I always thought I had good control of my mental health. Then the pandemic caused everything to shut down, and I was forced to bounce between home and work for most of last year. It was boring, it was lonely, I could not see any of my friends and I lost an internship that I was really looking forward to. So many things happened that I started to feel my mental health get a little shaky. A few ways that I try and work on my mental health are:
Reading a book: Something I have loved to do since I was about five years old is hide and get lost in the world of a good book. I despair now that I do not have the time or the energy to read a 400 pager in one day like I used to, but I still enjoy the process of reading and getting wrapped up in the story.
Enjoying time outdoors: This was more difficult to do in the winter time, but now that warm weather is here I find myself taking my laptop outside and doing my work on the porch instead of staying inside on the couch or at my desk. Listening to the sounds of nature is soothing and feeling the warm sun hit my back is arguably one of the best feelings in the world.
Exercising: In the words of Elle Woods: “Exercising gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands.” While I may be spitting curses under my breath as I hold a plank for 60 seconds, I end up feeling happier for the rest of the day, and I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment after completing a workout in the morning. Another thing I do is avoid putting aside my exercise to the end of the day, because it will never get done that way.
Maintaining a good diet: I am not above indulging on a treat every once and a while, but for most part, I like to eat foods made only of natural ingredients, fruits and vegetables. I have noticed myself that my mood reflects my diet. While sitting on the couch eating potato chips causes the brain to release “reward” hormones that make you feel good, the feeling while the body digests the unhealthy food is not something to be desired.
Overall, I think I do a pretty good job at managing my mental health using external and internal factors. I know some people who are unable to produce the right hormones to make them feel good about themselves, and I sympathize with them. Our school does a very good job at recognizing that mental health is one of the most important tools that a student can have in their life, and they do a decent job of providing resources for students who feel like they need to reach out.
If you feel like you need help, please reach out to one of the many resources available at ETSU or contact a family member or a close friend.
