＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, Japan is implementing various measures to prevent an outbreak of infection, including refraining from going out, avoiding crowded places, and suspending business operations.
Following the declaration of a state of emergency for seven prefectures on April 7, the entire country of Japan was declared under the state of emergency on April 17, with the deadline set to expire on May 6.
1. Concerns about “COVID-19 Fatigue,” “COVID-19 Stress,” and “COVID-19 Depression”
During the Edo period, samurai and court nobles who received house arrest were subject to a criminal punishment known as “chikkyo heimon,” in which they were confined to a room in their residence, their gates closed to the public, and other access. Incidentally, lifelong confinement was called “eichikyo.”
To put it in extreme terms, many citizens are now living under a state of “chikkyo heimon.” Moreover, with no clear end in sight, it’s natural to feel depressed, suffocated, and anxious. It’s also understandable that people are gradually becoming fatigued.
Many people are at risk of experiencing these symptoms, ranging from mild “coronavirus fatigue” (a slight feeling of fatigue), moderate “coronavirus stress” (a feeling of intense stress), to severe “coronavirus depression” (a state of depression due to extreme stress).
This season may also be accompanied by a weather-related illness known as “spring fatigue” (spring fatigue), rather than summer fatigue.
2. How to Prevent and Deal with “Covid Fatigue,” “Covid Stress,” and “Covid Depression”
(1) Coping methods proposed by Professor Fumihiko Koyama of Toho University Medical Center
① First, improve your lifestyle (review sleep, diet, and exercise)
・Get good quality sleep
・Eat a well-balanced diet
・Get moderate exercise and stay physically active
② Don’t be overwhelmed by information (block out information)
・Leave things you don’t understand unanswered (build anxiety tolerance)
・Avoid normalcy bias (preconceptions, prejudices) such as “I’m the only one who can handle a little bit of stress”
・Avoid pessimism bias (being misled by rumors that incite fear and anxiety)
③ Maintain a sense of consistency Have coherence
・ A sense of willingness to overcome difficulties and live (a sense of meaningfulness)
・ A sense of being able to predict what will happen in the future (a sense of graspability)
・ A sense of being able to get support from those around you to deal with stress (a sense of manageability)
(2) Coping methods proposed by Masayuki Kano, a psychiatrist at Matsuzaki Hospital (Aichi Prefecture)
① Calmly examine your symptoms and realize that they are due to COVID-19.
② Stop following the news (information blocking)
③ Maintain a regular lifestyle and exercise as much as possible.
④ Anticipate a bright future.
⑤ Have gratitude.
(3) Coping methods proposed by Yasushi Fujii, clinical psychologist and associate professor at Meisei University
① Change your attitude toward information (information blocking)
Limit the time you spend watching TV and using your smartphone, and mute (hide) Twitter using keywords.
② Maintain your daily routine as much as possible while refraining from going out.
③ Accumulate successful experiences with coping strategies (dealing with stress).
Successfully dealing with stress through your own methods, such as reading a book or listening to music, can help prevent depression.
(4) A coping strategy proposed by Dr. Luana Marquez, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.
① Take time to disconnect from your phone and TV.
② Maintain healthy habits of eating, exercising, and sleeping.
③ Talk to others and stay connected.
④ Set a schedule and manage it clearly and with discipline.
⑤ Spend time with pets like dogs and cats.
The following two points are advice for those working from home (teleworking).
⑥ A small desk is fine. Separate your “personal” and “work” spaces.
⑦ Set a time to “switch” from “work mode” to “off mode.”