Keeping Well with COVID-19
As we now navigate the realities of the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, we recognize the impacts this may have in your daily life related to wellbeing and the range of emotions that all of our communities are experiencing right now.
In light of this, we firmly believe that now, perhaps more than ever, is the time to be working towards better wellbeing. As we continue to navigate this time, we are here for you.
We have curated resources, activities, and exercises to help support you. By cultivating healthy coping skills, we can feel more connected and in tune with our environments, bodies, and the present moment, in an otherwise uncertain time.
Updates
General Information
- Symptoms of COVID-19
- Prevention and protection tips
- Information about COVID-19 and those who are high-risk
- What to do if you suspect you are sick
Wellesley College Public Health Guidance
We recognize that being on-campus during this time looks very differently from your past experiences at Wellesley; classrooms are set up different; campus isn't bustling as usual; and we have had to be flexible in adapting to the ever changing news.
However, we want to remind you that you are not alone in this experience. Near or far, your Wellesley community is always with you to support one another. Below are some resources we have put together to help support you during this time, particularly with regard to your wellbeing.
Though things may be uncertain and feel out of control, finding ways (however small) to feel more in control of our environments, more in tune with our bodies, and more connected to the present moment are helpful coping skills.
As a reminder, should you have any questions, please feel free to submit a question or contact us.
Staying active in your dorm room:
Nutrition and eating:
- Please check Wellesley Fresh for updates around dining hall hours and access
- Struggling with an eating disorder?
- Schedule a virtual meeting with a counselor in the Stone Center
- Connect to Walden Behavioral Care virtually
- Read more information from Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA)
- Have additional questions? Connect with our Nutritionist, Barbara Southcote
Community immunity:
- While living in residence halls, it is important to remember to take care of yourself and your community through healthy habits for community immunity.
- Watch this video featuring the Balance Health Educators as they discuss tips for staying healthy!
Cultivating connections:
- Though we are navigating challenging times, we are in this together - as Wellesley students, faculty, and staff, and the global community, more largely.
- Connect to College resources, such as:
- Connect to loved ones, friends, and others:
- Text, email, write letters to loved ones
- Host Zoom/FaceTime parties, start GroupMe chats
- Share a meal with a friend over video chat
- Participate in virtual workouts, book clubs, skill shares
- Connect virtually to a professional if you need mental health support or are in recovery
- ...click here for more ideas!
Please note: a code of conduct has been developed to provide community standards and guidance for students remaining in residence on campus.
During this very difficult time of uncertainty and transition, you may be searching for ways to feel empowered and connected with others. While you are unable to be shoulder-to-shoulder with your peers, faculty or College staff on campus, we are nonetheless here for you.
- For those students on-campus, please check Wellesley Fresh for updates around dining hall hours and access.
- Don't know where to begin in the kitchen? Need a little help with some of the basics or working within a budget?
- These digital download cookbooks help you navigate cooking basics and cooking on a budget!
- Struggling with disordered thoughts or eating behaviors?
- Schedule a virtual meeting with a counselor in the Stone Center
- Connect to Walden Behavioral Care virtually
- Read more information from Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA)
- Our Nutritionist, Barbara Southcote, invites you to share what meals and snacks you are making.
- Post pictures or videos of your creations to social media and tag us @wellesleywellness!
- Have a question? Please ask!
Community immunity and staying healthy
- Healthy habits from the Balance Health Educators (BHEs)
- How to boost your immune system
- Facts and myths about immunity
- How do vaccines work?
- Physical distancing information from Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Sex and Coronavirus
Check out the video below for tips on Healthy Habits and Community Immunity from the Balance Health Educators!
Resources and information
Meditations and mindfulness
- Free guided meditations from Headspace
- 6-minute guided meditation using the STOP method
- Loving kindness meditation
- Staying connected to others and ourselves
Videos from Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Switching to remote and hybrid learning can be a big learning curve. You may also find your motivation and concentration affected due to higher levels of stress related to the COVID-19 crisis.
To help you stay productive during a time of challenge, check out these tips:
- Get into a routine
- Use a planner/scheduling tool to help you stay organized
- Create daily and weekly schedules for yourself; include breaks and meals
- Plan fun things when you hit your goals
- I.e. Call a friend or watch a new episode of your favorite TV show
- Get up and go to sleep at the same time each day
- Engage in healthy movement
- Exercise can increase energy, sharpen focus, and improve memory
- Take a break and try desk yoga or some light stretching
- Make your setup more ergonomic
- Try a DIY standing desk
- Connect with others
- Connect with your peers as a source of support/motivation
- Check out Peer Educator remote tutoring through Zoom from the PLTC
- Start a group chat or have a weekly video check-in
- Reach out to your professors to stay connected
- Seek appropriate support and resources to help navigate this time
- Such as: Stone Center, PLTC, Student Life Division
- Connect with your peers as a source of support/motivation
- Maintain perspective
- Focus on one task at a time
- Remember your why
- Why is your education important to you?
- How is it helping your future goals?
- Why are you passionate about your chosen subjects?
- Remember that this too shall pass and this way of learning is temporary
- Be proud of yourself and celebrate, being able to finish the year amidst all of this is amazing!
We know that recovery is often built on being in community and supporting one another, and during the Coronavirus pandemic, this is challenged by social distancing. However, we have compiled online/digital resources to help support your recovery during this time.
Alcoholics Anonymous
SMART Recovery
Narcotics Anonymous
Other Resources
It is very common to experience difficulty sleeping, quieting a racing mind, or unwinding from the day with everything going on in the world around us. However, rest is one of the key ways to boost our immunity, recharge our mental health, and ground ourselves.
Please see the resources below to help you achieve more restful sleep:
Please see below for additional resources and support:
- Wellesley College 5-minute wellness modules
- Wellness apps and Coronavirus-related support
- New York Times Healthy Habits Challenge
- Take the WellNESSt Questionnaire to learn ways to improve your wellbeing and connect to helpful resources
Though we are currently virtual, we are still here to support you and answer your questions!
Please fill out this form and a member of the Office of Student Wellness will respond to your question. All questions are reviewed on Wednesdays and answers will be posted by end of day Friday of the week they were received. All questions will be archived on our OSW website.
Please note: This is intended for Wellesley College student use only. Members of OSW are not confidential resources and this form is not intended for urgent or emergency situations; if you need urgent help, please dial 911 or contact Wellesley College Police at 781-283-5555.
