By: W*SS
For people everywhere, this is a scary time. The widespread pandemic of coronavirus/ COVID-19 prompting many dire circumstances: from food and toilet paper shortages, to the closing of restaurants statewide, to the lack of human contact as we all practice social distancing. For extroverts, social distancing can seem like the worst punishment. Introverts may be feeling like they’ve been preparing for this their whole lives. Some of us have moved home and are trying to navigate how to balance family life and work/school, and some of us are still on campus navigating the new circumstances. Regardless of your social tendencies, it can be very difficult to adjusting to staying in your home for extended periods of time. It is difficult to move to an online Zoom lecture rather than your in-person seminar course. We in WSS are struggling too to figure out how to proceed through this time. As you'll read below, we have been working creatively to take some of our programs online while others have to be cancelled. We recognize that for seniors especially, this is a deeply disappointing end to your time at MSU. We want to hold space for you to process and connect among each other and with us as needed. Should you need to speak to us, please click the link to schedule a private zoom meeting with the director, Dr. Heather Shea. Or visit one of her public/open Zoom office hours below.
We thought we'd use the rest of our TOTD to share some tips to practice self care when you start to feel cooped up and stressed in regards to social distancing:
Make a schedule. It can be easy to think that just because you are now at home all the time that you can be working on everything. If you are working remotely, make sure you have specific “office hours” where you are logged in, and do not log in outside of those.
Don’t just catch up on all that Netflix you’ve been saving. Read a book, try out some new recipes, play a game!
Go outside! Take a solo walk across campus, or walk with a friend who is standing a couple feet away (social distancing!)
Reach out to your friends and chat on the phone or via FacetTime/Zoom/Skype. It can seem weird to give up texting and talk to people on the phone, but sometimes it’s nice to just talk out loud and connect face-to-face.
Have a virtual movie night. Download an app to watch Netflix or other streaming with your friends remotely. Netflix Party is a popular Chrome extension that allows people to watch Netflix together so they are on the same moment on both screens, so you and friends can watch together.
Eat healthy. It can be so easy to eat a bag of Cheetos and drink pop. Make sure you are balancing your diet and drinking lots of water - it will make you feel happier and more alert! (Still treat yourself to those junk food cravings, though!)
Stay informed, but don’t get sucked in. The Twitter blackhole is real, y’all! It is really important to get updates on the current situation with COVID-19, and on the presidential candidates, but it is also really important to take breaks from social media and unplug. It can be really depressing to scroll through social media and see all the bad stuff going on, so make sure you are taking breaks to take care of your mental health.
By no means are all of these tips easy, or necessary for everyone to do. We encourage anyone who wants to talk to reach out, and we hope everyone stays happy and healthy through this unsettling time.
How to contact WSS: Call 517-432-7556 and leave a message. This will send a text message to our director and she will contact you as soon as possible.
Heather's Open/Public (Zoom) Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12-1PM, Wednesdays, 2-3PM, and Thursdays, 9-10AM. Just pop into Heather's Personal Meeting Room and hangout.
Interested in sharing your own "Thought Of The Day" or TOTD? Email us at wss@msu.edu.
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