Wellness Wednesday
March 10, 2022
College Students
Staying Healthy & Happy
Self-care & Wellness During Covid-19
The last year has been hard for most. But for many 18-22 year old’s it has been nearly unbearable. It's totally normal to feel sad, anxious, frightened, angry, or whatever other emotions you are feeling. The stress of the pandemic makes it extra important for you to practice self-care, and the tips and resources below can help you with this.
- Don’t underestimate your own resilience. People often overestimate how much negative events will impact their lives, and underestimate how well they can cope (source: 7 Science-Based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety). Just to get where you are today, you’ve probably overcome many difficult situations that seemed insurmountable at the time. Have confidence in your ability to get through this.
- Keep to your routines as much as possible. When we’re stressed, it’s easy to fall out of our regular routines and develop less-healthy habits, like staying up late or streaming Netflix all day. Think about your normal routine, and hold yourself to it if you can.
- Try to create new healthy habits for yourself. For example, if you’ve been meaning to start exercising or doing yoga, now might be the right time to create a new habit that will get your endorphins flowing. There are tons of workout videos online, and many companies are offering free resources right now – visit this Good Housekeeping article for a list of lots of great options.
- Stay informed, but monitor your media intake. It’s important to keep up-to-date. But constantly consuming media can make us feel more anxious, less in control, and less safe. Try limiting your media intake.
- Seek support and stay social. Maybe now more than ever, it’s important to take care of our social wellness, even as we practice physical distancing. Call, FaceTime, or Snapchat a friend or family member every day. Start a group text or Google Hangout with your study partners. Engage instead of just scrolling through your feed.
- Adopt mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Practicing meditation, deep breathing, and being present can help with worries and anxiety. Find free meditation and mindfulness resources at Calm.com, Headspace, and Ten Percent Happier.
- Look for meaning in your life. We all have something that gives us meaning, fulfillment, and purpose in our lives. It might be creating art or music, connecting with our religious or spiritual practices, caring for our families, giving back to our community, or something else. Use this time to reflect on what makes life meaningful for you, and find ways to connect with your purpose.
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Access professional help if you need it. If you are feeling overwhelmed with sadness or anxiety, are harming or at risk of harming yourself, or feel that you can’t cope with what you’re experiencing, there are mental health services that can help. Many colleges offer remote counseling services or referral to outside mental health providers. Call your health insurance company or visit their website to find clinicians who are in your network. If you’re experiencing immediate crisis, call 911, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), or text “COURAGE” to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).