Photo by: Eric Mclean via Unsplash
Blog by Navi Gill
Feeling stressed and anxious are not unfamiliar feelings for students, especially right now with COVID-19 impacting our lives. Nearly two-thirds of students reported experiencing “overwhelming anxiety,” according to the latest Canadian national college health assessment (Global News, 2019).
Below are 5 simple tips to reduce stress and anxiety during this pandemic:
1. Have a routine.
Having a routine is a great way to stay organized and live a well-balanced life. A routine doesn’t have to be long; it can be a simple list of 4-5 things you would like to do daily.
This is an example of what your routine may look like:
- Wake up by 9am.
- Make breakfast.
- Check emails.
- Go for a 30-minute walk.
- Complete 3 tasks (laundry, homework, running errands etc.)
Now that you’ve completed your routine, you can spend the remainder of your day doing whatever you feel like! This will not only give you a sense of accomplishment – it will help improve your mental health too.
2. Minimize screen time.
Excessive screen time can lead to poor mental health, weight gain, and sleep problems (Comprehensive Primary Care, 2019). So how can we limit our screen time? Take a look at the tips below:
- Use the “limit screen time” setting in your mobile phone or on your TV.
- Turn on the “silent” setting on your phone to prevent notifications from appearing.
- Limit your social media notifications so they don’t distract from the more important parts of your day.
3. Take care of your physical health.
Staying active is critical to your mental health. Here are a few tips on looking after your physical well being:
- Eat well-balanced meals at regular times.
- Get enough sleep (sleeping at similar times each day can help your routine).
- Exercise daily – try finding a new outdoor hobby!
- Wear proper protection when you leave your home (plastic gloves, cloth or medical-grade disposable face mask, etc.)
- Wash your hands frequently.
4. Spend some time outside.
Spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to do a high-intensity activity, it can be as simple as sitting outside without any distractions. I’ve listed a few ideas below:
- Go for a walk/run/jog in your neighborhood or at a park.
- Watch the sunrise / sunset at a beach or a lake.
- Take a hike up at your nearest local mountain.
- Try new sports (soccer, basketball, tennis, badminton, softball, volleyball, etc.)
- Host a small distanced picnic or barbeque.
5. Learn a new skill.
Whether it’s taking an online course or learning a new hobby, there is a ton you can learn! Many courses are being offered for free during this time – Below is a list of websites that offer *some free courses:
- Coursera
- Harvard University’s free online courses
- Yale’s free course on learning gratitude and happiness
- Udemy
References:
https://globalnews.ca/news/5878420/post-secondary-mental-illness/
https://comprehensiveprimarycare.com/is-too-much-screen-time-impacting-my-quality-of-life/