Things you can do to stay mentally healthy during this time:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly has the potential to be more destructive than helpful.

• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.

• Make time to unwind. In the midst all that is going on, find time to do some other activities you enjoy.

• Acknowledge your feelings: As I asked students to do in this video, it can be helpful to have "feelings checks" throughout the day. Some of us try to move on to the next thing, or find other distractions in order to avoid acknowledging any uncomfortable feelings. These feelings don't go away, and often catch up with us in other ways.

• Connect with others. While in person communication is limited at the moment, we are fortunate to live at a time when technology can connect us in other ways. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

MINDFUL MOMENT: Taking time to focus on the moment can be a powerful way to help take care of your mental health, especially during times of crisis. See below for a chance to practice mindfully "clearing the clutter" in our minds: