Psychology student Hannah talks through some of her tips for staying connect.<\/p>\n
During this period of physical disconnect, it\u2019s time to strengthen our virtual connections whether these are to ourselves, our friends, family or the world at large.\u00a0Dealing with lockdown in a healthy and manageable way, can feel challenging which is why student services have compiled a series of blogposts<\/a> to help you adjust.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen so many posts about productivity in isolation and now is a great time to take up a new hobby. However, this is not to say that productivity is essential in this period. It is a scary time for everyone, a time of upheaval, and\u00a0there is something soothing about nurturing the connections you already have, building up a virtual community in a time where your physical one may feel\u00a0fractured.<\/p>\n First, let\u2019s talk about connecting with yourself.\u00a0With everything going on right now, you may be feeling a pull towards news articles\u00a0but let\u2019s not let that pull\u00a0drag\u00a0us from ourselves: our emotions,\u00a0our intentions\u00a0our headspace. Disconnecting from the media and connecting to\u00a0ourselves\u00a0can\u00a0ground us in the face of a media storm.<\/p>\n Keeping a journal can be a great way to check-in with ourselves, as well as track our mental health\u00a0during this time.\u00a0 I know I\u2019m\u00a0susceptible\u00a0to thinking I can\u2019t be sad about my own experience when so much is going on in the world, but\u00a0your feelings are always valid. Being able to express\u00a0these, without fear of judgement, may help alleviate any build-up of tension you\u2019re experiencing as a result of the pandemic.<\/p>\n Meditation is also a great way to ground\u00a0ourselves, and there are great guided meditation apps to help you check-in at the click of a button. One I\u2019m getting a lot of use out of right now is Insight Timer<\/a>, this free app offers free guided meditation on a variety of topics such as alleviating anxiety, boosting self-esteem and improving your sleep.<\/p>\n Staying connected to friends and family, who may now be elsewhere, is a new challenge we\u2019re having to navigate, but apps such as Zoom<\/a> are incredibly popular for group calls \u2013 and understandably so.\u00a0Try organising a group quiz on Kahoot<\/a>, watch a movie together on Netflix Party<\/a>\u00a0or have dinner with friends on Zoom. These are unprecedented times but there are plenty of online tools to help it feel more normal.\u00a0The SU have also set up Corona Community on Facebook<\/a>, with daily workouts and a new schedule each day to make each one\u00a0different to the last.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re well and able, there are plenty of volunteer services which could connect you to the people who need it most. The NHS has launched their volunteer army,\u00a0via\u00a0GoodSAM<\/a>,\u00a0where you can help deliver items to the vulnerable as well as check-in with those who may be struggling with loneliness at this time.\u00a0There are also plenty of local groups which could use your help, if you\u2019re in Bath right now there are details on the Corona Community page<\/a> for volunteering in Somerset.<\/p>\n