COVID-19 has been present for seven months now. Many of us are falling into a routine and have varying levels of anxiety surrounding returning to school or participating in school online. Additionally, many practicums and internships are struggling to decide if they should be in-person or online.
Just remember to take a deep breath. You got this! Let’s talk about some strategies to use if you will be online and in-person to make sure you are practicing self-care and advocating for yourself.
Online
We know Zoom fatigue is real, even if you can wear shorts or sweatpants.
- Take a break. Get up and walk around outside or in your house. Make sure to put plenty of movement breaks in your day.
- Start or join an online social hour. This will allow you to meet your peers or colleagues and have additional support.
- Identify what you are grateful for each day, even if it is the little things.
- Don’t forget about your hygiene. It can be so easy to let this slide, but it is important self-care.
In-person
This may be just as stressful as being completely online, and that is okay.
- If you are very uncomfortable about being somewhere in person, it is okay to make that know. Let your peers or colleagues know being six feet apart is important to you.
- If being in-person does not bother you, that is okay. But be mindful of others and ask how they feel so you know if they need extra space.
- Identify what you are grateful for each day, even if it is the little things.
No matter what format you are in this fall, check in with yourself and make sure you are getting what you need from your site and school. If you are not, who is a safe person you can reach out too? Identify that person early on and start building a relationship with them. We are all in this together, and internships, postdocs, and schools are willing to work with you.