As we are all aware, the past couple of years have been anything but ordinary. As we slowly start to readjust ourselves into our routines, and what I like to refer to as the ‘new normal’, it is still important to keep prioritizing health measures in order for us to have a safe and healthy semester.
When talking about health measures, I’m not only referring to the obvious sanitation proceedings we all have to do to keep Covid away. The other health-centered topic that I want to shed a light on is our mental health, and how we can optimally take advantage of some small changes in our daily routines to set ourselves up for a successful and productive academic year.
I recently came across a medical article by Dr. Ramon Solhkhah and Mr. Larry Ginsberg, that related to the readers the importance of establishing healthy small steps into your day like showering, waking up at the same time every day, sticking to a workout schedule, and even eating in the same time frames.
The authors claimed that these small changes can help us better readjust into our post-pandemic routines and new settings, whether these settings be academic or professional. The main thing that Dr. Solhkhah explained about the importance of sticking to a productive routine was that by doing so, your brain releases slowly acting chemicals into our bodies that help curb anxiety, insomnia, and even depression.
After reading the many positive impacts of establishing a productive and adapted daily routine, I believe that adhering to these small changes will eventually pave the way to a less stressful lifestyle and mentality. Not only because of the previously mentioned ‘side effects’ but also because once you’ve gotten accustomed to these healthy habits you’ve incorporated into your routine, the habit of being productive will gradually start to shift into other areas of your life. Therefore, you will be able to successfully optimize whatever kind of routine you are commencing or getting readjusted to.