The pandemic stress has made me feel weirdly disconnected from myself. I still do the things I need to do, but a lot of it feels automatic, like I’m just getting through the day and waiting for my old energy to come back.
Even small decisions can feel tiring now. I’ll catch myself avoiding things I normally enjoy because they seem like too much effort, then I feel guilty for not being more productive. I miss feeling spontaneous and comfortable in my own routine.
I’m trying to make room for little pieces of normal life again, without expecting myself to suddenly feel fine. A walk, music while I cook, or texting someone I trust helps a bit. It’s not a complete fix, but at least it reminds me that I’m still in there somewhere.
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@Dorothy_Waller, the guilt about avoiding things you usually enjoy can make the exhaustion even heavier. I’ve found it helps to choose one tiny task without treating it like a test of whether I’m “back to normal.”
For me, putting on one familiar song while making something simple to eat worked better than planning a whole productive evening. Sometimes I only do that and stop there. It gives the day a small point of connection without adding more pressure.
@Dorothy_Waller, the decision fatigue is what got me too. I started keeping two or three easy options written on a note in my phone, like shower, short walk, or make toast and tea. When my brain felt blank, I picked one instead of trying to decide what would make the day meaningful.
The familiar music while cooking sounds useful for the same reason. It gives the routine a little personality without requiring much energy. I’ve found that noticing “this is hard today” works better than calling myself lazy when I only manage one small thing.