How have you been coping with the emotional impacts of caregiving?  A recent article in The New York Times was titled: “There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing.” It would not be surprising to know that many people have felt “blah” at times, especially in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author, Adam Grant, describes languishing as feeling a sense of stagnation and/or a sense of emptiness. We may still have energy; we aren’t experiencing depression. We have hope, and yet we feel somewhat joyless and aimless. He suggests that languishing is the “void between depression and flourishing – the absence of wellbeing.”  Languishing, he says, dulls your motivation and disrupts your ability to focus.

So, what can we do about it? He goes on to describe the term “flow” – to absorb yourself in a “meaningful challenge or a momentary bond where your sense of time, place and self, melts away.” He provides some examples:

• Give yourself some uninterrupted time – Set boundaries. “Treat uninterrupted blocks of time as treasures to guard. Doing so clears out constant distractions and gives us the freedom to focus.”
• Focus on a small goal – Aim for “small wins.” He states that one of the clearest paths to flow is focusing on a challenge that stretches your skills and heightens your resolve. Focus on a meaningful challenge. Start an interesting project. Set a worthwhile goal. Have a meaningful conversation. Take small steps that lead you back in the direction toward something you have missed all these months.

May you all find the support that means the most to you and your wellbeing. If you are looking for resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.