WORKPLACE
Zoom fatigue is real , says Dr . Corinne McIntosh Sako , adding she ’ s seen it cause “ so many physical complications ,” from headaches to shoulder pain to back problems . That has a spillover effect .
facing — stress over political polarization , inflation , job insecurity , the health of loved ones , COVID-19 and its regulations , school openings and closings , and even the possible looming threat of World War III . It ’ s a lot . ( Especially for parents and most especially for working moms .) The way Andrade sees it , remote work is a “ huge contributor ” to the mental health crisis , as it “ compounds issues people already have .”
The sum total of these issues is why when Sako asks her patients , “ How are you doing ?” the answer she hears most often is “ they ’ re doing .” Not thriving , not excelling , but just “ maintaining , and they ’ re barely keeping their nose above the water .” ( Caveat : Obviously this is a self-selecting group , as those who seek therapy went there for a reason . Yet the therapists are comparing what they ’ re seeing to a pre-pandemic baseline , and they ’ re saying things are getting worse .) Many feel anxiety . Depression is common . Sako says for people who had mental health challenges before the pandemic and then largely recovered , ” the pandemic knocked them off that stability .” They ’ re more likely to return to addictions . Engler says Silver Lake Psychology has nearly doubled its normal volume ( 12,000 total visits in January 2022 compared to 6,600 visits in January 2021 ), and more tragically , has already experienced multiple patient suicides this year , which “ is unusual for a group practice that largely serves high-functioning clients , generally the ‘ worried well .’”
So for those of us burned out from two years ( and counting ) of remote work , what can we do to improve our mental health ? The most obvious answer is to seek therapy or guidance from a mental health professional . Many people don ’ t do this because of the cost , stigma or inconvenience , but as Andrade points out , with the rise of remote teletherapy , it ’ s now easy to do so in the privacy of your home . He adds it ’ s worth double checking your health insurance , as more plans have seen insurance benefits increase or become more accessible .
Here are some specific , concrete steps from the experts :
Get microsocial
“ Go to Starbucks and get your coffee ,” Engler says . “ Or if you ’ re in Midtown Sacramento , patronize a local coffee shop . Smile and connect . Feel like you ’ re amongst other humans .” These little pockets of humanity add up , says Engler , and they help “ increase your social therapy .”
Build in transitions
Andrade recommends creating transition rituals for moments like starting your workday , ending it and going on a lunch break . They can be simple . The rituals could be a walk around the block , a short bike ride or maybe just putting on your “ work sweater ” while you ’ re sitting at your desk , and then taking it off at the end of the day . ( It worked for Mr . Rogers .)
Go easy on yourself
“ People should not expect themselves to function or feel how they did prior to the pandemic ,” Sako says . It ’ s valid
50 comstocksmag . com | April 2022