Anxiety and Mental Health

With the current situation we find ourselves in with the Coronavirus outbreak, it is perfectly okay to be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions right now. Some of you are homebodies or prefer online learning and may be enjoying staying home. Others may be experiencing various levels of anxiety and panic. Feeling some anxiety is perfectly normal right now. Often, the fear and anxiety gets worse when you feel like you don’t have control—but you do have control over many things right now.

Tips

Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
Stay socially connected. Since we all need to be practicing "social distancing" (or as I prefer to call it, physical distancing), we need to connect in ways that are safe. FaceTime a friend or family member regularly. Text someone you haven't heard from in a while. Have a Netflix viewing party via group FaceTime or Zoom. There are a lot of ways we can stay physically distance but socially connected!
Stay active. Fresh air and exercise is good for us in many ways, so go for a walk in your neighborhood or a park (while maintaining physical distancing). Some fitness apps are currently free to help support people over the next month (check out Down Dog for yoga—they also have other apps like HIIT and 7-minute workouts).
Do things that relieve stress for you. Check out apps such as Headspace or Calm if that appeals to you. Listen to music, or maybe pull out a board game and spend time with your family. Binge watch a new show on Netflix or read a great book.
Disconnect. After spending all day on your computer or phone, walk away from technology for a bit. Your eyes and brain need a rest.
If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust. Journaling is also a good way to sort out the thoughts in your head.
Write down things you are grateful for. There are so many benefits of gratitude and it can be life-changing. For now, it can help get you through these long days and help keep things in perspective.

School Specific Tips

Create a daily schedule. Try to stick to your normal routine as much as possible. Wake up at the same time that you normally would and save sleeping in for the weekends. Make sure you do something active every day, even for just 5 minutes. Don't forget to schedule in dinner and some quality family time as well.
Get up and move in between assignments. When you get a chance, walk outside for a minute just for some fresh air. Do some jumping jacks or stretches--anything to get your blood flowing. This will help to give you a burst of energy, wake up your body and brain, and help get you ready to tackle your next assignment.
Create a workspace. As hard as it may be, try to avoid making that your bed. It can be a desk, a table, or a space in your home that’s dedicated to your schoolwork and is as distraction-free as possible. Make it comfortable because you will be spending a good amount of time there.
Get dressed every day. Yes, hanging out in your pajamas all day is awesome, but putting on some regular clothes helps us shift into a work mindset and be more productive.