Today: Mar 29, 2024

Students find new practices for self-care during pandemic

 Amanda Cavoto – Arts & Entertainment Editor

Sofia RositaniReporter

Being quarantined for a long period of time can cause stress, depression, and anxiety in many according to the Central for Disease Control. However, despite the unprecedented interruption to the spring semester 2020, there are some ways students can relax and practice self-care during the time of COVID-19.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed the executive order that permits all non-essential workers, and areas to be shut down in the state of Connecticut. This closes many facilities that help encourage self-care such as nail salons, hair salons, gyms and restaurants.

According to the CDC, people should, “take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.”

They also recommend taking care of your body, eating healthy, exercising regularly and avoiding alcohol and drugs are a few tips recommended by the CDC.

For social work major Amanda Valentin, a senior, she said is heavily relying on her spirituality to help her through the quarantine. This includes practicing reading tarot cards, meditation and journaling. Valentin said this all helps strengthen her mental health.

Some of Valentin’s assigned homework in her classes has been to practice self-care.

“I’m very lucky to be in a major when they value self-care so much,” Valentin said.

Listening to music while driving is another way Valentin escapes the boredom of social distancing.

Computer science major Siddhi Suresh, a freshman, has been using the quarantine to focus on a routine that will keep her face feeling healthy and moisturized.

However, because of the quarantine Suresh has been having trouble sleeping.

“I feel like I am not being as productive during the day, even though I might be so I just stay up until two or three in the morning doing work because there is so much to do,” Suresh said.

Suresh’s family is out of the country right now so she is staying with a family friend. During this time Suresh has been cooking for their seven-year-old son because both parents have been working from home.

“Obviously food is a big part of staying home and it’s not going to magically make itself so I like to do that,” Suresh said. “I have always enjoyed cooking so it’s something I look forward to do in the evenings once I am done with most of my work I like to take an hour or two hour break to cook.”

According to finance major Noah Falcioni, a freshman, this time is very difficult, as he is used to hanging out with his friends every day.

To pass the time, Falcioni has been working out a lot during his day. Falcioni said he used to use the gym in the Adanti Student Center and now he must work with his makeshift gym at home during the quarantine.

“It’s always important to not only focus on your mental health, that’s one everyone likes to talk about, give some time to yourself, obviously develop a routine,” Falcioni said. “But also, you gotta make sure you keep your physical health in check, make sure you are taking time out of your day to get some activity in instead of just staying inside of the house.”

Communication disorders major Alexis Simons, a senior, said the best way she is getting through this quarantine is to fill her days with activities she enjoys.

To maintain her mental health, Simons went online and bought puzzles and a giant coloring book.

Watching movies with grandma is another way Simons “stays focused.”

Simons said there is an importance of giving yourself mental space from the news every day. She allows herself time blocks of news per day, but no more than that. She said if she spends too much time on it, “it can become overwhelming.”

Valentin also practices distancing herself from the news. She “likes to stay informed,” but knows when enough is enough.

“To be overwhelmed will take a toll on anyone’s mental health,” Valentin said. “Twitter push notifications to your phone every hour about the pandemic. While everyone is responsible in being informed about this, to not talk about anything else is very overwhelming.”

One thing Falcioni said was that many people should start practicing a sleeping habit because according to Falcioni not many people focus on sleeping habits, and how it can affect a person.

“It takes a bit to develop that kind of routine. but as time has gone on more people are adapting to, not a perfect routine, but they have their own set patterns,” Falcioni said.

 

 

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