Overcoming caution fatigue is about resetting your mindset and behaviour, as well as spending quality time on self-care
While we go about our daily routine throughout the Recovery Movement Control Order, some of us might be beginning to lose the motivation or energy to adhere to safety guidelines.
This is most likely a sign of ‘caution fatigue’, and as tedious as these guidelines are, it is very important that we continue to follow them to ensure the safety and health of our own and the people around us.
With that said, if you are experiencing caution fatigue, here are some suggestions to deal with them, according to Jacqueline Gollan, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the United States:
Take care of your physical, mental and emotional health – This is a tip worth repeating, because self-care is essential during this challenging time. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, sleep enough, stay connected to your loved ones and find ways to relieve stress. If you are feeling depressed, seek professional help.
Change the way you consume media – The moment you get desensitised to warnings about COVID-19, reset and re-stimulate your brain’s response to them by reading credible news sources that you do not usually follow or checking headlines from different parts of the world.
Reframe risks and benefits – Before deciding to head outside your home, for example, think about how your behaviour and attitude towards the safety guidelines affect the probability of you being infected, and subsequently the chances of spreading the disease to those around you.
Make altruism a habit – If wearing a mask or social distancing is becoming too tiring to practise, consider their values from a wider perspective. In this case, it is helpful to remember that these practices are for the common good; not only do they keep you safe, but they also improve public health, ensure that hospitals can meet demand and even save lives.
