Many of us have had to make significant changes to our everyday lives in the face of uncertainty and adversity related to COVID-19. As life continues to change, it’s important that we show ourselves compassion through this process. Here are some ways to cope and practice resiliency during COVID-19.
Keep in touch
Keep in touch and check in on your family, friends, classmates and colleagues. Ask how they’re doing and let them know you care. If you’re struggling, identify someone close to you who you trust and talk through things with.
Get connected on campus
Connecting with other students can help you feel more connected to campus and CU. There are lots of ways to get involved and meet new friends, even if things are different. Here are a number of resources to help you meet new people and make lasting connections.
Move your body
Physical activity and movement are great ways to relieve stress, get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. Make it a habit to stay active throughout the day and week. The Rec Center on campus has a number of options for students, including weight rooms, lap swimming, classes, intramural sports leagues, outdoor adventures and more. Find activities that work for your schedule and make you feel good.
If you’re not up for going to the gym, consider taking your movement outside with yoga, hiking, biking, water activities or going for a walk. Remember to bring water, sunscreen and a face covering with you. Even when you’re outdoors, it’s important to maintain 6 feet of space between you and other people.
Get a good night’s sleep
Getting adequate sleep (7-9 hours each night) can help improve our mental and physical health, reduce stress and improve our memory. Sleep also plays a key role in our ability to learn and retain and can impact our mood and energy levels throughout the day.
You can improve the quality and duration of your sleep by turning off your electronics at least one hour before you go to bed, setting up an ideal sleep environment (quiet, cool and dark), avoiding caffeine or exercise at night and working on a bedtime routine that includes relaxing activities to help you settle in.
Practice self-care
Self-care is any activity that we intentionally do to take care of our own mental, emotional and physical health. Sometimes, self-care is short term, like eating a sweet treat. Other times, self-care is more long term, like learning how to budget or getting enough sleep each night. The important thing to remember is that self-care looks different for everyone. If someone else’s version of self-care doesn’t match your own, that’s okay. Do what you need to do to feel better.
Here are some ways that you can start practicing self-care:
Create a routine
Creating a sustainable routine can help ease anxiety and worries we may have around uncertainty. Routines can also be a great way to work self-care activities into our everyday lives. When creating a routine, start small and take steps that are sustainable for you. For instance, it may be helpful to study in the same place or set up a morning routine where you journal for 5 minutes before heading to class. You can also schedule a weekly check in with friends or family members and call them on the same day each week.
Identify areas of control
It may feel like a lot of things are out of your control right now. While this may leave you feeling uneasy, it’s important to identify areas in your life that are within your control. For instance, you may not be able to control if other people follow public health guidelines, but you can control your own reaction to those people. Additionally, you can control how often you wash your hands throughout the day, how you process your thoughts (talking it out, journaling, etc.) and how you keep in touch with friends or family.
Be mindful of negative coping strategies
Sometimes we may use coping strategies that do more harm than good. Using alcohol or drugs, oversleeping too much or numbing ourselves from our feelings may help in the moment, but are likely to cause more problems long term. If you notice you are struggling to cope in a healthy way, you can always ask Health and Wellness Services for help. Check out a number of campus resources below that can help you get on the right track and promote your mental health.
Campus resources
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