The Burnout is Real: 5 Reasons We're All Exhausted Right Now

As we near the end of June, I think back to that Friday in March when I picked my kids up from school for what — unbeknownst to any of us — was the last in-person day of the 2019/2020 academic year. 

Nothing could have prepared me for what laid ahead: a marathon three months (going on four) of trying to juggle the synchronized demands of work life, home life, and school life. 

I’m exhausted.

And I’m not alone. 

Burnout is shaping up to be a major side-effect of COVID-19, and it’s not the kind of burnout we normally associate with lengthy commutes, back-to-back appointments, or late hours at the office. 

It’s a new type of burnout that’s less “hustle and bustle” and more of a mental exercise that we never trained for. A relentless routine — “Groundhog Day” has become a popular metaphor to describe the monotony we’ve settled into — that is testing our psychological stamina and resolve. 

More than 100 days into pandemic life and many of us are just feeling…done.

WHAT’S BEHIND THE BURNOUT?

With everyone experiencing this pandemic differently depending on their personal and professional circumstances, it’s impossible to summarize all the potential reasons people are feeling flat-out drained right now. 

But if you’re looking to understand why you’re feeling so utterly worn out these days, the below explanations could be a start:

• Our Escapes are Gone: A useful technique for decompressing under normal circumstances is to do something completely unrelated to your daily grind. But as we know, physical distancing protocols have limited our access to many of those “escapes” — like the gym, for example —that we’d normally turn to as a way to let off steam. Being unable to disconnect in our usual ways can lead to increased feelings of exhaustion and burnout.

• “Decision Fatigue”: Whoever thought a trip to the grocery store could be fraught with so much doubt? But that’s today’s reality as we grapple with the many unknowns of going out. Is it safe to buy unwrapped produce? Should I wear gloves to handle the gas pump? Am I comfortable making plans with other people? These judgments that were once automatic now feel weighty beyond belief — and that’s saying nothing of bigger dilemmas like when to return to work or whether to send kids to camp or school.  “Decision fatigue” is real and it’s wearing us down.   ​

• Too Many Hats: If you find yourself making breakfast and assisting with math homework all while feeding the dog and partaking in a conference call, you’re not alone. The pandemic has turned many of us into full-time multitaskers responsible for juggling the simultaneous schedules of work and home.  It’s one thing to wear different hats during the day, but quite another to wear them all at once.

• No Days Off:  Normally if you’re feeling burned out, you can explore the option of a vacation or personal day to rest and recharge. Unfortunately, pandemics don’t take time off so guess what? Neither do you. Being unable to take a break from this new COVID reality is one of the most tiring parts of all. No ‘out of office’ replies here.  

• An Unknown Target: Humans thrive on predictability and without it we get anxious and stressed. Unfortunately for us, there’s been nothing predictable about when (or if) life will get back to normal. For parents of young kids, one of the biggest unknowns of this pandemic relates to school this fall: will kids be going back to class or will distance learning become the new status quo for the 2020/21 year? It’s hard to pace yourself without a finish line.

There is no shortage of explanations for the burnout many of us are feeling right now. In my next post, I’ll elaborate on some common signs of burnout and share tips for how to manage through this tiring and trying time. 

​Stay safe and stay well!




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