I expect research output overall to be down this year into next. Surely some people will cope better than others, and different types of research are more or less directly impacted (e.g., that requiring solo work at a computer, versus that requiring access to shared facilities that may be/have been closed, versus that requiring face-to-face contact with human subjects). Others will have additional direct challenges to their time: childcare may be closed and children may be learning from home rather than school, for example.

@paulgarrett's comment is exactly what I was thinking of as an answer:

> A small point: forgive yourself (as opposed to judging...) in this situation. It is crazy. To accidentally pretend that things are not crazy will obvs make you more crazy. My advice would be "cope with the bad current state, and wait to think about things later..."

...except I think this is the main point rather than a small one.


Besides that, it sounds like you're trying all the right things (eh, maybe not the booze, but if it *does* help you relax and if it's in moderation and not purely as medication then there's little harm).

I think the most "solvable" problem you have (or, at least, one I can provide some advice on) is this part:

> Compounding all this, I accepted several large projects in January which are now past due. *(...)* Writing, especially, is very difficult, which puts me further behind, which leads to more anxiety.

You're probably best off doing some prioritization (from @avid's comment: "What actually needs to be done by when? Can projects be reorganised to be more achievable? Can deadlines/deliverables be re-negotiated? Try and focus on completing one task/project at a time") and scheduling. There is no way you can make up for weeks of reduced productivity in an instant. Instead of worrying about everything you need to do (a circumstance I find myself in often; not new to COVID for me), set an *immediate-term* schedule for yourself.

The granularity might be something you experiment with, but **try to set *specific, achieveable* goals** for the next week, the next day, or the next hour. Do your best to meet them, but don't beat yourself up if you don't. Reevaluate your progress the next time you set goals. Try to focus on what you've accomplished.

It may be helpful to tier your short-term goals into:

 1. Things you will accomplish (today/this week) **no matter what** (except emergency, of course)

 2. Things you reasonably expect to accomplish

 3. Goals to aim for in an ideal world

Probably the things you slot into "3" might look like a normal week for you pre-pandemic, or even far less than normal, and that's fine. Focus on making bits of progress on your projects that you can feel good about. Be prepared to have days and weeks where you only accomplish the tasks under (1), then forgive yourself for not doing more, remind yourself you've at least achieved your personal minimum, and move on.

In closing, though, and echoing Paul: forgive yourself, you're under a lot of very understandable stress in a crazy time.