As a college student, stress and angst due to overwhelming classes, jobs and school work are the norm. Throw in a global pandemic, and you’ve got yourself an entire campus full of anxiety-ridden students. This fall, the transition to a hybrid learning environment was a completely different experience.
A different kind of semester
The first half of my semester, I had all three of my classes in person in a socially distant way. We remained six feet apart and wore masks at all times. Although it was a different set up than what I was used to, it was nice to physically be in class with my teacher and classmates. The second half of the semester eventually moved to fully online as COVID-19 cases began to rise. This is when the learning experience changed completely for me.
Instead of being in the classroom and participating in person, my three classes were completely virtual. Being stuck in a house might seem horrible, but with four roommates and Neumann University’s ability to provide entertainment (like virtual bingo and movie night), I was still able to connect with my peers in a safe way.
Understanding the importance of keeping my mental health in check, I always made sure I kept a wholesome balance between school and my personal life. My roommates and I took time out of every week to indulge in different relaxing self-care activities, including face masks, movie nights, and baking nights.
I am extremely lucky to have four roommates all experiencing the same draining, overwhelming feeling that current university life may produce. Being able to vent about work life or school life is a huge relief, especially if other people can relate to you in the same way.
Discover how telehealth improves health and well-being
Focus on mental health
One of the first steps a college student should take to maintain good mental health is to open up and talk about their issues or concerns with someone trustworthy. We should normalize the act of taking time out of our days to really focus on ourselves and reflect on how we can improve our mental health and stability.
Dedicating time towards positive mental health can be done in many different ways. A few more activities that have helped me include:
- Personal care
- Journaling
- Connections with friends and family
- Time alone in a peaceful setting
- Conversations with a mental health professional
- New hobbies and interests
Doing something that you find calming and stress relieving is a great way to improve your mental health.
TimelyCare is proud to support the health and wellness of student’s like Julia at Neumann University with 24/7 telehealth services. You can learn more about telehealth for students here.
Student Profile
Julia Violi
- Neumann University
- Social Work
- Class of 2021
