by Minjoon Choi, Soul Being Intern & Boston College Undergrad

I hope everyone is safe and well during this tough time. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected each one of us in different ways, and I’m sure all of us had to experience unexpected changes in our lives. Some of us are facing economic stress from losing jobs, uncertainty in small businesses, or even indefinitely losing contact with our loved ones. For us college students, leaving school and adjusting to academic life at home are new challenges that have required us to adapt. All of this has created a lot of mixed feelings of confusion, anxiety and fear amongst a lot of us.

To share a bit about myself, I was given a 4-day notice to pack my belongings and to move out of Boston College the week when we returned from our spring break. It was a surprise for all of us, as we expected the university to let us stay on campus while taking classes online. It was an overwhelming and sad time as the entire undergraduate population rushed to pack our belongings, buy flights home while having to say our goodbyes on such short notice. The graduating class of 2020 had it the hardest, as their last semester in college has been cut short and their commencement ceremony being indefinitely postponed. Over 85% of the students have returned home, and I myself have come back to my family in California.

Although our challenges may seem a lot more trivial than the ones “real” adults are facing, it’s important to understand that college students, too, are going through a difficult transition. While there are many things that we need to take care of, it is especially important to maintain our mental health during this time. 

After doing some research, here are some tips that I found that can help us all maintain good mental health, and that I personally plan on implementing in my lifestyle: 

• Keep a schedule, but with variety!

Wake up and go to bed at regular times like how you would if stay-at-home orders were not in place. But also try to include some variety; study for a few hours in the morning, then go for a walk and for some lunch, and then come back in the afternoon.

• Know the facts, but limit news intake!

Us millennials get information from a wide variety of sources, from social media platforms to news networks and from our parents, but it’s important to limit our intake. There are many incorrect reports out there and we need to focus on getting our information from reliable sources.

• Use the time to pick up a new skill!

Outside of classes and schoolwork, we have more time to spare especially because we have to stay home. Try to pick up a new skill like learning how to play the guitar or Adobe Photoshop. It’s a good way to take your mind off from what you go through every day.

• Support your local businesses!

I know this seems out of the blue when we’re talking about mental health, but there are many businesses that provide online services to help you get through this time, like virtual hypnotherapy and virtual workshops! Check out http://soulbeing.com/events/ for more!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips that I shared. I strongly believe that a positive attitude, and putting in effort toward goals is a good place to start. Keep in mind that these tips can be applicable to everyone, not just college students!

If you have tips that you would like to share with us, follow us on Instagram @soulbeing_wellness and tag us in what you found to be helpful. We’d love to see everyone’s ideas!

A special message for those in the health and wellness services: Soul Being would also like to thank every one of you for your efforts. We at Soul Being have suspended all of our subscription payments for our Health & Professional Members, so feel free to create a profile, join our network, and promote your services FREE of charge! We are proud to do our part in serving this amazing community of health and wellness professionals!