Mental Health and Coping During Covid-19 - Nina Greene
- Global Health Advocates
- Dec 1, 2020
- 2 min read
Throughout this pandemic, Covid-19 continues to disrupt life as we know it. Fear and anxiety have spread throughout the world because of the uncertainty of our future. For me, it started the last semester of my senior year of high school. Back then, I didn't believe we would stay quarantined from school for longer than the week that they announced. The next thing I knew, I was graduating with a mask with five family members there to watch me cross the stage. Now fast forward to the present, the virus is still around while I am currently finishing my first semester of college. Adjusting to our new lives can take a toll on our mental health while other important factors can contribute. To combat this, here are three tips that I use that help me cope.
Take a break from the news. It is great to stay informed but at a certain point, it can do more harm than good. It's also important to get your information from reputable sources! I set a time limit on how long I read certain news a day so I don't repeatedly see upsetting news or images but also remain informed.
Take care of your body. This can be achieved in many different forms such as meditation, stretching, yoga, etc. I think it's important to focus on your breathing at least twice a day. This can be in the morning and nighttime or whenever you feel stressed! Eating well and getting enough sleep is important as well. As a college student, sometimes sleep can be the last thing I'm thinking about but making an effort to get that extra hour can make all the difference!
Stay connected with family and friends. It is hard to continue to be social especially due to social distancing measures put in place. Because of this, it is so crucial to remain connected in some way possible with the supportive individuals in your life. For me, I call my mother once a day to check up on her and text my other family and friends regularly. This may help remind you of your support system if you ever feel lonely during this pandemic.
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