By Sara Addis //
This spring ushers in an era of newness, whether you are still in quarantine from COVID-19 or if you have felt some normalcy return to your life. We are in a pivotal moment in this pandemic, when vaccines are being made available and our future is so close we can almost see it. This is a time of a lot of excitement, good news, and tons of change. With those changes comes hope, nerves, anxiety and a whole gaggle of other emotions. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your mental and physical health will be taken care of this spring.
It is more important than ever to be proactive about your mental health. This pandemic has proven nothing stays the same overnight, and we need to make sure we have the right tools ready to face another big shift in our lives.
Starting with the basics, make sure you are eating right and drinking enough water. This may sound like a simple task, but sometimes, they are so trivial, they are forgotten. Make sure you hydrate — your body, skin, and mind will thank you later.
Other efforts to maintain good mental health include daily exercise and meditation. Although these activities are not always very attractive to every person, giving yourself the chance to expend physical energy and focus on healing for even just ten minutes a day can totally help your mood and keep you grounded.
My final piece of advice is something people may dismiss as basic, but it might just be the most important of them all. If you feel yourself start to get down, or even worrying that eventually you might encounter some bumps along the way, consider talking to someone. The University of Illinois offers free counseling services to its students with fully trained counselors and social workers. This may seem intimidating at first but talking to a professional about how you are feeling will you give insight into how you can start to feel better! Consider taking your mental health into your own hands and preparing for a great spring!
The Spread 