Just last night I couldn’t motivate myself to do anything important, which is a rare occurrence for me. I just felt completely drained. I started over thinking things and doubting myself, and wondering whether anything I do is worthwhile.
I sat there in this funk for nearly an hour and wondered how to snap out of it. Should I just forget about today? Should I just give up on this project in front of me, because I’m not as good at it as I thought I was?
That’s what I was considering, at least for a fleeting moment. But the better part of me knew this mild state of depression would soon pass. And just as I started to feel better, the thought of the discussion the passengers sitting behind me in a commercial bus while traveling few months ago trolled in my mind, it was all about the numerous challenges bedeviling our country.
I have listened to many of their litanies of the nation’s challenges which were centred on bad governances, transparency in governance, and a weakened economy system we’ve been piloting for ages out of boredom.
I was in this thought when a messages popped out on the screen of my phone to bring me back to life.
The opening lines of the text was scary and heartbroken at such a time like this when things seems unappealing to everyone, it was a season that’s not been fair to everyone of us.
“I feel so drained, so uninspired. I’m stuck again! My mind is spinning with worry and overwhelm and just a general lack of enthusiasm.”
The last time I spoke to her was months back when i promised to keep her posted on job opportunities as I was also a victim looking for where to try out my skills and develops other ones. She had asked me about anything I could share?
What she can reflect on and try to remember whenever she lost her motivation.
During this moment the thought of people going back to their business today after almost 2-months of working remotely struck my heart.
Many won’t be resuming their place of work due to their company downsizing during the lock down to meet up with their productivity and cover up for the loss of profit that have crept in due to their inefficiency of service been rendered.
Some already have their salary slashed to a lower percentage; if you’re among these set, be grateful you’re still in the system and will always have something to return to. Moreover there’s is high probability for you to get your salary back to 100% when things go smoothly again for the organization.
This is a time where people who lost their jobs become depressed, miserable, and despondent just because of their inability to show strength, courage and perseverance which would have helped to overcomes the adverse situation and becomes an encouragement and inspiration.
It’s no joke that a higher percentage of this people have nothing to leverage on after reliving them from their office, just because they have nothing to augment what they made from their business or salary.
This is a tropical example of Nigeria working class, who only rely just on salary to survive, once salary stops coming for some months, then they’re in trouble.
The coronavirus has introduced a mentally draining situation for all of us. But that means we can’t just stand on the sidelines and lick our own wounds. Look at the other people around you, and offer what you can to help. If there’s one good thing to come out of this, it will be our ability to care for each other.
It’s no gainsaying we’ve been extremely divided because of series of factors that align our differences in school of thoughts like politics, religion, ethnicity, and many others.
Let’s use this crisis as an opportunity to not beat up on the other side; let’s find some common ground and look out for one another. What makes us alike is much greater than what separates us. We’re all wary of the unknown; we all want things to get back to normal. Focusing on that is a much healthier approach for both you and the people around you.