How To Deal With Stress During The Pandemic
Written by Koumba Drame (Dollar Scholars Fellow '21, Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus '23)
Covid-19 has been a drastic change in all of our lives. We are all dealing with several obstacles that can make the situation worse, like juggling school, jobs and everything else. It is important to not stress yourself out too much. Increased use of online platforms could be very detrimental to your mental health because there is too much screen time, and you are also isolated from your loved ones. Below you’ll find tips on how to deal with stress or any mental health issues you could be having.
1. Know when to listen to your body and mind.
Many times you might just want to hurry up and get the last thing done, even though you have a headache from all the screen time or you are just stressed out from a lot of work that you had to complete. Know when you have to take a screen break. You do not have to completely stop doing the work, but it helps if you take breaks and get back to it.
2. Exercise.
Exercising can help with stress, as it can help take your mind off of everything that you are dealing with. Some examples of activities you can do are going walking, running or yoga to name a few, as to each their own. Exercise improves your sense of well being because it pumps up your endorphins. Stretching, meditation and deep breaths work as well.
3. Cope in the way that you think is best.
Everyone has their own way of dealing with stress. If this personal way is the one that helps you, then go for it. Some people cope spiritually, mentally, physically, or simply by listening to music. You have to be able to find yourself and find what is best for you. People normally think of TikTok and other social media as negative things, but if that is what helps you, perhaps taking a five minute break may be beneficial.
4. Talk to people.
For some people, this means finding a therapist. For others, it could mean talking to friends and family that they trust. Talk about how you are feeling and the things that you are concerned about. This could be beneficial because it brings you a sense of life before COVID-19. Talking to people also gives you advice from others and an outside perspective. Try to surround yourself with positive people that make you happy and help you keep a positive mindset.
If you are stressed out during these times, I urge you to try out some of these tips, as they may be beneficial. We are all in this together, and we will make it out together. It has been a long year, and we have been through a lot of stress already, so please do not forget to stay hopeful and encourage one another.
About the Author:
Koumba Drame is a high school student at Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus in Old City, Philadelphia and completed the Wharton Women Dollar Scholars Fellowship in the Spring of her sophomore year of high school.
"I wanted to do the Wharton Women Fellowship because I wanted to learn about financial literacy and get the most possible out of the program, like meeting new people, learning about how to prepare for college, and more! My favorite part was having conversations with others and the Dollar Scholars Workshops. Personally, my favorite way to cope with stress is by exercising."
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