Fatigue after Covid-19

What exactly is fatigue?

We’ve all experienced exhaustion after a vigorous workout or a prolonged time of concentration. Fatigue, on the other hand, can sometimes manifest itself in unusual ways. Despite rest and a good night’s sleep, exhaustion sets in after only a small amount of exertion, lasts for a long time, and limits your typical activities. It can make people feel drowsy and make it difficult to focus or recall memories.

Fatigue is fairly frequent following viral infections like COVID, and it usually goes away within 2 or 3 weeks. However, it can last for weeks or months in some people.

What causes Fatigue after COVID-19?

People who have had a COVID infection may experience fatigue for a variety of reasons. These are the following:

• Even if the infection has improved, there is still a reaction to the

  COVID virus.

• The result of a severe illness. Pneumonia-related fatigue might last for up to 6 months.

How to manage Fatigue after Covid-19?

• Understand the fatigue

Recognize that you are tired and be gentle with yourself. Explain the effects of exhaustion to your family, friends, and coworkers at work. Because weariness is invisible, it is sometimes misunderstood. It is difficult to comprehend the impact of exhaustion and how debilitating it can be until you have experienced it.

• Get enough sleep

Have a restful night’s sleep. When your sleep cycle is disrupted, fatigue becomes considerably worse. By reading the ‘sleeping well‘ part, you can try to enhance your sleep pattern.

• Experiment with relaxing techniques

These can help with weariness by promoting a healthy sleep pattern and reducing stress. Consider practices like mindful meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, tai chi, and other soothing hobbies like reading or taking a long bath or shower.

• Plan, prioritize, and delegate.

Plan – Plan your day ahead of time so that you can get everything done that you need to get done, and think about what you can delegate to others. Establish a regular pattern and avoid ‘boom and bust’ behaviour, in which you are incredibly active on ‘good’ days but fatigued the next. This is when an activity diary can come in handy.

Prioritise – You can also choose which of your activities are most essential to you. If this is a critical task, complete it when you have the most energy. Can you assign them if they aren’t critical but ‘have to be done’?

Delegate – Consider areas where you can save energy, such as doing your shopping online rather than going to the store, or cooking ahead of time for the week when you are busy. Finally, make sure you are engaging in interesting activities; such activities might be energising.

• Stay active

Staying active also helps with energy levels. Being out of shape makes you fatigued. Once you’ve found a comfortable level of activity, gradually increase the quantity you’re doing. For more information, see the section on starting moving again.