Supporting Your Mental Wellness At Home

The start of 2020 has had its ups and downs and with classes being moved to online. As you’ve returned home early for the semester, it can seem like your schedule is being upended. For some, it can feel like an extended spring break, and for others, this can feel earth-shattering. However you may be feeling right now, we want you to be able to maintain a healthy and successful lifestyle while we all move through these strange times.

Being home without your regular routine can make days feel like you have nothing to do, but it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and some consistency even when you are unable to go out and about. We want to provide some reminders to help create a new sense of normalcy!

Exercise Regularly

Working out in the morning is a great way to wake up and start your day. It helps energize you so you start your days prepared and awake! Not only that, but working out in the morning can help reduce stress and better your mood by releasing endorphins. Finally, consistently exercising can contribute to establishing a routine. So when you come back to campus you can continue your routine and keep up that healthy life style! All these benefits can help you stay healthy and active during your time off campus and even when you return to the residence halls. You don’t need a home gym or to be a marathon runner to practice some healthy exercises. To get some ideas for simple exercises you can do with limited space, be sure to follow UWRF Campus Rec on social media. They are leading daily exercises (with modifications, as well) that you can practice and participate with to get your heart rate up in a good way!

Get Outside

Just because we need to participate in social distancing does not mean we can’t go outside! Getting outside will help us stay healthy both physically and mentally, so we encourage you to get out when you can for walks, hikes, or simply just to enjoy some fresh air. Being outside can help lift your mood simply by changing your setting for a little bit. Riding a bike, playing catch, helping with yard work, or even doing hobbies outside like drawing or reading can help boost your mood.

Maintain Social Connections (and not just passively through social media)

Another way to help try and keep things normal is by staying connected with friends and family. Social media is great, but simply “liking” people’s posts or viewing what they are sharing can give us a false perception of human connection.  Be sure to actually reach out and communicate with your loved ones. This can be as easy as calling in often to talk to them or even just a “how are you?” text, or you can set up a multiroom call through Zoom or other platforms. You can also get creative with how you connect with people from a distance. There are many games you can play virtually, and not just video games. We are talking dice games, some card games, and you can even get creative with some board games, as well! Another idea to try would be cooking with friends over Skype or Facetime. Cook the same meal or cook different meals and talk while doing it.

Revisit Old Hobbies

There are plenty of way to keep busy and have fun without technology, as well. Taking some time away from a screen, especially now that classes are online, is good for all of us. For some people, reading a book or books is a great way to keep your mind focused through stories, learning, and it also can help you better process when it comes to studying for class. If reading isn’t your thing, you could pick up a new hobby. Drawing is a great way to keep your mind active and healthy. It doesn’t matter if you think you are awful at drawing or if you think you are a master! Drawing is helpful for people of all skill levels, and if you need any ideas you could try doing a portrait of a friend or family member or even yourself! Have a drawing competition with though around you or even draw stick figures in a comic strip if that is more your speed.

These are challenging times for all of us for reasons both unique and shared. Depending on your perspective, it can feel like you are trapped with nothing to do or without answers. In addition to taking care of yourself, be sure to check on your fellow Falcons during this time and see how they are doing. Let’s do our best to stay positive and stick together. You have overcome challenges before, and by being responsible and doing our parts to whenever we can, we will overcome this challenge together, as well. Lastly, remember to wash your hands, and remember that together, we are STILL Falcons.

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Are you missing some of your favorite offices on campus? Here is a quick list of resources still available to you virtually!

• Tutoring Services: did you know you can still set up a tutoring appointment for your classes virtually? Just log into TutorTrac and request an appointment, and Tutoring Services staff will get you set up!
• Staying Involved: Student Involvement, DIB, Residence Life, Campus Rec, NSFP, and other offices are still hosting virtual events and ways for you to participate in and enjoy.
• Student Health and Counseling Services: If you need to check-in and talk with a counselor, you can contact Counseling Services. They also have an awesome weekly newsletter with tips for staying well while away.
• Career Services: You can use this time to clean up your resume, work on cover letters, and brush up on your interviewing skills. Career Services will be offering Peer to Peer Instagram Live events you can join until the end of the school year.

If there are other services you are curious about, be sure to visit their office website. Most areas of campus have moved to providing some form of virtual service.