By Meghna Pandamukherjee
(Source)
The current global situation courtesy of the coronavirus has got all of us in a fix. The Latin phrase "Mens sana in corpore sano" meaning ‘a healthy mind and healthy body’ can seem like an unachievable feat while we are in isolation. The third stage of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy emphasizes on the fulfilment of social needs as something essential for human growth. It has been quite a few weeks since we have all had to restrict our movements and hence, social life. As a result, some individuals, especially extroverts and those with a history of mental disorders, are having a hard time. This problem has arisen because some of us rely on a daily routine for a sense of being and count on people we see every day to hold us accountable to it. Being an international student in lockdown comes with its own set of challenges. Odd class hours due to separate time zones and a different work environment compared to the university campus may affect our productivity and mental health. At university, our lives revolve around maintaining a balance between coursework, circles, parties and working part-time. The lack of this commotion may make our current days seem fruitless, and we must take steps to ensure our well-being.
Firstly, we must try and replicate our pre-quarantine social interactions through online modes to avoid aloofness.
Setting up zoom meetings with our friends, checking up on each other occasionally and sharing commonalities with them can go a long way. Social media can allow us to stay connected even in times like these.
A person's mental health can deteriorate very quickly during this time due to unavoidable anxiety and uncertainty of the future, and it is crucial to vent to someone. That someone can be a friend, parent, sibling, an employee of the APU student office or even a stranger online. There are several therapeutic support centres which can help -
Blah Therapy (http://blahtherapy.com/)
7 Cups (http://www.7cups.com/)
Tell Japan (https://telljp.com/lifeline/tell-chat/)
Counselling Room (counseli@apu.ac.jp)
Mental Health Hotlines in your locality (https://www.therapyroute.com/article/helplines-suicide-hotlines-and-crisis-lines-from-around-the-world)
These services are free of charge and may provide great help.
Secondly, we must practice mindfulness and keep track of how we spend our time. It is easy to lose focus on our responsibilities and just let the days go by.
A practice which has helped me overcome this is to take a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day to truly reflect upon my commitments and appreciate my surroundings. I like to do this by penning my thoughts down in a little diary and clicking pictures of the sunrise and sunset. These recurring moments really help me pause and reflect upon the past 24 hours and acknowledge the happenings of the day. There are activities that one may indulge in to achieve the same, like putting together a fancy breakfast or brewing a cup of tea and drinking it slowly while enjoying the weather. It is all about feeling present at the moment and putting all your attention into one task.
Lastly, we must strive to keep the three pillars of physical health - nutrition, sleep and exercise well-maintained no matter what.
It may sound quite apparent to a lot of people. Still, we must do our best to address situations that may give rise to emotional eating and lethargy. Most of us may turn to high-calorie sugary snacks to curb our hunger pangs which might be stemming from sheer boredom and not genuine appetite. Consumption of higher levels of caffeine and longer screen times may lead to a disruption of our natural sleep cycles and cause insomnia. Restrictions on getting out of our homes and not being on campus may rob us of the little exercise that we used to get. During these times, it is vital to stay hydrated, consume fresh fruits, have a consistent sleep routine and do small workouts at home.
Let's stay fit so we can bounce back with more energy and motivation than ever!
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