Practice Tips and Efficacy
Languishing: The Emotion of 2021?
by Charlene Lam, MD, MPH, FACMS
It’s been over a year since COVID-19 entered our lives and the numbers of vaccinated individuals are increasing; however, the collective emotion, instead of hopeful, may be more “blah.” In a recent New York Times article1, Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, describes this mental state as “the void between depression and flourishing – the absence of well-being. You don’t have symptoms of mental illness, but you’re not the picture of mental health either. You’re not functioning at full capacity.” The constant stress, change, and unknown over the past year can leave you feeling not at your best with the inability to focus. These feelings have been termed as “languishing” by Emory sociologist Corey Keyes and while these symptoms may not clinically significant now, it can put one at risk for depression and anxiety in the future.
One of the first steps to improving these feelings is to recognize and identify these emotions. You are not the only one feeling foggy – it is a shared and common feeling. Grant contends instead of saying you are “Great!” or “Fine!,” acknowledge that you might be “languishing.”
The next step is to find your “flow,” Grant advocates. Flow is the state of complete absorption into a project or task in which your sense of time melts away. In our recent study2 of burnout in Mohs Surgeons (pre-pandemic), we found 41% of Mohs surgeons’ experienced emotional exhaustion, the feeling of being overextended. While the inherent nature of Mohs surgery with multiple ongoing surgeries and prompt determination of clear histologic margins ascertain a high level of task-switching and interruptions has likely given you practice in handling disruptions, the pandemic has taken that to the next level with additional roles you may now play (e.g. teacher, full-time cook, etc.) and a sense of uncertainty. Finding uninterrupted time to concentrate on something that is enjoyable but manageable can be a challenge when you are in the office or even at home these days. Grant explains, “Sometimes it’s a small step toward rediscovering some of the energy and enthusiasm that you’ve missed during all these months.” Eliminate distractions or break up your goals into smaller accomplishable tasks. Try turning off your email notifications during the day, most likely that email can wait. Instead of expecting the perfect rosemary cheddar sourdough bread on the first bake– focus on the act of folding the dough and getting a good proof. “Fragmented attention is an enemy of engagement and excellence,” he said.
Finally, give yourself some self-compassion and grace. We have experienced loss and grief so find the joy in small wins. Schedule that uninterrupted time where you have the freedom to focus. The sense of progress is the daily joy in life. For example, I missed the deadline for this article (Thank you Dr. Billingsley and Vanessa Goodman for your grace!) and as I type this final paragraph, I can feel a sense of relief and joy. While I realize this is a not Pulitzer prize piece, the small win of accomplishing the task is enough for me today.
- Grant, A. There’s a name for the blah you’re feeling: it’s called languishing. The New York Times. April 19, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html (accessed April 27, 2021).
- Lam C, Kim Y, Cruz M, Vidimos AT, Billingsley EM, Miller JJ. Burnout and resiliency in Mohs Surgeons: a survey study. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2021. Accepted.