The Covid-19 pandemic is having various repercussions on the physical and mental well-being of Italians who, if on the one hand they feel even healthier than before, on the other, on an energetic level, they feel drained. The blame for this malaise would be attributable to a prolonged sense of uncertainty, to isolation and to the great efforts made to return to any form of normality.
This is what emerged from Vita ed Energia, the biorhythms of Italians 2020, the second edition of the research promoted by the California Almond community.
from 6% in 2018 to 10% today. The decrease in energy, then, is accentuated in subjects who have experienced the disease and are cured, having to face the aftermath of the virus, the so-called post Coronavirus cognitive fog that manifests itself with apathy, fatigue and asthenia.
The energy decreases as the day progresses
On average, the peak of charge is reached by most of the interviewees at 11 in the morning. From that moment a slow decline follows that leads many to go to bed tired (75% against 70% in 2018) or even exhausted (35% against 30% in 2018). An effect that also affects many those who had declared that they wake up full of energy, or 39% against 42% in 2018.
These sensations, however, do not seem to influence the perception of the state of health since 79% of those who participated in the study say they are well, 75% feel as they were before the outbreak of the pandemic and 15% even better.
natural (60%) and healthy (59%) and to take care of your body (54%), avoiding getting fat (53%) and taking in too many calories (50%). At the same time, the desire to experience pleasure through food is still very high. This is demonstrated by the fact that comfort food is at the top of the preferences of 51% of people, 55% of millennials.
“The effects of the pandemic have produced a greater concern for health and well-being. The interviewees express their intention to take care of their body, to control the caloric intake but, at the same time, they are looking for tasty food and consider the need to strengthen the immune system as very important ", comments Ambra Morelli dietician ASAND, Technical Association Scientific Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics. "At times like this, when we lack energy, we must remain proactive, creative, maintain an active lifestyle and eat healthy foods, even as snacks."
Sleep and supplements to recharge the batteries
When asked how to recover energy, 46% of Italians responded by sleeping, 24% by taking food supplements, 22.5% by consuming sweet snacks (compared to 25% in 2018) and 21% by healthy snacks, which rise from 19% in 2018 and surpasses remedies such as walking, exercising or yoga.
Specifically, the ideal energizing snack should be healthy, with good nutritional values for 29% of them, suitable for correct eating habits for 27%, natural and easy to eat for 26%.
To combat fatigue, Rolfing, a method with many benefits, and EFT, a healing method based on tapping the body's energy points could also be useful.
experienced by 60% of the interviewees, nervousness by 28.5%, sadness by 25% or self-disappointment by 17%.
Four out of 10 Italians often feel nervous or anxious, men (39%) and women (43%) and 39% feel mentally down more often than before (42% women Vs 36%) or have more difficulty sleeping.
In this sense, it is also essential to perform the right breathing exercises, able to keep stress under control.
Millennials more than others seem to be affected by the moment as 40% of them find it difficult to lead a normal life similar to that of pre-Covid-19, due to a lack of strength.
Women and Millenials the most affected
«In several of the areas investigated by the research, women and young people appear to be the most affected by the Covid scenario. I believe that women suffer more than men because, in addition to the excessive load of tasks they still have to bear (family management, work, housekeeping, etc.), they are, by psychic conformation, more empathic, they are more easily identified with community events. Younger people, on the other hand, by definition do not tolerate renunciations, restrictive rules, and today they have more difficulty than ever in planning their future. - commented psychotherapist Katia Vignoli. - In my practice I see women and young people most affected from the "alternation of" mood. I also recognize that the younger ones are the ones who have more difficulty in returning to normal: old habits seem to have lost their charm, the desire for something different emerges, often activating fantasies of "breakup", of radical life changes, such as moving to distant countries or reviewing one's professional choices. "Women, moreover, as evidenced by a research conducted by the" Associazione Proget to Endometriosis, they noted concern in access to treatment for other pathologies, for the lengthening of waiting lists and the need to incur costs for referring to a private specialist.
