Have you been feeling unmotivated and much less energetic than usual? You may have heard of what seems like a buzz word all over social media called “languishing”. If not, “languishing” is defined as “the absence of feeling good about your life” or the “lack of meaning, purpose, or belonging”. This term was coined by Emory University Sociologist, Corey Keyes, years ago but has recently gained popularity during the Covid-19 Pandemic (as cited in Young & McMahon, 2021). If you are languishing, you are still able to go through the motions of day to day life, but you don’t really feel any strong positive emotions.
Keyes (2021) explains that languishing is not the same as having a mental illness, but that people who are experiencing languishing now are at greater risk of developing a mental illness or even committing suicide in the future (as cited in Young & McMahon, 2021).
So how do you combat languishing?
Keyes (2021) suggests finding a project to work on which will motivate and distract you during Covid Times. He also recommends setting goals for yourself (as cited in Young & McMahon, 2021). Try to set so many goals to focus on each week, such as cleaning and organizing a specific room in your house, building or making something, getting a certain number of steps, or reading an informational or for-enjoyment book. These are just a few ideas.
In addition to engaging in special projects and finding exciting hobbies, we can also improve our energy levels and motivation by paying special attention to our diet. (See my post: 7 Anxiety-Reducing Foods). We should also try to exercise on a regular basis (See my post: Exercise and Our Mental Health). If you have a desk job, it is helpful to get up and give yourself a movement break every hour or so, just to stretch and get some steps (Cohut, 2018). Another helpful practice is meditation, which is proven to improve mood, energy levels, and executive function (Cohut, 2018). Executive function skills refer to concentration, thinking and decision making abilities (Understood Team, 2021). Lastly, we should ensure that we get enough sleep each night; Adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep a night (Cohut, 2018). It is helpful to have a set bedtime for each night and a relaxing bedtime routine.
References
Cohut, M. (2018, May 25). How can you boost your energy levels? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321938
Understood Team. (2021). What is executive function? Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/what-is-executive-function
Young, R., & McMahon, S. (2021, May 4). Living, but not flourishing: The pandemic-fueled feeling known as ‘languishing’. Here & Now. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/05/04/languishing-pandemic-mental-health