TA News

Happy Wednesday, Panthers!

I’ve been thinking this week about silver linings. Quarantimes are hard, and it’s easy to get lost in the uncertainty and fear of it all, but there are good things to notice, too. Some good things over here? More time to bake. Lots of hikes lately. And I chose the word “hygge” (which means “cozy” in Swedish) as my word for 2020, long before Coronavirus happened…so I’ve been living it up with hot tea, good books, and some Netflix binges when I’ve got the downtime to enjoy them.

I miss my old “normal” routine, but am enjoying finding the joy in this crazy time as well. What are your silver linings?

Cool Things to do Online:

• Find out your Myers-Brigges personality type
• Washington Improv Theater’s FREE Intro to Improv classes online – (you must register ahead of time for these classes; scroll to the bottom of the page to see upcoming dates, as they are in real time)
• Some Good News with The Office’s Jim Krasinski

Podcast Recommendations:

• Unlocking Us – Brene Brown’s podcast on what it means to be human
• The Happiness Lab – Dr. Laurie Santos from Yale talks about real science that can make you happier
• Smarty Pants –  Catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs

Mental Health Resources:

• Talking to Teens about Coronavirus
• How to Prioritize Self-Care while Social Distancing

Self Care Suggestions:

• Cook the same recipe as a friend and have a dinner party over Zoom, Hangouts, or Facetime. Up the challenge by picking a “secret ingredient” and coming up with a recipe together (think eggplant, coconut milk, chickpeas, or tofu – try something new to you!).
• Camp in your backyard.
• Work your way through a series of movies or books, like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Pirates of the Caribbean.

Health Office Resource from Sue: Check out the ‘What Makes Me Productive?’ featured image for this post.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the Student Support Team if you need to talk to someone.

Be well,

Rebecca, Siobhan, Mark, Sue, Deb, and Kara