(WWJ) -- Devoid of social interaction over much of the past year and a half, many of us have become well-acquainted with being bored at home.
We've read books and magazines, watched nearly everything we've wanted to on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and whatever other streaming services we've recently signed up for.
You've likely given your "scrolling thumbs" a never-ending workout on TikTok, Facebook and other social media platforms.
Or maybe you've picked up a new hobby like gardening or baking. Whatever you've been doing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps your brain still feels sluggish and unstimulated.
Maybe you've accidentally put your milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the fridge one too many times.
But guess what -- you're not alone.
Enter the term "pandemic brain."
That's the "frustratingly subtle, gradual mental deterioration many of us have struggled with over the course of the pandemic," as the folks at Spider Solitaire Challenge put it.
They conducted a survey of 3,000 people to find out how many of us have experienced the dreaded pandemic brain, and moreover, how we're attempting to keep our minds sharp.
More than half of Michiganders -- 54% to be exact -- polled in the survey say they've experienced pandemic brain. So if you've noticed a decline in your cognitive abilities during this time, you're not alone.
In fact, the national average is 48%, according to the survey.
Nearly 1 in 5 respondents also said they've been making more mistakes at work over the last year.
It's not all in our heads, either. As it turns out, chronic stress has been linked to shrinking of the prefrontal cortex -- the part of your brain responsible for focus, memory and learning.
"Health anxiety, combined with endless doomscrolling through bad news on social media, has also added to our stress during this time," the survey says. "Over a prolonged period, cortisol -- the stress hormone -- also increases risk of heart disease, mood disruptions and sleep trouble."
An interactive map shows the results of Spider Solitaire Challenge's survey, by state. The website is an outlet for people "to keep them mentally active during the pandemic."
Despite the large number of people experiencing pandemic brain over the last year and a half, the survey also revealed that many have tried to help themselves out of the boredom rut: 79% say they've proactively taken steps during lockdown to keep their brains sharp with activities like crosswords and puzzles.
Nearly half (45%) of respondents said playing games online has kept their brains sharp. "Games that require strategy and forward-thinking are great for stimulating parts of the brain that we tend not to use on an everyday basis – especially if we're isolating," the survey said.
Lastly, when asked which generation suffered the greatest loss in terms of social isolation since the start of the pandemic, nearly one third of all respondents said Generation Z -- those born between 1996 and 2010.
