Years later, several individuals still complain of chronic mental fatigue, diminished concentration, forgetfulness, and slowed mental processing, as the symptoms are now widely termed as cognitive fatigue. What started as a temporary stressor in the case of lockdowns seems to have been transformed into a massive post-pandemic neurological and mental load.
The long time on the screen, disturbed routines, persistent stress, problems with sleep and constant information overload transformed the functions of the brain. Working remotely and on-line removed the separation between rest and work, causing prolonged psychological stress with insufficient rest. To a large portion, the brain did not quite go back to its patterns of attention and resilience of pre-pandemic.
Cognitive fatigue impairs the day-to-day functioning, school performance, decision-making and emotion regulation. People tend to confuse it with laziness or burnout making intervention later. When left untreated, it can lead to further anxiety and depression and cognitive impairment.
To be able to recover, a person needs not only rest but also a set of exercises, less digital load, sound sleep, physical exercises, and mental health assistance. The first step to recovering mental clarity is that cognitive fatigue is a fact that has emerged after the pandemic.
Do you think you have lost or gained focus and mental stamina after the pandemic ended?
The pandemic has been a major cause of change in the lifestyle of many people. People have adapted to the times when they were confined within the walls of their house and did not care about the consequences of their lifestyle as their main aim was to escape the pandemic. However, continuation of such habits has led to a widespread adverse effect on every individual’s life.
As you said pandemic has led to remote work systems where achieving a healthy work-life balance is often a challenge. However, adopting healthy lifestyle changes such as waking up early, exercising, eating properly, getting sunlight exposure, spending time with loved ones, restricting screen time, and ensuring adequate sleep can help us overcome cognitive fatigue.
I strongly agree with your point. The pandemic has drastically increased cognitive fatigue, but to recover and regain cognitive abilities, we should strictly maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, and reduce screen time.
Very true. Habits adopted during prolonged lockdowns have persisted beyond the pandemic, quietly reshaping lifestyles and contributing to widespread cognitive fatigue.
Absolutely. Cognitive recovery after the pandemic depends largely on sustained healthy habits and conscious efforts to reduce digital and mental overload.