Enough already: We’re all dealing with Covid Fatigue

Even if you’ve remained physically healthy these past few months, there’s a very real condition known as Covid Fatigue.

Basically, it means, “I’m sick and tired of this damn pandemic.”

As of this writing, 43 people in Dona Ana County have died with it. And more than 2,500 people have gotten sick with it.

Thousands have suffered negative financial effects of the Covid-driven recession, and that’s going to long outlast the disease itself.

No matter how directly or indirectly you’ve been affected by the pandemic, you HAVE been affected. You have been affected in obvious ways you are keenly aware of. You’ve also been affected in ways you may not know or understand.

Each of us has our own personal things we’ve lost due to the various shutdowns. For those who have lost loved ones, jobs, or their business, those losses are devastating. My job here at the Bulletin, just as for most people still working, brings multiple daily challenges. Personally, I remain relatively fortunate, though I miss going out for breakfast, going to the movies and playing basketball with my friends.

There are also things we’ve all lost together. The Southern New Mexico State Fair would normally be happening this month. The fair is one of those things that many of us do, and for different reasons. Some go for the rodeo. Some go for the rides. Some go for the animal exhibitions. Some go for the games on the midway. Some go for the food (my favorites are the green chile quesadillas from Acosta Farms). Some go for the cotton candy. Some go for the musical shows. Some go for the bake sale or the art shows. We won’t have that this year.

We won’t have the Labor Day wine festivals and music events, or NMSU Aggie football games.

Maybe your Covid Fatigue is from having to work from home for six months. Or working in a half-empty office for six months. Maybe yours is from struggling to balance helping your children with school and doing your job. Maybe you’re just sick of not being able to do simple things like going out to dinner and a play. Maybe you’re frustrated about not being able to experience full services at church. Maybe you’re in a high-risk health category, and your tired of having to be hyperconscious about contacts with others. Maybe you’re a very social person who misses group gatherings. Maybe your son or daughter is a high school senior athlete, and you’re both bummed by not having a fall football or soccer season. Maybe you’re a teacher who has had to become more of an IT expert/counselor than an educator of your subject matter. Maybe you just want to go dancing.

Hopefully, you’ve found some things to help you feel more or less normal during all this. Maybe you’ve re-discovered an old hobby, or discovered a new one. Maybe you’ve developed a cadre of Covid buddies, checking in on each other regularly. Maybe you’ve renewed some dormant family relationships.

After I visited Oklahoma in early May, I quarantined upon my return. My first day working from home was a Monday, and it was absolutely amazing. I was efficient, comfortable, and I couldn’t believe it was already 7:30 p.m. when I finished my day. It felt like it was only 3 p.m.

The next day, a Tuesday, was absolutely horrible. Everything went wrong and my stress level through the roof. The rest of the time working from home didn’t reach those two extremes, but the last day, my laptop crashed. Apparently, we both had reached our limits.

Our Bulletin office has been staffed by three to five people, with everyone else working from home. Our office is just big enough to give us the needed space. Most days, the first person I see is our staff writer Mike Cook, as I walk past his desk to mine. If you know Mike, you know one of his trademarks is a colorful wardrobe. And while he hasn’t worn his bright jackets and ties during the pandemic, he has maintained his monochromatic themes: Monday might be green pants and a green shirt with green shoes; Thursday he might wear red shoes, red pants and a red shirt; purple, yellow, orange, black  -- he has them all. That little constant has some days been enough to give me the smile and the edge to get through a tough Covid Fatigue day. I haven’t worn a tie since March, but Mike and I plan to bring back our ties after Labor Day, maybe to signal a new phase.

A few weeks ago, I broke out my mountain bike for the first time in several years, and I’ve been taking three or four rides a week. The other day, my ride led to the discovery of seven big ravens sitting on a fence, and I was able to, after quietly putting down my bike, watch these big, beautiful, fascinating birds for nearly 30 silent minutes, with the Organ Mountains as a backdrop.

Of course, other times, I’ve needed to deal with the fatigue in a different way, such as playing Parliament-Funkadelic on my car stereo at stun volume, screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs.

However you are dealing with your Covid Fatigue, I hope you’re dealing with it.

And, I hope sooner rather than later, we’ll finally be done with this damn pandemic.