In 2020 as the covidian era began sweeping across the US I was hunkered down in my father’s house continuing my education. That summer I completed an intensive writing 101 course in 5 weeks. This is one of the essays I wrote that helped me cope and understand that time when people were stuck at home and were not going out in public as it used to be. I focused on this time being used strategically to better yourself for the future.
Self Improvement: What I’ve Learned During A Global Pandemic
Mental health is the foundation of what we do in this world and how we do it. When our mental health is not in great shape it negatively impacts our decisions and others around us. Many people are predisposed to mental illnesses and instabilities, the likes of which we can’t really control or do much about ourselves without a medical professional. The kind of mental health we can control is the more environmentally affected and/or induced afflictions. Stress is the key factor of anxiety, depression, worry , fatigue, unmotivation, and unhappiness, most of which happen simultaneously and in dependence on each other. COVID-19 pandemic is causing a lot more of these issues so it is important to understand them and how to handle them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has much information on coping with stress and taking care of our mental health. They explain the fact of how we respond to different situations in your life depends on many different experiences and situations.
How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors. The changes that can happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways we try to contain the spread of the virus can affect anyone (“Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19”).
The coronavirus, COVID-19, has tightened its grip on society as more and more people are directly affected. Even people who have not yet come into contact with the virus are experiencing stressful situations. None of us can change our past, and it can be very difficult to change where we live, so what we can do is move forward from here. As a student, the importance of being able to navigate environmental and inner influences has the biggest impact on our work quality. Those of us who want good grades to pass our classes and continue our education must be able to do this fairly well. Libby Howell, Executive Director of Media, Government, and Community Relations at Pima Community College quotes Mays Imad, professor in the Department of Life and Physical Science and Coordinator of the Teaching and Learning Center.
Many students may not have the knowledge to recognize that the anxiety they are having or the lack of motivation they might be experiencing are symptoms of stress and trauma. When we understand what is happening with our physiology in response to trauma, we can be more compassionate with ourselves and less self-judgmental when we don’t complete an assignment for example. We understand that we are coping. We can then begin to self-regulate and that will help us learn and thrive (Howell).
Emotional health plays a role in how we react to our environment so the sort of content and ideas we are feeding our brain is crucially important. With more free time at home self-isolating or other similar situations, what we do with that time will impact our lives much more. When we spend the bulk of our time watching and reading news stories about what’s going on in the world, or play video games and watch television that has violent and vulgar content, it tends to reflect in our daily actions and relationships. Our attitudes can be negative and we react to situations instead of responding in more mindful ways. With this idea in mind, activities that can better our emotions and mindset can include reading, informing and motivating books, writing creatively and without intention, watching inspiring films and videos, and a big one: meditation. These are all great ways to improve ourselves and live happily and productively.
Meditation doesn’t always have to be a religious or spiritual activity, even though spirituality is the core of the origin of meditation, in its simplest form, meditation is sitting quietly and comfortably for at least five minutes or more. Sitting quietly with eyes closed, back straight, just experiencing what you are experiencing, not suppressing any emotions or pushing any thoughts away. Being with all that is, in this moment, the sounds you hear, the thoughts that come and go, the sensations in the body, just being. Research on the health benefits of meditating once or twice daily shows that it “may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression, and insomnia”. An article by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health on meditation continues explaining more benefits like “increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being”(Meditation: In Depth). All of these are incredibly helpful for students to be able to focus on studies and live happily. Once we get the handle of our mental health, we can then focus on other areas of our life that lead to happiness and motivation.
Physical health is a key factor to what kind work we do and how well we do it. It can be protected better the sooner in life we prevent curtain ailments and handicaps. Our physical bodies allow us to navigate this life and do the work that we feel is necessary to leave younger generations with better ideas of where to pick up where we left off. While many physical issues can be out of our control, especially as we grow older, most of them can be prevented when we are younger. Education in diet and exercise is critical because they are the core to any person’s health. Without diet and exercise one is sacrificing the future health of not only their physical bodies, but also mental health, so it is beneficial to practice both simultaneously. I wish mental health were thought more as one with physical health because the brain is part of that physical body. Thoughts and emotions could be just creations of that brain, therefore, it is incredibly important to be more mindful about what you eat and the amount of exercise you’re getting. There are hundreds and thousands of books, videos, courses, classes, different regiments and routines to learn from. Understanding the type of body you personally have and what you want to achieve would help in developing better habits with exercise and foods. As far as exercise and working out it’s simply a matter of doing it. Just starting somewhere, anywhere, can make a huge difference. Chelsie Remund’s “7 Tips for Self-Improvement in Quarantine” gets this fact humorously well exclaiming, “You can’t use the same excuse of, ‘I don’t have time’, or ‘If I had more time…’. Listen. You’ve got enough time now, so STOP using the same sad excuse. Like Nike says, ‘Just Do It.’ No, but really, just do it. This is a perfect time to start that workout routine you’ve been avoiding. The best part is YOU DON’T NEED A GYM! All you need is yourself, water and a good pair of tennis shoes” (Remund). That idea that you don’t need a gym is what students could use during these times since gyms and most fitness centers have been closed. Running or walking a few miles in the morning can promote better energy and focus for the rest of the day. Not only have I been running more myself, but I’ve also picked up yoga practice. I don’t even have to pay for a class, I watch videos online and learn to do it the best I can. Maybe someday in the future I will take an in-person class to perfect my practice, though it’s one thing I can keep doing without the need of a gym. The differences and changes in my life and attitude have been just what I needed. In an interview by actress, host and commentator, RaVal Davis with Productivity coach Rose Anne Uwague, she explains the importance of fitness and how it promotes motivation.
