THE haze does not only obscure our skyline. When it lingers for days, it can also cast a shadow over our state of mind.
At first, we respond practically. We close the windows, switch on the air-conditioning, check the Air Pollutant Index and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. Events are postponed, exercise routines are suspended and families spend more time indoors.
But as one hazy day stretches into another, the disruption begins to feel heavier.
Personally, I have noticed how being confined indoors affects my mood. There is a sense of restlessness that is difficult to shake, especially when stepping outside for some fresh air is no longer an option.
Before the haze, a simple walk could offer a much-needed break from the pressures of work and everyday responsibilities. It was a chance to clear my head, move my body and temporarily step away from the constant stream of messages, deadlines and news.
Now, even opening the door requires a quick check of the air quality.
As a mother, I also have to consider whether it is safe to take my young son outside. Our usual walks have been put on hold, leaving us to find different ways to occupy our time indoors.
That small change may not sound significant, but it affects the rhythm of the entire day.
Young children become restless when they are unable to explore freely. Parents, in turn, must expend more energy keeping them occupied while managing their own work and responsibilities.
Over time, that combination of confinement, disrupted routines and concern about health can become mentally exhausting.
The psychological effects of the haze are perhaps less visible than its physical effects.
We are frequently reminded that polluted air can irritate the eyes and throat, worsen respiratory conditions and pose a greater risk to children, the elderly and those with existing health problems.
However, less attention is given to how prolonged haze can leave people feeling anxious, frustrated, irritable or emotionally drained.
There is the constant worry about whether the air will worsen. There is disappointment when family plans or community events are cancelled. There is also the helplessness of knowing that, no matter how tightly we close our windows, we cannot control what is happening outside.
For people who rely on outdoor activities to manage stress, the disruption can be particularly difficult.
Walking, jogging, cycling, hiking or simply sitting in a park may appear to be recreational activities, but they can also serve as important outlets for mental wellbeing. They allow people to move, breathe, socialise and briefly separate themselves from the demands of work and home.
When those outlets are suddenly removed, the walls can begin to feel as though they are closing in.
Not everyone has access to a gym, a spacious home or an effective air purifier. Some live in small rooms or crowded households where remaining indoors for long periods may bring its own stress.
Then there are those who do not have the option of staying inside.
Delivery riders, hawkers, fishermen, construction workers, traffic personnel and others whose livelihoods require them to be outdoors must continue working despite the conditions.
For them, the haze may produce another form of anxiety: the choice between protecting their health and earning enough to support their families.
Advice to reduce outdoor exposure is necessary, but we must acknowledge that it is easier for some people to follow than others. Employers should also consider reasonable measures to protect workers, including reducing prolonged exposure, allowing additional breaks and ensuring appropriate protective equipment is available.
Communities, too, can play a part by checking on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
Someone living alone may find prolonged confinement especially isolating. Parents may feel overwhelmed while trying to entertain children indoors. Those already dealing with anxiety or low moods may find the grey skies and disruption to their routines particularly difficult.
Sometimes, a phone call or a simple message asking, “Are you coping?” can make a difference.
We should also give ourselves permission to acknowledge that the haze is affecting us mentally.
Feeling frustrated or low does not mean we are overreacting. Our environment has a powerful influence on how we feel. A lack of sunlight, reduced physical movement, isolation and uncertainty can all affect our emotional wellbeing.
During periods like this, it may help to maintain some form of routine indoors. Light exercise, regular breaks from screens and conversations with family or friends can prevent the days from becoming too monotonous.
It is equally important not to spend every waking moment monitoring air-quality readings. Staying informed is necessary, but repeatedly refreshing the numbers can add to our anxiety without changing the situation.
As a journalist, I have often covered the haze through official statements, API readings, health advisories and postponed events.
Yet the story is not only about statistics.
Behind every reading are people adjusting their lives – children unable to play outside, workers enduring long hours in polluted air and families trying to manage the stress of being confined indoors.
There are also the small, easily overlooked losses: the evening walk that did not happen, the family outing that was cancelled, the exercise session that was skipped and the simple pleasure of opening the windows to let in fresh air.
The haze reminds us that clean air is not merely an environmental concern. It is connected to our physical health, mental wellbeing, livelihoods and quality of life.
It also reminds us that resilience should not mean simply learning to tolerate unhealthy conditions. We should not become so accustomed to recurring haze that we regard it as an inevitable part of life.
We must continue demanding long-term solutions rather than accepting haze as an unavoidable seasonal inconvenience.
Prevention, enforcement, regional cooperation and responsible environmental management all matter. So does recognising the human cost of prolonged pollution.
In the meantime, we can take sensible precautions, care for those around us and be gentler with ourselves when the confinement begins to feel overwhelming.
We can find small ways to maintain movement and connection. We can check on neighbours who may be struggling. We can give children space to express their frustration. And we can remind ourselves that feeling tired, irritable or restless during an extended period of disruption is a perfectly understandable response.
Eventually, the skies will clear. The windows will open again. Children will return to playgrounds, runners will return to the roads and families will once again be able to enjoy the outdoors without first checking an API reading.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sarahhafizahchandra@gmail.com.
