Say Goodbye to 2020 and Pandemic Fatigue (Including Self-care Tips for Moms!)

2020 certainly has been a topsy-turvy year and we’re all ready to say goodbye to it.

If you’re a mom, I’m sure you’re not alone in this whirlwind situation at home.

And more than ever, we don’t just need to look after our kid’s health but our own as well. Without being healthy ourselves, it’s hard to take care of others.

Needless to say, the events that have happened this year will sure go down in history book.

So as we approach the end of a tumultuous year, let’s reflect on what happened as we bid farewell to the craziness.

2020 and the Pandemic Fatigue

2020 has been plagued with uncertainties and worries. This has came with a new term coined, “pandemic fatigue.”

According to the World Health Organization, pandemic fatigue is defined as “demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours, emerging gradually over time and affected by a number of emotions, experiences and perceptions.”

But I think there’s more to that defintion. While we’re tired of the prolonged situation, I somehow feel that our mental health must all have been affected one way or another by yet other new terms such as “lockdown” and “social distancing.”

We feel fatigue not because we no longer wish to follow the rules, but we’re just tired in general.

And so I will redefine pandemic fatigue in this post to “just being tired of 2020.”

As for life living in the “new normal,” here’s what it’s like…

Living in the New Normal

In many ways, I wonder if 2020 would be the end of an old way of life.

The effect of this year has grounded us to a halt and we’re forced to evaluate new approaches – whether it be about work, shopping or hanging out.

As we look for alternatives, we also made discovery of what works best for us.

For example, one of the things that surprised both Papa Bear and me is our ability to cut each other’s hair! Not only did we succeed without messing up big time, it also looked quite nice.

We’re now reevaluating if we’ll just continue doing this since we get to save money and time. Plus we could easily give feedbacks to each other without feeling guilty to hurt the “hairdresser’s” feelings.

Another thing is that we learned a lot to do a lot of DIY’s through watching Youtube videos. Check out this awesome jeep we made out of a cardboard box:

And we also enjoy the simplest things such as exploring little towns in our city – that is, when we’re not in a lockdown. No packing of suitcases needed!

And here’s another strange thing – the lockdown.

I still remember when this happened when all “non-essential” businesses were closed. It was the most strangest feeling.

Then, when the shops and restaurants reopened, most people are walking around with a mask. It’s a sight that I’ve imagine to see in my lifetime!

Since we live in Switzerland, all of the cantons (or states) have their own mandate on mask wearing. In Lausanne, it wasn’t until July did the government enforced mandatory mask covering inside public places such as the supermarket and public transportation.

Wearing a mask was especially tough on me as a mom. My daughter loved pulling it off and she demands to have one too!

As a 1 year old toddler, I can see her puzzled face as she looks around where people looked cold without expressions, hiding behind a piece of fabric.

I tried to explain to her that we have to wear a mask in public places so that we ourselves and other sicks. I’m not sure if she fully understood me though.

But overtime, she learned to say the word, “mask” as she points to it when we go out.

And even after five months of bring a mask whenever we go out, I still forget it from time-to-time! Let’s hope this new normal will be unnormalized soon.

Mom’s Mental Health

If you have an energetic, super extraverted kid like mine, you must know how tired it is to be confined at home.

My mental health has already suffered since giving birth – mainly due to the lack of full night sleep.

But once the pandemic raged on, I felt even more tired because I’m now unable to sleep well due to lack of outdoor activities.

And I think the worries about how my families are doing across continent has also induced a huge amount of stress and worries.

From there, it snowballed into a vicious circle of low energy and it just became harder to sleep well at night.

And as for Baby Bear, the confinement has been ultra difficult for her. She just doesn’t understand why we could no longer go to “the open house” which is a place for children to play together.

It’s as if all of a sudden, she is being punished to stay home, and she doesn’t understand why.

Luckily, and miraculously, the weather was exceptionally sunny during most days of confinement. We’re talking about March and April in Switzerland where it’s normally cold. One year, we even had snow in April.

But not this year!

And so while everything else was closed, we were lucky enough to be able to go to a nearby park. We had to social distant which was a tough job when you have kids who are just drawn to each other.

So while all the parents stay vigilant (and stressed), the kids are oblivious to what was happening.

Mom’s Self-Care Tips

During this pandemic, I’ve learned the importance of self-care more so than ever!

Self-care was already a topic that was an interest of mine ever since I became a mom. It was much easier back then, because self-care entailed sleeping and exercising. That was mostly what I needed as a new mom.

But this year, self-care goes beyond sleep and exercise. It also means making sure we stay sane while keeping worries and anxieties under control. And this sounds easier said than done!

My biggest anxiety was both Papa and I fall ill and we can’t take care of our baby. And worse yet, what if Baby Bear also falls ill? That would be a nightmare!

So to tame my endless worries, here were some of the things I did to uplift my mood:

1. Dress up everyday (or try at least)

I admit. There are days where I just go full on PJ all day. And while it was comfortable, I also felt sluggish and even more tired.

I have since tried to dress up everyday even though I have nowhere to go or anyone to see. I’m doing it for myself.

And even though I like going make-up free, I’ll throw in a bit of color just to feel good. And… I’ll even put on excessive jewelries or do my nails.

2. Do one simple thing that makes you smile

I love doing my own nails. I enjoy doing artworks and experimenting with different designs. But ever since I became a mom, I did less and less of it.

Most of the time, I’m just too tired to even start. And when I’m not tired, I’ll have to find a good two hour window to color and let the paint to dry. A two-hour window is a luxury for moms!

But then, whenever I did find time to paint my nails, I automatically feel better.

And so even one simple thing can have an uplifting effect as long as it’s what you like.

3. Write down your thoughts

Writing down your thoughts can help your process your worries and anxieties while letting out your emotions.

During winter, I’m often feeling sad and depressed. The drop in temperature and day light saving is especially harsh on my mental health.

But one thing that helped me get through this tough period is to write down my thoughts.

Starting this blog has helped me structure my thoughts as well as write something meaningful. It’s actually quite therapeutic to work on something I’m extremely passionate about.

And most of all, writing down our thoughts can distract us from that negative inside our head. I tend to become more positive after letting out my laundry.

4. Ask for help when you needed

I’m really bad at asking others for help. I usually like to solve my own problems and suck it up during tough times.

But what I realized after becoming a mom is that I just can’t do it all!

And if I do, I’ll fail most of the time without progressing at all.

Worse, it’s to the detriment of my mental health which is something I value more and more these days.

To me, getting Baby Bear into nursery was a sign that I need help.

I can see that she needs attention and to be around people, and I just can’t give that to her all day.

I also have asked Papa Bear for help when I just needed a break. Even though he is very understanding and helpful, I can’t help but feel guilty sometimes.

But, without his help, I truly don’t think I could do it alone.

5. Spend quality time with your loved ones

If there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught me is to spend quality time with those who matters most to me.

This year has made me realize that our time on earth can be fleeting.

This is also the only year where I haven’t traveled back to the states to visit my family. I believe this has taken a toll on my mental health without a doubt.

But luckily, I do have two very important people who are safe and healthy. And now that the confinement is over, we planned to do something together and visit the local zoo as well as do ice skating.

Things can change very quickly one day to the next as surrounding European countries are still in total lockdown. So while we can, we planned to enjoy this holiday the best way we could.

And so I’ll be taking a few weeks break which includes a break from writing on this blog.

I think a pause is much needed this time of the year.

So with that said, I wish you all a Happy Holiday and a Better New Year to come! Goodbye 2020. See you in 2021!