Some thoughts on covid-19
These are definitely strange times right now, and extraordinary times call for a bit more self care than usual. Here are a few ideas of ways you can take care of yourself in between your Zoom classes and homework:
1. Facetime with friends - we are all so connected already, which is great! However, since we aren't getting our typical amount of face-to-face time, try and make that extra effort to videochat.
Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are great (sort of) -- but give them a break every now and then to have a good chat with your friends.
2. Stay active! Find an exercise video you like on YouTube - even the least active of us are used to walking to and from school, strolling up and down Aventino, or climbing the stairs all the way from L-9 to the library. There are workout videos on YouTube for everyone - intense core workouts, yoga-style stretching, and everything in between.
3. Diversify the way you are getting information - screens tire out our eyes. If, at the end of the day, you still need to finish that book for English class, then maybe give audiobooks a try. Try a free 2-week trial of Audible or see if there are any podcasts relevant to what you are studying.
4. Having trouble falling asleep? - The combination of stress and increased screen use might be making it hard to fall asleep. There are a few things you can try. Firstly, do your best not to look at your phone or laptop for 30 minutes before going to bed. Then, if your mind is racing as soon as you get into bed, you could try listening to a quiet (and perhaps slightly dull) podcast. Sometimes when your mind has something else to focus on, it helps to redirect unhelpful thoughts and anxieties that are stopping you from getting rest. On YouTube you will also find plenty of recorded guided meditations from Headspace and others. On Spotify, Headspace also has several recordings that you can access. We have even included our very own mindfulness recording below: