AMSA Wellness is back in 2022 with monthly posts!
It's been more and more frequent that you hear someone saying, "This feels like March 2020 all over again". The similarities are prominent. What was anticipation for another busy, in-person Winter quarter became uncertainty over whether things would be online again. 2 weeks with no in-person activity on campus has now turned into 4 weeks, and the rest of the quarter's status is still to be confirmed. We're back to Zoom University, and it's no surprise that a lot of people aren't very enthused by the prospect of being holed up in our rooms, staring at a screen for hours on end, with very minimal interaction with people face-to-face.
Not only does stress and anxiety increase with the fact that online classes might be more challenging for some people, going from a period where things did seem to be getting back to normal to what feels like going backwards can result in your mental health being challenged more. When the days blur together and
your routine feels like you are locked in an endless cycle of wake up, school, eat, sleep and repeat, it can be difficult to find excitement.
It's important to recognize that while we are restricted by certain guidelines with the Omicron variant, having a break away from the screen is beneficial for both our physical and mental health. It can avoid unnecessary eye strain and allows you to get up from the chair you've been slouching in all day. A change of environment is also really good for detaching from stress about a certain assignment, and maybe when you get back to it, you'll be able to look at it from a different angle!
Speaking about tips for dealing with the online environment, AMSA Historian Krys Phung said: "The biggest challenge was how to balance between work and mental wellness (which I did not know how for a long time). Being in isolation, unsure about the future, feeling like danger's everywhere probably took a toll on everyone's mind. I learned that it's always important, but especially important now, to take it one thing at a time, live in the present moment, connect to your loved ones, and exercise. In the end, from doing all of those, I learned to be kinder to myself and further on to other people, so happiness comes out of that naturally."
AMSA Community Service Officer Nolan Nguyen added that: "For me, the biggest thing was to stick to a schedule. First, while classes may be asynchronous, make it a point to watch the lectures at the assigned time on Webreg or actually attend the lecture if that's an option. Second, don't beat yourself up too much! Take a breath, go outside for a walk to get some fresh air, maybe even sit outside and do work for a change in scenery. Don't let yourself get sucked into a drab, lifeless, daily schedule, find ways to change it up a bit and most importantly take those breaks and know when you need time for yourself."
Some other ways to add some variety to your schedule is to have group study calls with your friends, and make sure you have enough time for pursuing your hobbies! As always, mental health resources can be found when clicking on the Resources tab in the menu bar.
