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To do this week: Conquer these four kinds of fatigue

This week: Deal with fatigue, and think about what summer travel and indoor dining might look like after the vaccine.

You're not tired, you're exhausted. Here's how to break through it.
You're not tired, you're exhausted. Here's how to break through it.Read moreCynthia Greer

On the to-do list this week: Are you tired? More than a lazy weekend can cure? Yeah, we feel you. We have tips for dealing with different kinds of exhaustion that we’re all experiencing right now. And if dreaming about summer vacation is helping you get through the now, we have a guide to how to think about summer travel. And we asked experts about indoor dining once they get the vaccine.

And remember: We’ve collected our best Philly tips all in one place here.

Stay healthy, stay safe, and, as much as possible, it’s still a good idea to stay home.

thingstodo@inquirer.com

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Here is one highlight from our weekly events calendar:

  1. 🦕 Big Time: Life in an Endangerous Age, Philadelphia Zoo (Animals / in-person / kid-friendly / multiday) Twenty-four life-size animatronic dinosaurs and their saber-tooth tiger and woolly mammoth friends: They’re not just for the Academy of Natural Sciences or stadium parking lots anymore. The prehistoric predecessors to the zoo’s real-life residents take you on a trip through time. Also new: a limited-edition Dino-Key unlocks true dino stories throughout the exhibit. Ages 2+. (Zoo admission: $19-24; Big Time admission: additional $6; members only: March 25-Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., philadelphiazoo.org)

🔎 Find more of this week’s events, and we even have a kid-friendly events calendar, too.

Are you exhausted? Here’s what to do about it

Never before have we been so physically and emotionally tired at the same time. And it’s created an endless loop of fatigue. Elizabeth Wellington looked at the different kinds of exhaustion that are plaguing us, and what to do about it:

  1. Mental fatigue. No matter how much you try to concentrate, your brain jumps from idea to idea. And frankly, you find it hard to sit still for long periods of time. You have a lot of projects on tap, but little to no motivation to get anything done. What to do: Go for a walk. “Walking activates the positive chemicals in our brain. And when you return back to your task, you will feel better. The fog will be lifted, and you will be better able to focus.” — Jaime Zuckerman, Ardmore-based clinical psychologist.

  2. Emotional fatigue: You are tired of worrying all of the time. The worst case-scenarios roll around freely in your brain. As a result, you just don’t want to do anything. You feel stuck. Some days it’s hard to get out of bed. What to do: If a task seems too big, take small steps. “Do what you need to do. If you wait to feel better, you will never get anything done.” — Zuckerman.

  3. Social fatigue. On one hand, you miss seeing your friends in person. On the other, you are tired of seeing them on social media, but you can’t seem to put the phone down. What to do: Make plans. Also make sure you follow the social-distancing guidelines, and manage your expectations. “Stop relying on technology to maintain friendships and make plans to meet friends.” — Shawn Blue, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Jefferson University Hospital

  4. Zoom fatigue. You are completely and totally talked out. The back-to-back meetings have left your brain scrambled. You spend more of your days meeting than working. What to do: “There are some meetings that you don’t have to attend. There are others you can turn the camera off. Be mindful of your time and attend meetings accordingly.” — Cynthia Watson, CEO of Canadian-based virtual consulting company, Virtira

» READ MORE: Pandemic exhaustion is different from just feeling tired. Here’s what to do about it.

Dreaming of summer travel

Spring is here, which just makes us think about summer. But, no matter what, summer vacations are still going to look different this year, even if you’ve had the vaccine. Nick Vadala breaks down what to know about your time off this summer.

  1. Can I travel? Yes and no. It’s allowed: Pennsylvanians are free to travel. But the CDC advises you to “delay travel and stay home” to protect both yourself and others from getting sick, even if you have been vaccinated.

  2. What if I’m vaccinated? If you are fully vaccinated, and it’s been two weeks since your final shot, you may be able to feel more comfortable around others who are also vaccinated. “You can feel safer getting on a train or public transit, but it isn’t time to let down your guard,” says Michael LeVasseur, visiting assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health. “If you want to get a cabin in the woods with family or friends who have been vaccinated, who you feel safe with, I’m cool with that. If you want to go out to the bars in New Orleans, I’m not cool with that.”

  3. If you go anyway. Stay cautious. Even if you are vaccinated, much of the general population is not — and herd immunity is likely still a ways off. That should impact your decision to travel or not, and also how you behave if you do go — specifically regarding social distancing, wearing a mask, and keeping out of crowded areas. “Can you travel? Yes. Should you estimate your risk and act accordingly? Yes,” says Seth Welles, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel’s Dornsife School of public health. “Should you take your mask off? Hell no.”

» READ MORE: What to know about traveling for summer vacation this year

Ask the experts: ‘Would you dine inside a restaurant right now?’

Once we’re vaccinated, is it safe to rejoin the world, or at least go out for dinner? Experts we talked to are split. Grace Dickinson breaks down what’s safe for indoor dining once you’ve had the shot.

» READ MORE: Is indoor dining safe once you’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine? Experts are split on the risk.