You're not always either depressed or fine. Sometimes you're just in the middle, and that's what is called languishing.It's a state where you're just meh. You're not really suffering, but you're not exactly fired up either.That state might lead to further mental health issues. Hence, it should be acknowledged.The best way to counter it is to get ingrossed in something, whether it's playing a game, improving a skill or simply watching a movie.

Our common understanding of mental health is a caricature

<h3>Listen to This Article</h3><div dir="ltr">Listen 9:15 </div>At first, I didn’t recognize the symptoms that we all had in common. Friends mentioned that they were having trouble concentrating. Colleagues reported that even with vaccines on the horizon, they weren’t excited about 2021. A family member was staying up late to watch “National Treasure” again even though she knows the movie by heart. And instead of bouncing out of bed at 6 a.m., I was lying there until 7, playing Words with Friends.It wasn’t burnout — we still had energy. It wasn’t depression — we didn’t feel hopeless. We just felt somewhat joyless and aimless. It turns out there’s a name for that: <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3090197" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">languishing</a>.Advertisement

The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus — and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

At first, I didn’t recognize the symptoms that we all had in common. Friends mentioned that they were having trouble concentrating. Colleagues reported that even with vaccines on the horizon, they weren’t excited about 2021. A family member was staying up late to watch “National Treasure” again even though she knows the movie by heart. And instead of bouncing out of bed at 6 a.m., I was lying there until 7, playing Words with Friends.

It wasn’t burnout — we still had energy. It wasn’t depression — we didn’t feel hopeless. We just felt somewhat joyless and aimless. It turns out there’s a name for that: <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3090197">languishing </a>.

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing

Our common understanding of mental health is a caricature

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