Working students of the Palm Desert Campus (PDC) shared the changes in their time management caused by the shift to online learning. “I used to work two jobs and now I only work for one, which is for our school,” says Vianey Abraham, a fourth-year communications studies major. Abraham said, “I worked for a small business in Palm Springs, but since we were all too exposed to the virus, everyone had to stop working in that area. My family got paranoid, so they told me to not return to work. They wanted me to stay home safe and healthy.” The paranoia over the pandemic caused millions of Americans to quarantine while simultaneously being at risk to lose their jobs. “It didn’t … [Read more...] about Work, study, late nights, repeat: Students in PDC shed light on balancing work and school life in a pandemic
mental health
Softball players cope with mental health challenges posed by quarantine
CSUSB student athletes on the softball team reveal the difficulties of learning from home and the toll it’s taken on their mental health. Student athletes have had a year of online schooling, sports and other activities. For many, this transition has been hard and came with a cost: their mental health. Kiki Foley, a junior transfer on the CSUSB softball team, discusses overcoming two cancelled seasons and her approach to coping with emotions during this time. “Ever since high school, I’ve dealt with generalized anxiety disorder. I’ve been able to find new ways to cope by relying on my parents and best friends as a positive support system,” says Foley. Foley sheds light on the … [Read more...] about Softball players cope with mental health challenges posed by quarantine
Advice: Six tips and tricks for finals week
We are nearing finals week, Yotes! Here are some tips and tricks to help you survive the coming week. Know your finals' schedule Take an extra look at your syllabus and make sure you have the correct dates and times for your finals. Something this simple can help ease the stress and help keep you organized. Study time Set time aside so you can review any test material at your own pace. Create a study schedule and decide on a time and day to take your finals. Study for your first test first and set priorities. Allow yourself some breaks but don’t get too carried away. According to Neurosciencenews.com, “In a study of healthy volunteers, National Institutes of Health researchers … [Read more...] about Advice: Six tips and tricks for finals week
Mental health resources available for student athletes amid game cancellations
As college athletics around the world have been affected by COVID-19, CSUSB faculty look for ways to help their athletes with their mental health. To most, the cancellation of sports last spring and this fall came at a surprise and disbelief. On August 5, the California Collegiate Athletic Association released this statement regarding fall sports: “Yesterday, the NCAA Division II Presidents Council announced the cancellation of 2020 fall championship events after it was determined to be untenable from an administrative and financial perspective, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this news, the conference is still looking ahead to the potential of all sports having the … [Read more...] about Mental health resources available for student athletes amid game cancellations
Webinar hosted to break stigma surrounding mental health
CSUSB’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) held their first webinar to take part in National Mental Health Awareness month. The webinar, titled “You're Not Alone: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health for College Students” was an hour-long discussion tackling mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, that college students face. Mental health is more prominent in students, with more than 40% of students facing depression and 66% of students experiencing overwhelming anxiety. Depression and anxiety are some of the most prominent mental health issues that students experience over the course of their college career. From not knowing exactly where their future … [Read more...] about Webinar hosted to break stigma surrounding mental health
Ways to practice wellness at home
Self-care routines can be beneficial to have in this time of a pandemic. Since social distancing practices to slow the spread of COVID-19 has left many with uneasiness, wellness practices have become a part of people's routines. There are many ways to take care of your mind and body all while still social distancing at home. Having structure in your day allows you to feel productive and allows you to get what you need to get done. Adding structure in your day can also help relieve feelings of anxiety. "When quarantine first started I was sleeping late and waking up even later, there was no structure in my day," said Bianca Ruvalcaba, a Senior on campus. "I noticed that about two … [Read more...] about Ways to practice wellness at home
Mental health counselor urges the practice of self-care
By Tanya Jansen and Alexis Ramirez Community members are fighting to maintain their self-care rituals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not implementing tactics for self care, especially during quarantine, can lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression and may cause irritability with people in one’s life, according to licensed mental health counselor Karin Brackebusch. During quarantine, certain levels of self-care can be lost, since going out with friends, getting out of the house, running errands, and exercising freedom to go outside are some of what constitutes self-care. There are many different ways in which a person can implement tactics of self-care, according to … [Read more...] about Mental health counselor urges the practice of self-care
Students feel the burnout
As college students, most of us have to deal with the daily stressors of school, work, and life. This can put a strain in our mental, physical, and emotional health as there is usually little to no time for self-care. On top of that, not many people know how to practice self-care. "Sometimes I feel like I don't have a break, even on my days off. I constantly feel burnt out because of work and school," said CSUSB senior, Jailene Paniagua. From attending CSUSB, working on the days she does not attend classes and still trying to maintain healthy relationships with loved ones, Paniagua shares her experience with burnout and how she copes. "When I'm not at school, I'm working. If I'm … [Read more...] about Students feel the burnout
Less stress: coping strategies for success
When was the last time you took a breathing break? Life can quickly become an overwhelming factor. There are proposed coping strategies that assist with everyday stress. For example, taking a two- to three-minute breathing break and listening to peaceful melodies. "One of the first coping skills that we review and teach in therapy is deep breathing," said psychologist Angelica Garita. "Deep breathing is very important and it also has a lot of amazing benefits. Some of the benefits include increased oxygen to your body which helps in healing, reduced carbon dioxide, which has been shown to be a contributor to anxiety, increased self-awareness, increased relaxation, reduced production … [Read more...] about Less stress: coping strategies for success
How to cope with post graduate anxiety
Being in your final year of college is a bittersweet feeling. You have a little bit of "senioritis" and you're just ready for a new experience. However, you wonder how the "real world" will receive you. You ask yourself, "What can I offer? Do I have enough experience? How am I going to get a job right out of school? Am I even ready to be out of school?" These questions are perfectly normal to have, but they can give you so much stress. This feeling can be labeled as post graduate anxiety. There is a bit of guilt that comes with post graduate anxiety because graduation is a time to celebrate your accomplishments, and at every gathering your family members will ask, "So, what are you … [Read more...] about How to cope with post graduate anxiety