This past month has been full of change. Here at EF Study Abroad, our team has made a point to share resources with each other and our customers to help navigate the abrupt shifts we’ve all experienced in our daily lives.
From resources we’re reading to apps we’re downloading, we hope this virtual care package will be helpful to you and your communities during this time.
What We’re Learning
How to Be Your Best Self in Times of Emotional Crisis – Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David discusses how to build emotional awareness and resilience in difficult times.
COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide – An extensive resource put together by The National Alliance on Mental Illness with answers to common questions related to COVID-19 as well as tips on how to best cope during this difficult period.
Supporting a Healthy Campus Community During COVID-19 – This webinar, held on Thursday, April 23rd at 3:30 pm ET is bringing together campuses from across the nation to learn from a panel of awardees who will discuss how to prepare for increased mental health needs on campus this fall.
The Chronicle of Higher Education has put together a compilation of articles entitled “Coping with Coronavirus: How Faculty Can Support Students in Traumatic Times” which outlines how to make the online pivot as smooth as possible, online teaching more empathetic and human, and coursework relevant and reflective.
Apps We’re Downloading
Headspace – An app designed to promote mindfulness for your everyday life is offering a free collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises to help you cope with whatever you may be feeling at this time.
Youper – Created by a team of doctors, scientists and engineers, Youper is an emotion tracker, digital journal, and resource for personalized meditations designed to help you take control of your emotional health.
What We’re Trying Right Now
Journaling. It can be incredibly helpful to separate ourselves from computers/phones by journaling on paper. Journaling allows us to put what put we’re feeling into words so that we can process everything.
Below are two exercises that a number of us on the team are trying out.
Prompt: In the next month there are going to be some things outside of our control, but also some smaller things we do still have control over. Try writing out two lists of what you can and cannot control (this can help ground you in the present).
For example, I can control drinking two cups of tea a day because it relaxes me and meditating for 5 minutes before bed.
Prompt: Describe your emotions with as much detail as possible by using this list.
Research has found that a better emotional vocabulary can help you identify, work with, and regulate your emotions.
What Our Brain Breaks Look Like This Week
Some good news with John Krasinski – A Youtube series designed to put a smile on your face and celebrate the good things that are still happening every day.
Explore Nature and Animal Cams – A live feed of cute animals! We could seriously watch this for days.
Find more “How To’s” and resources here.
