Languishing and  the Doldrums -  the new "normal"
  According to the New   York Times recently they claimed that the majority of people are now in a phase that is coined as "languishing"   .     This period of time could also be referred to as the "doldrums" which dates back to when sea fairing ships  were caught without wind sometimes for weeks in a belt around the equator.  They experienced a spell of listlessness or despondency, lack of activity and stagnation in other terms "the  blues".
    Languishing    is   the void between depression and flourishing — the   absence of well-being. You don’t have symptoms of mental illness, but you’re  not functioning at full capacity. Languishing dulls your motivation, disrupts your ability to focus, and   triples   the odds that you’ll cut back on work. It may be a bigger risk factor for mental illness as time goes on.
  The term was coined by a sociologist named Corey Keyes, who was struck that many people who weren’t depressed also weren’t thriving. His   research   suggests that the people most likely to experience major depression and anxiety disorders in the next decade aren’t the ones with those symptoms today. They’re the people who are languishing right now.   
  During these times it is difficult to keep optimism    or hope   going.   
Here are some strategies to help cope during this time: 

Reframe   your  thinking about the pandemic         
 Although the Pandemic  has been, and is, devastating to many people who have lost loved ones or are ill themselves , there are also some positives that have come out of the Pandemic. 
- More people are able to work from home cutting down commute times of often more that an hour each way.  
-Working from home allows us to have more time to ourselves and to take a walk on a break.   
-You may be  getting a break from  co-workers you don't like sitting next to, or family you don't like seeing that often.
-Many companies are going to keep people working from home either full or part time once the Pandemic is over.
-More people are moving out into smaller towns  decongesting   cities.
-The earth is healing.  Less cars on the road = less pollution and noise pollution.
- People are shifting their consumer mentality by not being able to buy so impulsively. 
-We are thinking more sustainably.
-We are getting an experience of what we have taken for granted in our freedom.
-We   are realizing how important  our families, friends and social groups are  to us.
-The entire world is in this with us which is unprecedented.  Nothing will be the same as it was again.

Take a break from the Panademic! 
Don't watch news for a day.  When you watch news it puts you into a hypervigilant state which  sets off your nervous system and causes  your fear and tension to escalate.   Being in this state of hypervigilance can become the new normal making it harder to relax.
-Go out into nature
-Listen to a comedy  channel   or watch   comedy movies.    Laughing increases endorphins.
-look at old photo albums of  trips already taken .   
-Try to NORMALIZE    your world for a day.    That means  trying to find ways  to forget about  covid and the world once in a while in your own home.

Set an Intention to  Unplug
Set aside some time each day to unplug from all electronics, computers, cell phones, tablets and social media  outlets.  Just breath and be!    

 Stay in  social contact  
Introverts may have an easier time of being in isolation as they recharge their batteries by being alone.  Extroverts on the other hand get energized from being with other people so they may have a harder time with loss of socializing.   
Have video coffee dates with family and friends.  Go for social distancing walks when allowed.  Stay connected to family and friends,  social  groups - people in your life  who you trust ,  who can help you calm down, have a laugh with and who you can turn to for support.  Avoid negative people who generally increase your anxiety.
 
We are all in social  isolation
Try  to   do some project you have been putting off.   If you want to clean a room start small with one table or desk so you don't get overwhelmed.

 Get out into nature while self isolating
Did you know that  when  we take a walk in the forest  and  breathe in the fresh air, we breathe in phytoncides which are airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects. Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities which help plants fight disease.  According to research, when people breathe in these chemicals, our bodies respond in a number of ways that help:

• boost    the immune system
• lower   blood pressure
• reduce    stress
• improve  your    mood
• increase   your  ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• accelerate  recovery from surgery or illness
• increase   your    energy level
• improve   your    sleep

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Green spaces in urban areas are just as important as rural forests.   Gardens, parks and street trees make up what is called an urban and community forest. These pockets of greenspace are vitally important because they are the sources of our daily access to trees.
Spending time in nature helps you focus. Our lives are busier than ever with jobs, school, and family life. Trying to focus on many activities or even a single thing for long periods of time can mentally drain us, a phenomenon called Directed Attention Fatigue. Spending time in nature, looking at plants, water, birds and other aspects of nature gives the cognitive portion of our brain a break, allowing us to focus better and renew our ability to be patient.
Patients recover from surgery faster and better when they have a "green" view. Hospital patients may be stressed from a variety of factors, including pain, fear, and disruption of normal routine. Research found that patients with "green" views had shorter postoperative stays, took fewer painkillers, and had slightly fewer postsurgical complications compared to those who had no view or a view of a cement wall.   

 Play a game
Play a game with your kids or partner while phones, tv, computers are all off.   Take up a craft or paint. Read a book (not a scary, violent or suspenseful one)

Practice  Relaxation and Calm.  
Try lying on the bed or couch and breathing into your belly.   Count to  4 on the breath in, hold for the count of 7, breath out your mouth on the
count of 8.    Repeat.
Try meditation or Yoga .    There are lots of internet  meditation or yoga  classes.    Try this link to do a calming  chakra meditation:  https://youtu.be/jeGT1VXwfx4
 Choose an activity that works for you.
   Lie down and listen to soothing music while you breath and look around at your surroundings or try just breathing and closing your eyes. 
  Try to decrease other stress in your life.      Don't make major  or impulsive decisions.     We need to be centered and calm to make those.
 
What if's??   
You are resilient so be careful with the "What if's".    Our stress and anxiety cause us to focus on  the what if's and think about worst case scenarios.  If you catch yourself thinking about worst case scenarios, you have gone down the rabbit hole with your thoughts.  When you catch yourself doing this, try to look at the thought as "just a thought" and a red flag that  you are stressed.  Then practice  with some tools  (as  stated  above), to calm  yourself down.   Your body can't distinguish whether what you are thinking about is real or not and will react by tensing up, increasing  your heart rate and clenching your stomach. If you change your thoughts to calm ones or calm memories  your body will respond in kind. 
When we are stressed  we overestimate how bad the situation  is and underestimate how well we can cope.   We are resilient and use coping skills and make decisions every day!  Reach out to family, friends or colleagues or professionals.

Create a gratitude journal
Write  down every day 5 things you are grateful for.  This method has been clinically proven to cut depression in half when done long enough!  

Be kind to yourself.  
Be kind to yourself.   We are all in this together !  Beware of negative self talk.  Be gentle with yourself if you make a mistake, compliment yourself every day.  Try not to put yourself down.  If you can’t think of any kind words to say to yourself, think of what a kind friend might say to you.

Careful about  numbing out
Avoid substance abuse including smoking and vaping.  Limit caffeine and alcohol. Its tempting to numb ourselves when we are stressed.  Also stay active. physical activity is a great way to reduce stress.  If you are isolated at home use your stairs or follow an exercise video  on  YouTube. Go for a walk around the block.

Remember nothing lasts forever. 
People have lived through wars and plagues  and have come out the other side.  Tell yourself "this too shall pass"