Is there such a thing as too much staying at home? Those of us who have been working from home, have been self-isolating or have unfortunately been furloughed during this global pandemic have been locked within our home’s four walls – part sanctuary, part prison. Not to be whiny, but sometimes it’s not so easy to stay put. Cabin fever is a real thing and a lot of us are starting to feel it.
Cabin fever isn’t just a bad horror movie or the source of Jack Nicholson’s mania from “The Shining”. It is the term we use for the feeling associated with staying in the same place for a long time. People who experience it reportedly feel lethargic, irritable, frustrated, angry, and claustrophobic. How does cabin fever affect us and how do we take our lives back?
Our need to be in control
The first effect of cabin fever is our human need to be in control. While some people have the unfortunate task of self-quarantining due to actually contracting the virus, a lot of us are self-isolating due to the fear of contracting the virus. There is no cure for it yet, and so we resort to staying at home. This means we are locked up due to things we can’t control. We are a solutions-centric culture, and while that works out well for almost everything else in life, it makes it harder for us to accept uncertainty on an ongoing basis. There is no end in sight…at least not right now. This is a bitter pill to swallow. But if we relinquish the need for control, we might end up with enough mental space to consider options and allow for what is possible right now.
Our need to be connected
Relationships are nurtured with connection but self-isolation is about wilfully keeping yourself away from others. That takes away our support systems who help us cope with crisis – friends, family, church, school, etc. Without the physical proximity of these support systems, we feel that we are going at it alone. This is a lie. Our support systems are still present albeit, physically distant. We may not be able to gather together, but we can take steps to keep these relationships strong. Schedule weekly catch up with your support systems. Send daily messages. Do not let your relationships grow distant.
Our need to feel productive
Covid-19 has limited the activities that we are able to do. Work and school have to be done remotely now. Gatherings are still basically prohibited or controlled. Social activities that used to bring us joy: like going to the movies, hanging out with friends, exercising at the gym, watching a baseball game, or going to a concert are all prohibited now. We’ve run out of activities that keep us creative, engaged, motivated, or productive. What’s left is working from home or learning from home and as the saying goes…all work and no play…you know the rest. What we need to do is to discover or re-discover new hobbies. Learning something new is good for the mind and the body. Find new (or old) things to love.
What are your cabin fever stories? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp