Using Technology To Help Combat Pandemic Fatigue

https://www.redbookmag.com/life/charity/a32050963/covid-inspiring-stories/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/smi.2975

By now you’ve heard the term “pandemic fatigue”. It’s a very real feeling of frustration and exhaustion stemming from the effects of Covid-19 on our lives. We’ve got a whole new normal...from stay at home orders and school closures to fear of getting ill or losing our jobs.

In the midst of this global pandemic, we’ve seen a significant rise in the use of technology which was already a significant part of our daily lives. “People are now spending even more time with technology while consuming news media, watching television, using social media to connect with others, utilizing lifestyle apps to shop for groceries and other consumer goods, and engaging in home workouts.” Not to mention the increase in engagement that’s required of students and teachers, and those working from home.

Just for a moment, let’s take a look back at just a few stories (among many) of how people used technology at the beginning of the pandemic to serve others and maybe we can be inspired to do the same in the midst of our pandemic fatigue:

• Daniel Goldberg, a junior in high school created a website called “Zoomers to Boomers” where senior citizens in his town can sign up to have high school students deliver their groceries.
  
  
• Katie Eborall used Facebook to inspire others with Post-it notes, a jar and some creativity. During stay-at-home orders, whenever her family wished they could go do something, they wrote it down and put it into the jar to create a bucket list for her family. It taught them not to take anything for granted, and shifted their focus from negative to positive.
  
  
• Kindergarten teacher, Janaki Nagarajan, read books to her students using Zoom which is now used by close to 100,00 schools world wide.
  
  
• Jay Weisenburger belonged to a trivia group that met at a local pub. When stay at home orders hit, his group decided to host their own private, virtual trivia night using the learning app Kahoot!

So the next time you’re on social media and are feeling overwhelmed with posts about COVID-19, be reminded of good, inspiring stories of people doing what they can to help. The message is simple -- no matter the circumstances, we can all be kind and do our part because we’re in this together.