Why do we feel so tired in lockdown?

One of the key reasons why being under lockdown during a health pandemic is draining is because we’re experiencing a lot of mental strain, says Dr Sarita Robinson, principal lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire. “We expect to feel tired when we have been on a run or have completed an exercise class.

What’s it like being in lockdown?

Everyone has different experiences of lockdown – you might be finding things hard with your family, or you may miss the routine of being at school and seeing your friends. Whatever you’re feeling you have every right to feel that way – the most important thing is to speak to an adult you trust if you find yourself struggling.

How has Lockdown impacted our self-concept?

“This time of reflection might lead to increases in ‘self-concept clarity’ – the degree to which people have coherent beliefs about themselves and their goals in life,’ she says. For people with a supportive partner, then the intense period of the lockdown might have offered a welcome opportunity for personal growth.

How will the end of Lockdown affect your mental health?

With an end to lockdown, there is likely to be an initial increase in social stress, social anxiety and a return of status anxiety.

Does Lockdown cause loneliness and depression?

For instance, Thuy-vy Nguyen at the University of Durham and Netta Weinstein at the University of Reading monitored the loneliness and depression of 800 people in isolation through the first weeks of the lockdown and found no adverse effects.

Why don’t we know more about people’s experiences of Lockdown?

This is partly due to the lack of longitudinal data, but also because people’s experiences of lockdown were so different and would have interacted with their pre-pandemic traits.

What is it like to be a lockdown parent?

Although essential to slow and prevent the spread of coronavirus, the lockdown has created difficult situations for many people – many of which are exhausting. Parents are now juggling working from home while caring for children who aren’t in school, without the help of relatives or friends.