What day is it? For that matter, what month is it? I woke up today, looked at the calendar and realized four weeks have already passed since I penned my last blog. But wait, has it only been four weeks? So much has happened, and yet so much is the same.

It seems the only thing certain about 2020 is all the uncertainty. Will we be able to protect ourselves and our families against COVID-19? How in the world am I going to work from home and homeschool my kids? When can everything just get back to normal, or is this our new normal — at least until we have a vaccine? Should we be bracing for a “second wave” of this madness?

So many more questions than answers. The uncertainty of what a post-pandemic world looks like is weighing heavy on everyone’s mind. But there are also immediate problems to solve, not the least of which are the challenges in our food chains created as a result of seismic changes in shopping behaviors, food service contraction and disruptions from illnesses in our labor force.

In addition to solving all the problems caused by a novel coronavirus, we are working, parenting and living much differently than we were a few short months ago.

Of course, we are tired. Dealing with all of this is, quite frankly, overwhelming and exhausting. But “tired” is not sufficient to describe this feeling. “Tired” just does not do this justice.

“Weary” seems more appropriate.

Being tired is a temporary physical state. A good night’s sleep (or two) will go a long way toward remedying that condition.

Weariness, on the other hand, has much deeper impact. It goes beyond the physical, and taps into your emotional, relational and spiritual reserves. Your tank is literally drained. And sleep, no matter how much, will not fill it back up.

I remember experiencing similar weariness as a new mom. Well-meaning family and friends said, “Sleep while the babies sleep.” But sleep didn’t help. What I really needed was to follow the advice that another dear friend gave me, which was, “You can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself. Be selfish when it comes to self-care.”

And she was right. What I really needed was to do something for myself to replenish my empty tank. For me, at that time in my life, it was often grocery shopping. As odd as it sounds, time alone walking through a store and checking off a list as I filled the cart was “me” time, and it helped. I was a better wife, a better mom and flat-out a better person after those shopping trips.

Look around. Your family, your friends and your co-workers may very well be weary. It’s a common state right now. But you can’t support them effectively if you don’t take care of yourself first.

Ask yourself honestly if you are merely tired or if you are weary. This requires a high level of self-awareness and self-honesty. If you truly are only tired, then the remedy is simple — get more sleep. If you are experiencing something deeper, however, resolve to find ways to replenish yourself. It may require getting less sleep to work out in the morning. Or spending more quality time with friends (in a socially distant and responsible way, of course). I could list dozens of ideas, but only you know what works for you. Make the time to do it.

Once your tank is filled back up, you can turn your attention back to all the important people in your life who are depending on you to help them navigate the uncertainty of this situation.

Be well, friends. And now more than ever, be selfish when it comes to self-care.

Two months in: Are you beyond tired?

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