to throw heavy stones at the threat until it goes away. Two, if we determine the threat is too big for us to beat, it allows us to run like the wind.
The problem is that corvid 19 is an unseen threat. It’s not something we can run away from, or throw stones at until it goes away. It’s everywhere, and our body knows it. Our fright and flight response is impacting us mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Third, viruses are not the only things we catch from others. In the midst of the pandemic, we are faced with something called, Social Contagion. As Dr. Susan David states, we not only catch viruses from others; we can also catch fear and anxiety from others.
One way social contagion is spread is by emotions expressed on people’s faces. In this perfect storm, video conferencing is an excellent network for spreading social contagion. Digital Emotional Contagion is such a powerful motivator that companies spend millions of dollars to increase the emotional frequency and intensity of online digital media.
When we are on video conference after video conference, sometimes with dozens of people on a single video call, we are subconsciously reading people’s faces. We sense their fear and anxiety, and we take that emotion on ourselves. Social contagion is impacting our mind, body, and spirit.
With this news, what do we do? We need to take care of the body, mind, and spirit.
Body: Keep moving! Newton’s laws of motion apply here. A body in motion tends to stay in motion unless it is acted on by some outside force. The pandemic is an external force that seems to be causing every cell in your body to react. Keep moving!
Mind: Accept the fact that we are all in challenging times. When I say ALL, I mean everyone in the whole world. Everyone! Be assured that this will not last. Stay connected even if it’s by telephone or the dreaded video conferencing. Allow this to be a time where you learn a new skill or read a book you’ve been wanting to read. But most important of all, find time to reflect on what is important to you and make small changes to make those things meaningful again.
Spirit: Whether you believe in God or not, I am convinced that we are all spiritual beings. Think about it, the longing for social engagement and the need for relationships is so deeply ingrained in us, that we can sense and take on other’s emotions by merely looking at their face!
If you haven’t read the book, The Shack, this would be a great time to do it. If you’ve read it before, this would be a good time to reread it. The book brings to light the deep search for meaning and relationship in a life that has faced both pain and death and realized that there is certainly something more.
Even as spring blossoms into summer, signaling the passing of the “jarní únava” season, so will these times pass. During this uncertain and challenging time, there are simple things that we can do to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves, mind, body, and spirit. Be encouraged, summer is just around the corner!
