8 Tips and Resources for Mental Health

One of the key steps to making sure you’re keeping up with your mental health is self-monitoring and being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. Only you know what your normal behavior and feelings are, and what might be out of the ordinary for you personally. When you notice you’re more unhappy, stressed or worried than usual, don’t be afraid to ask for help and to talk to someone about what you’re feeling. 

It is particularly important to acknowledge that your experiences during this time will not be identical to the experiences of others. Know that everyone experiences stress differently, and that you might not be in the same place mentally as your friends, family or classmates. Refrain from comparing where you are to others. Instead, focus on accepting where you are currently and moving forward. You never know what anyone else is going through behind closed doors, even if they look like they have it all together. We all deal with our emotions in different ways, and that’s OK. 

Prioritizing your physical health is an essential part of maintaining and bettering your mental health. Take care of yourself physically, and there’s a good chance you’ll notice an improvement in how you’re feeling mentally. Make the conscious effort to ensure you’re adequately taking care of your body. This includes but is not limited to: getting enough sleep, eating healthy, staying hydrated, and exercising. All of our bodies function differently, so listen to yours and figure out what balance of all these things work best for you. 

If you’ve never been one to stick to a set schedule, now might be the time to start. A routine will help you establish a sense of normalcy and can help to take away some of the stress of the unknown. While we all have our own habits when it comes to managing our schedules, the new normal might require more focus to make sure you’re keeping up with deadlines while also prioritizing self-care. For example, maybe your morning routine consists of cooking a nutritious breakfast before class, or getting in a workout before you start your day. You can also set aside a designated time in your schedule for catching up with friends and family, which can help break up the time in between classes, clubs and homework. Additionally, adding some relaxation exercises into your nighttime routine, including deep breathing or visualization, can be very beneficial for falling and staying asleep.

While we are all more isolated from the world than we were pre-pandemic, that doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch with people we care about. With social media, texting and video chatting, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with someone virtually. Make connecting with your friends, family and significant others part of your daily routine, even if it’s just sending a simple text to ask how their day was. Remember that while you may be feeling physically isolated, your loved ones are only a phone call or a video chat away.

Additionally, clubs at Manhattan College are still running this fall. Their meetings may now be virtual, but they’re a great way to create a community with your classmates and meet new people. 

If you’re a commuter looking to find ways to connect with the college community, you can reach out to Commuter Services and Outreach.

With the constant news cycle during a pandemic, social media can be a bit overwhelming. It’s a habit for most of us to scroll through it often throughout the day, but what we don’t tend to think about is how this nonstop intake of information can impact our mental health. Take time to recharge and decompress by putting aside your phone, so you can spend some time outside, be mindful, or do a hobby that you enjoy. This is especially important at night. Try to turn off all screens about an hour before you attempt to fall asleep. 

Going into this semester, whether you are on campus or taking classes remotely, keep in mind that college life will not be exactly the same as it was before. We will all have to adapt to and cope with our new normal, whatever that may look like for you. Don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes you some time to adjust to life as a student again. Adapting isn’t instantaneous, and it will happen at different paces for all of us. If you’re feeling stressed about the fall, remember that it is healthy to worry, and that it would be abnormal during this time to not have some worries and fears about the future. Worries are part of being human, a part of our fight or flight response that we have to protect us and help us survive. We are all in this together, experiencing tough emotions and situations to different degrees and moving forward at our own paces.

If you find you need extra help with classwork this semester, we encourage you to utilize the Center for Academic Success, which is offering both in-person and online services. Its services include peer tutoring, supplemental instruction and writing fellows sessions, workshops, and learning specialist services. 

At all times, but especially now, it’s important that we destigmatize seeking mental health support. There is no shame in asking for help if you need it, and there are resources right here at Manhattan College available to you. Whether you are on or off campus, if you need someone to talk to, you are encouraged to utilize the Counseling Center on campus, which continues to be available to work with students during COVID-19. It is closed for in-person, walk-in appointments, but offers support service remotely via phone and HIPAA compliant video call. If you would like to set up a meeting, please email jegan01@manhattan.edu or call 718-862-7394 and someone will get in touch to set up a time that works for you.