Staying Well During Safer at Home
Illustration by Dana Binfet | The Corsair
COVID-19’s quarantine restrictions are something out of Pixar's “WALL-E.” Classes and support services were moved online from campus mid-March, and students have been home for almost 3 months. Being stuck at home all the time with family, friends or pets who also have cabin fever could have student's serotonin levels at an all-time low.
Serotonin is a chemical in the body that helps regulate moods naturally, which means when levels are normal people can feel happier, calmer and emotionally leveled. Ideally, a person gets steady serotonin while in the flow state, where a person performing an activity is fully engulfed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
To reach this flow state in lieu of regular activities to attend, folks are turning to everything from yoga, to art making, and even creating a TikTok account. Erick Zarate a SMC student majoring in film production says, “I've been mostly using this time to work on my editing techniques to better my portfolio. There's also a lot of online shopping when I'm feeling most bored to make me feel normal again [laughs]. I feel like a lot of people have been using this time to eat and be healthier but eating junk food has been the only thing keeping me from going crazy.”
Others are using yoga and affirmation work to address their personal wellness. Poses and classes are easy to access via YouTube, where students can go straight to the site, search “yoga for beginners,” and voila: an activity that helps students stay active and boost serotonin levels.
Nursing major Jissella Bustamante said, “Although I really wanted to go to the gym and work out, I started to do it from home. I figured that even though these are unprecedented times, there’s nothing I can’t actually do but to actually just stay home and make sure I am extra careful when I do go outside for errand purposes. I have taken this time to focus on me, and taking better precautions when taking care of myself, that includes emotional and physical care. There are times where I do find myself feeling sad and bored, but I try my best to always find something to do like what I couldn’t do or have time to do before this pandemic.”
Art projects have also engage the quarantined. Stores like Target, Walmart and many grocery stores that have remained open even in pandemic times sell journals, paint and art paper/canvases. Crafts such as writing, drawing and painting can take just a few cheap materials, and entertain for at least an afternoon. Students won’t become Picasso overnight but after a few consistent days of art making they can surprise themselves.
SMC has many resources to help combat any problems students may be having during this time. For more information for resources during this pandemic please visit http://www.smc.edu/StudentServices/Health-Wellbeing/CenterWellnessWellbeing/Pages/Mental-Health-Resource.aspx
