By: Melica Baboldashtian
COVID-19 has disrupted the way we carry out our day to day lives. We are now weeks into not seeing many of our friends and family, taking classes online, and unfortunately might have even filed for unemployment. With these stressful circumstances, it is important to focus on our mental health and well-being through different strategies and resources available.
Wellbeing Strategies While Quarantining:
Healthy foods are beneficial to strengthening our mind and body. Good nutrition keeps our immune system strong while also changing the way we think, sleep and feel.
Exercising is also another way of practicing a healthy mind and body. Exercising regularly leads to lowering the risk of getting diseases, feeling happier, having higher energy levels, bettering sleep quality and skin, and weight loss.
Sleeping at the same time every night helps with your body's circadian rhythm. This will lead to better sleep and being more awake and focused throughout the day.
Declutter and organize your space. Whether it be decluttering your room, phone, or computer, a decluttered space leads to a decluttered mind.
Limit consumption of news if necessary, especially now where the news seems to be emotionally taxing.
Start a new hobby that sparks your interest and it might even become a new way for you to practice self-care.
Start budgeting your expenses and finances. Many of us have become unemployed and money is becoming a bigger issue day by day. Managing your money will ensure that you don’t spend more than you can afford while also reducing financial problems in the future.
Student Resources and Tips While Quarantining:
Create a Schedule: Planning your classes and time for studying or homework allows you to maintain a good balance of school and personal needs. In other words, maintaining a good work-life balance where you have a purpose/goals to achieve while being able to have time for your own hobbies and free time.
Limit Distractions: As classes have become online, it is very easy to become distracted during zoom classes and many times distracted by our phones. Therefore, limit phone usage through different apps or leaving your phone on “do not disturb” to reduce phone related distractions!
DRC Accommodations: The stress of current circumstances has challenged our mental health and our anxiety with exams. Especially during the coronavirus where the majority of students are now back home, distraction from other household members impacts the way we take timed exams combined with troubles we might have with our mental health. If this is one of your concerns, contact the Disability Resource Center for testing accommodations or anything else you may be concerned for. To contact them, you can connect with a Reception Staff on Zoom using this link (ucsc.zoom.us/j/9542521577) and meeting ID: 954 252 1577. You can also send an email to drc@ucsc.edu.
Slug Support: A program that provides different resources to support students, including financial resources. To contact them, leave a detailed voicemail at 831.459.4446, including your name and a telephone number at which you can be reached. You can also send an email to deanofstudents@ucsc.edu.
CAPS: Counseling and Psychological Services is still open! They are offering a range of resources, most of which are online. This includes Let’s Talk, Individual Counseling, Counseling Groups, and more! You can call CAPS 831-459-2628 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions. You can also visit the CAPS website by clicking on the link here if you want to learn more about CAPS resources.
While there are many strategies, tips and resources available, it is still normal to feel down at times or unproductive. Remember, it is also okay to do nothing. We just have to be aware that it is okay and to try to not to be so hard on ourselves. Day by day we will learn, we will manage, and we will adapt.