After e-learning for months, you may be feeling a bit burnt out, and all of your days may seem to be blurring together. This is totally normal! Here are some tips to take care of yourself during this stressful time.

Take care of your mind

Try to take a few minutes to relax your mind every day. Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to be a long, time consuming ordeal. Taking as little as 1-5 minutes out of your day to slow down and focus on your breathing can really brighten your mood. Try setting a timer for 1 minute, putting your hand over your heart, and feeling the rhythm of your heartbeat. Forget all of your stress for a moment, take deep breaths, and listen to your body. Another exercise you can try is practicing gratitude. Take a moment to make a mental or physical list of all the good or neutral things in your life. Here are some examples: I have clothes on my back, the sun is shining outside, I ate breakfast today. Even though the world might seem a bit bleak and monotonous right now, there are still good things happening every day to be grateful for.

Take care of your eyes

To protect your eyes while looking at a screen, try using the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of looking at a screen, find something 20 feet away to look at for 20 seconds. This is a super quick and easy way to give your eyes a break and let them focus on something other than a screen. Another thing you can do to decrease eye strain is try to keep your computer screen 20 to 40 inches, or an arm’s-length, away from you.

Take care of your space

During the last few months, we have all been spending a lot of time indoors. It can definitely be challenging to spend so much time in the house. To help have a smooth learning experience, it is a good idea to have a designated study space. Whether that space is in your bedroom, basement, living room, kitchen, or another spot, make sure everyone is aware of the space you are using. If you haven’t done this already, it’s not too late to start hanging a sign on your door or posting your schedule on the fridge so your family members are aware.

Read More:

Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens
Preventing Eye Strain at Work
Deconstructing the 20-20-20 Rule for Digital Eye Strain