Social distancing is becoming a more common part of our lives, but that doesn’t mean your mental and emotional health should suffer. Managing stress and staying focused can help you keep your grades where you want them or maintain your motivation during your job search. If you are a current student struggling with mental health, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing therapy sessions via phone or zoom. Call 402-554-2409 to make an appointment.
Keep a consistent schedule.
Though sleeping in and staying up late might be very tempting now when there can be very little structure to our lives, try to keep a consistent schedule, as you would normally. Go to bed and wake around the same time each day. Plan when you will be doing your school work and studying for an exam. Utilizing a planner can help you outline your daily, weekly, and even monthly schedule.
All UNO students have a Google account through their university-affiliated email. Simply go to calendar.google.com and login with your UNO email address and credentials. From there, you can start to create your schedule. I like to color-code my calendar depending on if I am working, studying, or doing something in my personal time. You can also sync this calendar to your smartphone and receive reminders as push notifications. Check out our online workshop, Logistical Logistics, which walks you through how you can utilize Google calendar to match your scheduling needs.
Keep your workspace organized.
You might be staying inside the same space for your personal life, school work, and maybe even your job, so creating boundaries and staying organized might become especially difficult while social distancing. This may prove to be more difficult if you share most of your personal spaces with other members of your household, but if you can create a small space where you can work remotely or study, this can help to improve your focus.
Get plenty of sleep.
While practicing social distancing, you may be able to catch up on sleep. Researchers recommend that college students sleep 7-9 hours each night. Sleeping on a regular schedule for a set amount of time can help you manage feelings of stress and anxiety. Try to go to bed around the same time each time and wake up at a reasonable time in the morning, while still getting 7-9 hours of sleep.
Exercise Regularly.
Regular exercise can help you feel like you have a more normal schedule. If you hadn’t previously exercised regularly, add some to your routine. Start with your favorite kind of exercise 2-3 days each week for 20 minutes and slowly work up to a more regular routine of 4-5 days each week for 30-40 minutes. Follow H&K’s social media accounts for some short workouts you can do at home with little or no equipment. Many workout programs and applications are offering free premium accounts right now, including NikeTrainingClub, Adidas, and DownDog. If the weather is nice and you are permitted, go outside for a walk or jog a few times each week.
Meditation can also prove to help you manage stress and anxiety. YouTube has many free guided meditations. Popular applications for students include Calm and Headspace. Each of these sites have free and pro versions, some at a significant discount for students. Making this a regular part of your routine can also help to give you a sense of structure that you may be missing. I have found that meditating for a few minutes in the morning to replace my usual commute to work or school has helped a lot.
Drink plenty of water and eat healthy.
As you are keeping up with your exercise routine, be sure to drink plenty of water which can aid in keeping you alert and focused. Health professionals recommend that the average adult should drink 2 liters of water (or a half-gallon) per day. If you are regularly exercising, you might need to be drinking more.
Be sure you are maintaining a balanced diet. As tempting as it may be to hang on the couch binge watching the latest viral television series while eating junk food, remember that a balanced diet can also help you maintain a healthy sense of stability and routine while also helping you to feel healthy during these uncertain times. Something that has continued to help me feel grounded during this time is meal planning. At the start of each week, I plan out my meals for six days that week, leaving one day for me to be more spontaneous about what I eat. Once I’ve planned what I’ll be eating, I stick that to the door of my fridge or pantry, so every time I go to get something to eat, it acts as a sort of accountability buddy by reminding me what I should be eating that day.
Get in touch with your creative side.
Learning to do more in the kitchen can also help you to get in touch with your creative side. Maybe you have been wanting to learn how to make a new fancy dish, learn to paint, or just want some more relaxing time. I like to connect with my creativity through self-care by making homemade skin masks a few nights each week while watching an episode of my new favorite television series. My favorite homemade skin masks help me to keep my skin hydrated and feeling healthy.
Homemade Yogurt Turmeric Skin Mask
Combine one tablespoon of full fat, non-flavored yogurt with ¼ teaspoon of turmeric and one teaspoon of dry oats. After you’ve combined those ingredients, apply the mask to a section of skin for 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly wash with lukewarm water on a dark colored towel. Pat skin dry.
Homemade Honey Tea Skin Mask
Combine one teaspoon of honey with ½ teaspoon of matcha green tea powder and ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest (you can also use lemon juice). After thoroughly combining, spread a thin layer over targeted skin. Wait for 10-15 minutes before rinsing the mask with lukewarm water. Use a dark colored towel to rinse. Pat skin dry.
You are not alone.
Remember that especially during this time, you are not alone. The university has many different resources for current students, many of which are free. If you are unsure of which resource you may need or how to connect with a specific department, email us at unoacdc@unomaha.edu.
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