As we all enter the fourth week of the new-normal, either on or off campus, we may have started to realize that the future will be different than what you thought it would be.
As we mentioned last week, the multitude of feelings that you have experienced are real and valid. Now, you may be moving beyond the shock and disbelief and wondering, “What just happened?” “Where are we going?’
Additionally, we know from the accounts of survivors of past major disruptions that those who focused on what they wanted to accomplish following the event, had a healthier outcome. With this mind, we need to be thinking about how we want to realistically live our lives beyond the pandemic.
Key Takeaways
- Realization that the future is different than what you expected it to be.
- Your feelings are still valid and real.
- The sense of shock might be lessening, leaving you with a question of, “What just happened?”.
- Begin to think about how you want to realistically live your life beyond the pandemic.
Best Practices
- Accept your feelings and questions as real and valid.
- Stay connected with the college, students and colleagues. This can be accomplished by emails, zoom meetings, campus updates and other various campus communication venues. You can also visit – https://mycollege.sunybroome.edu/web/coronavirus/home
- Think about and possibly journal on these questions: “What are the things that I presently can count on?’ Where do I want to be at the end of summer?’ What are some possible steps I can take to get me there, at the end of the summer.
- Continue to get 10,000 steps daily. This may be a good time for creative solutions. To assist you, check out this website that converts activities to steps. Https://star port.jsc.nasa.gov/upload/Documents/Table_of_activities_conversion_to_steps.pdf
Things to Limit
- Continue to limit screen time.
- Continue to limit junk food.
- Limit the intake of the constant roar of negativity and how awful this is and that it will never get better.
- Procrastinating on taking the next steps to stay on course with your college plans.
“Effective questioning brings insights, which fuels curiosity, which cultivates wisdom”
Chip Bell
As this pandemic continues to impact your daily life, it also offers you the opportunity to think about and question how we want to live our newly created future.
Be Well.
Looking forward to connecting next week.
The ParaDocs
About “the Zone”:
The health and success of our college community members is key to continuing to offer quality educational programs. With this in mind, we have asked the ParaDocs to assist our campus-community with creating our ever-changing future, during the time of the Pandemic. The ParaDocs are Dr. Francis L. Battisti, PhD, Psychotherapist, Distinguished Psychology Professor and former Executive V.P. And Chief Academic Officer and, Dr. Helen E. Battisti, PhD. Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. The purpose of The Zone is to provide a weekly mental-health and nutrition tip-sheet during times of change. We decided to call this resource, The ZONE, because that is exactly where you want to be during this pandemic. A place of focused attention to doing exactly what needs to be done to get you to where you need to be.”
