No matter where you are in the world, what you study, or what jobs you may have, I am sure at some point this semester, you have felt overwhelmed. With the global pandemic living amongst us, it’s hard to let some worries escape your mind.
“How much did the number of positive cases rise today?”
“I really wish I could hang out with my friend today, but how do I do that safely?”
“I need to get groceries, but is going into a crowded Harris Teeter during busy hours worth it?”
Luckily, we have school to distract us from all of these worries. Except for the fact that professors have been increasing workload to more than what it would be during a normal semester, it’s harder to stay organized online, and sometimes you’re not in the mental capacity to learn about network diagrams.
Related: How To Cultivate A Personal Schedule For Distance Learning
College students have it hard right now because while they should be trying to cope with the pandemic and the impacts it may have had in their life, schoolwork didn’t pause for them. There is no one specific to blame, but there really is no “pause” button for us.
If you’re someone like me, you’re living at home to keep yourself safe from the virus on campus. While I am grateful to have a roof over my head, it is much harder to learn in an environment that you used to only come to when you were on breaks. My brain associates coming home as a time for me to bond with my family, hang out with my high school friends or recoup and relax before I gear up for another semester back on campus.
If you’re a rising junior or senior, you may also have to start thinking about recruitment for internships and full-time positions. Not only is recruitment daunting, stressful, and exhausting, it can cause you to constantly second-guess yourself and your capabilities. Going on to LinkedIn and viewing everyone’s new job offers doesn’t help, either. If job searching is something that stresses you out, remember that you are not alone. We are all in the same boat.
Related: Navigating Job Recruitment During COVID-19: Here is What Some Experts Have to Say
On the other hand, we have something I like to call the “TikTok” culture. Most people I know are hooked on the app, and honestly, I am here for it. I love seeing how creative people are, and it puts a smile on my face most of the time. However, there’s an underlying message in most TikToks in my “FYP” that you must be productive during this time. All I see is how to eat healthy, how to lose weight in X amount of time, look at this cool side project I’ve been working on, here’s my workout regime, etc. It can be toxic, and make you feel guilty if you aren’t balancing everything during this time.
Luckily, I have found ways to calm me down when I start feeling overwhelmed and stressed during these ~unprecedented~ times.
1. Talk to Those Around You
More likely than not, there will be people that relate to you and your stress. We are all going through this pandemic together, and there’s a beautiful unity to that. Don’t be afraid to reach out, and express your feelings. Sometimes a Zoom or FaceTime call will do the trick.
2. Don’t Feel Guilty About Taking a Nap
Regardless of TikTok culture telling you to be productive, or the pile of homework that lies ahead of you. Take. A. Nap. Sometimes our brains need to reset to work more efficiently and effectively. It’s ok to take a time out and get some well deserved ZZZs.
3. Re-discover Your Relaxation Time
In the midst of all these things happening around us, we sometimes forget about ourselves. We always focus on what we should be doing instead of what we want to be doing. Do things that make yourself happy, without feeling guilty. If binge-watching “Selling Sunset” (fantastic show, BTW) is what your heart desires, so be it. If cooking a meal you know is not the best for you, but it’ll make you happy, then that’s all that matters! There is no better time to be kind to yourself than during a global pandemic.
4. Try to Move Around
Most days, I find myself sitting in front of my computer and typing away. Doing this for a week really impacted my mood. I became more irritable and cranky, my eyes burned from looking at a screen for so long, and most importantly, my back started to hurt. Try to set alarms to get up and walk around the house during the day. Something even better would be to go on walks. Nothing makes me feel better than going outside, and simply walking around my neighborhood. It brings back a sense of normalcy, gets me out of my room and house, and I get a mental break from all my work.
5. Avoid Constantly Reading About the Virus
It’s tempting to check the news every day to track the virus in hopes that things are getting better. However, I have found that it actually stresses me out even more. There’s a difference between being informed and being too caught up. You don’t want to think about the virus all day, as it can impact your mental health and increase your anxiety levels. Instead, use that time to meditate, read a book, or watch an episode of your favorite show.
In case you are looking for some resources, here are some from the CDC:
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
Support for Teens and Young Adults
We are going through a hard time, collegiettes. It’s time to be kind and understanding to ourselves.