Stories like Saha’s are becoming increasingly common during the second wave and the subsequent lockdown. “In the initial days, most people were operating with the mindset that this is temporary and will end soon. Their thinking was more along the lines of, ‘We have a limited amount of time for ourselves, and we must make the most of it’. As a result, there was an uptick in cooking, exercising, learning new languages and other self-improvement activities. People were taking time off their regular schedules to do things they hadn’t done before. There was a marked emphasis on self-care that only became more emphasised with the influence of social media,” explains clinical psychologist Arti Shroff.  

What’s changed now?

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Human beings require structure and routine to keep them going, adds Shroff. “In the absence of this routine, they can easily fall off the wagon and become complacent about life in general. By now, most people have become used to a very laidback way of life, where we don’t have to wake up on time, dress up and go out. There’s no social pressure on us to keep up our appearance of doing well. And, in many ways, that’s proving to be a deterrent,” she elaborates.

Suniel Sharma and Paromita Saha

Dr Payal Sharma, a psychiatrist at Rekindle Mind Clinic, points to a phenomenon called learned helplessness. It simply means that people stop trying. “When, nothing changes despite our best efforts, we give up. In the second wave, where we constantly see cases increasing, we stop wanting to work on ways of improving the situation,” she says.  

Step back and reassess 

“What made the second lockdown especially challenging was that we had to hit pause just as things seemed to be looking up. Knowing that there is a possibility of further lockdowns makes the situation bleaker. I was especially hit hard by the lack of social interactions and talking to the same set of friends and family members was tiresome. It’s even harder when you must pretend that everything’s okay. I’ve found that conversing with like-minded strangers through audio apps can help as you don’t feel judged and are reassured that you’re not the only one struggling to cope,” says Suniel Sharma, 37, a flight attendant. While experts emphasise the importance of a routine, the outcome may vary from one person to another.

Saha shares that while her partner thrives on a daily schedule, not being able to stick to one creates further pressure. “I’ve learned to not be as harsh on myself and take each day as it comes. Some days will be better than the others, and we have to make peace with that. Trying to do too much all at once further increases the sense of frustration and it can lead to you doing nothing at all,” she says.

Let’s work it out

If you’re struggling to fall back into a routine, Benafsha Gazdar, an exercise scientist and founder of Benercise, suggests incorporating some form of exercise into your routine. “Don’t wait for the next month, week or even the next day to get started. Do something, no matter how little, and you will soon experience physical and mental benefits. Merely incorporating a workout into your day can inculcate a sense of discipline in other areas of life as well — whether in terms of sticking to a schedule or making healthy eating choices,” she suggests.