Adjusting to Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Saying life is hard during a pandemic is an understatement. Life since the outbreak of COVID-19 has been a whirlwind of change and uncertainty. We are all feeling frustrated, sad, anxious, lonely, bored, and stressed. And it is perfectly normal to have these reactions. Here are a few tips and resources for managing stress.

1. Avoid information overload

• Limit the amount of information you take in about COVID-19, whether that be from social media or the news
• Ask yourself if you really need the information at this time or if you could do something more productive for your health

2. Take care of your body

• Click here for nutritional recipes and information on living healthier (provided by the State of California)
• Transition between classwork (or work) and downtime by going for a walk 
• If you have to sit for long stretches of time, take regularly breaks to get up and move. There are apps to help remind you.
• Go outside at least once a day to enjoy nature or even just breathe some fresh air
• Avoid excessive alcohol and usage of other drugs

NOTE: If you feel like you are coping with stress by drinking or taking drugs, click here to locate contact information (phone and/or crisis line and website) for the substance use disorder programs in your county.

3. Socialize while keeping physical distance

• Maintain supportive relationships with family and friends via text, phone call, video chat, or social media.
• When planning to meet in person, follow the recommendations of your local public health department.
• Contact a counselor from HNU's Counseling and Psychological Services for free and confidential counseling.
• There are plenty of hotlines if you just need someone to talk to. This list is just a sampling of what is available in California.

4. Donate or volunteer for a good cause 

• Helping others helps us too. Come up with your own idea or volunteer for one of the many organizations already helping.
• If you are able, you can donate to help fellow students through the HNU Emergency Response Fund
• Food banks have been providing food for people struggling financially. You can help food banks in California by learning how to become an advocate. In Alameda County, you can register to volunteer at a food bank among other ways to get involved.
• Do you live in San Francisco? You can get training to volunteer at Friendship Line, a hotline for people over 60 or adults living with disabilities who are in crisis or just need to talk to someone.

California State Government. "Resources for emotional support and well-being." https://covid19.ca.gov/resources-for-emotional-support-and-well-being/. July 6, 2020. Web. July 12, 2020. 

• Fashion Institute of Technology Gladys Marcus Library made a guide of Free Online Offerings for the Pause that includes virtual travel/tours, creative activities, museum collections and tours, ebooks/audiobooks/podcasts, performance art, games, fitness/wellness exercises, course/lectures/talks, links to quarantine art, and more!
• Samuel Merritt University Libraries Shelter-in-Place Self Care tab has links for free entertainment, virtual museum tours and wellness resources
• Gannon University Nash Library has a similar guide for Social Distancing that includes free music 
• SJSU School of information's COVID-19 guide has a tab for Shelter-in-Place Recreation, which includes a relaxing music playlist and a bald eagle livecam, among other resources