Fitness and movement is critical for productivity and especially during isolation, and quarantine lockdown. Exercising increases blood flow, overall health, mental capacity and awareness. This will allow you to focus better and it also boosts self-esteem as you check one action item off your to-do list. It’s also useful in warding off stress and overwhelm (Davis).
The health benefits of exercise in general have been incredibly helpful with my studies and being able to get my work done quicker. Vegetarianism is another practice that I’ve picked up recently and have never felt better in my whole life. Nutrition is the most important aspect of our lives, so when we don’t eat the right amount of curtain foods our health declines. We are all taught in grade school about the food pyramid and how to read labels. If we can eat right alongside with our exercise we will see huge improvement. We should start on it now while we have some time, because I believe diet and exercise will be a critical aspect to life in the future where we are more motivated and productive individuals.
As an individual, passion is what we feel in your heart that makes you want to continue and do something with love. When we are in the moment, focused, and getting something done passionately, the relief of stress is incredibly powerful. Relieving stress has become increasingly more important in today’s world. The best way to do that is to spend time having fun and enjoying what we are passionate about. Hobbies, recreations, and quality time with loved ones are examples of great ways to be in that space. When time is spent on the activities that you are interested in, contemplation and inward growth can come naturally.
There is no better way to spend your free time than working on your own personal growth. With the current pandemic, you may have all this extra free time, so why not use it to your advantage? By finding ways that get you out of your own mind, true self-improvement takes place. During these uncertain times focus on yourself and what makes you happy. Stay safe, and continue your journey with self-improvement (Remund).
Getting out of our minds is what we need in order to reduce stress, and be happy. What makes me happy is feeling a sense of progression with any one of my hobbies which have always been a big part of my life and many times have been distractions from my studies. Learning time management is a self improvement I’ve gained from juggling my many hobbies and school. Painting, photography, gardening, cooking, guitar, and drumming are all passionately part of my life. Some of those things have been put on a hold temporarily, but are always there for me when I need to go back to them. Showing these to my family and spending time with them as well becomes something that gets me motivated. Owning a pet is also a great idea for someone who loves animals and lives alone. Also if someone lives alone, an animal’s company can be beneficial during these times when we’re at home much more. Staying passionate about areas in your life relieves stress and provides an avenue to cultivate better awareness of both mental and physical health. These can all help to improve someone’s mindset and focus to better themselves and live a happy life.
Unfortunately there are many other people who don’t have this free time at home to improve themselves and relieve stress from their lives. There are groups and types of people who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic much more severely than others. CDC has a list of these types of cases which include those at higher risk of illness, caretakers, healthcare workers and first responders, other essential workers, people with existing mental health conditions racial and ethnic minority groups, people who do not have access to information in their primary language, people experiencing homelessness, people who live in congregate (group) settings. Some would say that with all the chaos going on in the world how could anyone take the time to feel free and relaxed. While this is a valuable claim, it doesn’t take into account those of us who are distancing ourselves from that chaos. The news and social media is saturated with terrible things and how bad the world is. One can understand the perspective of all the negativity and anxiety where people become depressed, lonely, and full of despair. Some people are in much worse situations where it’s all they can do to hope a better day comes sooner than later. Poverty and hunger are such huge issues in this world and political campaigns and rallies seem to come first. It takes a toll on the mind and it is important to regulate the inward information because if one doesn’t distance themselves from that kind of information, their student life is impacted. A student’s ability to focus can be a fragile thing where there are too many outside influences and negative thoughts. In a student’s life there is work to be done, so it is important to use time wisely to stay productive.
Everybody’s lives are different and everyone is unique, we all have our own ways of coping and navigating through hard times. Yet, united in our ways of being human. Mental health is what will decide what we do with the time that is given to us. Physical health is what provides that mental focus and motivation. Staying passionate about life’s wonders relieves stress and opens the doors to mental and physical well being. All working together to promote better productivity and grades in school. We’re all in this together, Pima Community College. Take advantage of more time at home if you’ve got it. Our own individual transformation, outwardly and inwardly, is crucial for all of us, so stay strong through these chaotic times by improving your health and well being.
“This is the reset. This is our chance to take everything that is not necessary and leave it in the past, and move forward with the things that we really need to improve not only who we are as people, but to improve the world that we live in. This is our big opportunity to do that, so, my blessings!” – Michael Stipe
Works Cited
“Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,, 1 July 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html.
Accessed July 12, 2020
Davis, RaVal. “To Be Productive During A Pandemic Or Not To Be? Ask A Productivity Coach Like Rose-Anne Uwague Not The Internet.” Forbes Magazine, 2 July 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/ravaldavis/2020/04/21/to-be-productive-during-a-pandemic-or-not-to-be-ask-a-productivity-coach-not-the-internet/#384cc0f97406.
Accessed July 12, 2020
Howell, Libby. “Pima Helps Students Cope with COVID-19 Stress and Anxiety.” Pima Community College | News, May 2020, www.pima.edu/news/press-releases/2020/202005-04-coronavirus-student-coping-webinars.html.
Accessed July 15, 2020
“Meditation: In Depth.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2016, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth.
Accessed July 16, 2020
Remund, Chelsie. “7 Tips for Self-Improvement in Quarantine.” Medium, Be Unique, 5 May 2020, medium.com/be-unique/7-tips-for-self-improvement-in-quarantine-4ad618662be1
Accessed July 12, 2020
Wetsman, Nicole. “Quarantine Is Emotionally Challenging, but There Are Ways Officials Can Make It Easier.” The Verge, 24 Mar. 2020, www.theverge.com/2020/3/24/21192259/quarantine-psychology-mental-health-coronavirus-harm-health-care.
Accessed July 12, 2020
Dakota Butcher
WRT 101
July 18th, 2020