Student Life: Supporting Emotional Health During a Pandemic

Student Life During a Pandemic

It’s something you thought you may never have to experience in your lifetime: a global pandemic. It’s been more than 2 years and we are still continually adapting to The New Normal. Admittedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives, affecting how we work, play, learn and interact with our friends and family. It has also changed the way we look after our emotional health. And it is not only the elderly or people with underlying health conditions who need to take care of themselves during this time; it is equally important for students as well.

Whether you’re taking your hospitality management studies online from home or have returned to your culinary and hospitality school campus, you’re experiencing life in a new way, which can be stressful and unsettling. You may be feeling anxious about staying safe and healthy along with your loved ones, or worried about your career prospects after graduation. Here are things you can do to keep stress at bay and make sure you do what you need to stay sharp during this time.

Photo by: Alysha Rosly

Prioritize self-care.

Try to keep a regular sleep schedule, get some fresh air, exercise every day, and eat healthy meals. Make sure you have plenty of quiet time each day for relaxation. While we are all facing new challenges right now, it is important not to let them take over your life. Sit back and take a moment to think about what things you are grateful for today and write them down. You will be surprised how this powerful habit can change your overall mood.

Set realistic expectations for yourself.

You might not be able to do everything you did before the pandemic – or even before the transition to remote learning – but it is still possible to get things done and make meaningful progress toward your goals. Set reasonable goals for yourself each day. Consider enrolling in a culinary and hospitality institute that has both virtual hospitality courses and face-to-face immersion programs that suit your schedule.

Acknowledge your feelings.

It’s important that we acknowledge the emotions we’re feeling so that we can move forward in a positive direction. There’s no need to add extra stress by trying to “fake it ’til you make it.” We are all going through this together, but each person will experience their own unique range of feelings. Acknowledging how you feel will help you accept what’s happening and cope with your current situation.

Talk about it.

Talking about your feelings with someone else can help them become more manageable. You do not have to talk about what is bothering you or why in too much detail – we all know the dreadful feeling of oversharing! Just letting a friend know that something is bothering you may be enough for now and knowing that there is someone willing to listen, and that you are not alone can make a monumental difference.

Let go of the things you cannot control.

You cannot control how other people will react or how the world will change, but you can control how you choose to respond and react. Don’t let fear rule your choices during this time — instead, let compassion and empathy guide you. Accept that certain things are out of your control and focus on what your mental headspace is capable of for the present moment.

Quality education is more achievable than you think with this culinary and hospitality school, ASTORIA Culinary and Hospitality Institute (Astoria-ACHI). Let’s talk about those life goals and strive towards them together! Contact our administrators today via this link or connect with us through our social media sites!