Written by: Alexandra Cordero
Edited by: Claire Pham, Mae Ngo
The constant threat of the corona virus is among us, its threatening fist ready to punch us in the gut. While we await the imminent punch, it “surprise-attacks” us with multiple jabs to our mental health. It has become the start of a never-ending cycle of repetition. The punches just don’t stop. It’s impossible to get a break. Day after day we experience the same routine, completely exhausted. It seems like there’s no escape from this endless cycle: sleep, eat, study, eat, study, eat, wrack our brains some more and return to sleeping.
This isn’t just a pandemic in relation to a virus; it’s the beginning of a mental health crisis, on top of all other political, racial, economic, environmental, and discriminatory circumstances that we face. The people are calling out for help, yet it’s not expressed enough. If we cannot help ourselves first, how can we be expected to save the world? There it is again, the constant pressure to be doing something. Whether that be social media FOMO or the pressure to pick up a hobby, college prep and doing an outrageous number of activities to get ahead or please someone else, or even simply being caught up with work, we feel the responsibility to achieve too many goals at once.
Where does this lead us? Should we continue to devastate our own minds because we’re giving into the idea that whatever we do will never be enough? Are we to risk our own health and mental well being just to please others? Do we study or work day in and day out because it’s our only choice? It’s no one else's place but your own to answer these questions for yourself. Whatever your motivation, there needs to be a limit to your workload. Overstressing and overworking quite obviously tires the brain, but it tends to weaken our -- if you may -- souls. The initial motivation we have to complete something becomes lost in the sea of tasks.
It’s easy to just let ourselves go, but AwareFul wants to offer some advice:
TAKE A BREAK!
Remember this! We may hear this often but it’s true meaning is not stressed enough. We already do so much in our daily lives and overworking ourselves strains our bodies further, physically and mentally. Because of this, we need to give back to our body. It’s the vessel that carries us and we owe it to ourselves to take a break.
Now, what is taking a break? Being on the computer all day is physically exhausting in itself. While watching shows, playing games, or indulging in other online activities can count as taking a break from work, it still leads to an excessive amount of screen time in our lives. There are alternative solutions though, and we believe that these can aid us throughout stressful times in more ways than one. Many of these may seem easy or “dumb”, but if we become accustomed to listening to our bodies and knowing our limits, we allow ourselves to grow and remain strong.
Taking breaks is important, especially if you’ve been working on something for a long period of time without rest. Know when to stop and try to recognize when you’re tired or maybe even exhausted. When that happens, try to do whatever makes you happy. Relax, breath, and be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Here’s a list of some things you can do!
Breathe.
When you’re stressed, try taking deep breaths. Learning breathing exercises can be helpful for when you don’t have time to take really long breaks during work.
Play music that you enjoy!
Unplug, put on some music, and relax. Remember that it’s ok to stop liking certain songs; don’t force yourself to listen to them. If certain music is too distracting during work, there’s always lofi or acoustic works.
Take a mini-break
This could include snacking, taking a quick walk, showering, or anything that allows you to relax your brain a little. It’s often helpful for when you can’t quite seem to figure something out or solve a problem. If you’ve been working on a device for awhile, try letting your eyes rest for some time.
Create something, or simply do something that helps you relax.
If you enjoy creating music, creating art, forming puzzles, inventing contraptions, and such, explore that! As mentioned before, online things can also serve as de-stressors but should be taken in moderation!
Look back into your memories.
Reminisce on funny moments or good times in your life. Whether it be looking through photos or simply teleporting to the past in a time machine, remembering happy times can sometimes be a comfort and can help to boost your mood.
Listen to the sounds around you.
Go out in nature, or even listen to household noises. Even if it’s for a little bit, take the time to still your mind.
Take notice of the small things.
Explore places in your house you normally do not, look at old photos, slow down when you eat and savor the food, ask your family questions about their past.
Stretch
Stretching allows you to focus more on your body, and with time you can become more flexible :)
Eat or drink some tea.
Not limited to tea. We like eating.
Write.
Write down your thoughts or escape from the real world and try writing about something else that interests you. Journaling can oftentimes serve as a place to vent or maybe preserve good memories.
Spend time with the people you love.
This includes pets.
Take a nap.
Sleep is important for your health! :)
Color or meditate.
Mindfulness and meditation; relax and pay attention to what your body needs. Or don’t think at all and just color/do other things that relax you.
Take a drive.
Dance when nobody's watching.
Because no one is watching :)
Let go of things.
Whether that be a grudge, or a personal issue, give yourself that freedom.
Commit to an act of kindness.
Do something good for someone else; it can boost the moods of both parties involved :)
Treat yourself.
You’ve made it this far in quarantine, allow yourself to enjoy something nice. You deserve it!
Accept.
Accept yourself, smile, indulge in yourself and recognize what makes you unique.
Listen to yourself.
Avoid negative thoughts but when you have them accept them, acknowledge them and grow from them. Avoid avoiding. Hehe.
Reference for some ideas: Link
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