Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSD chapter.

As students are forced to remote learning, people are experiencing exhaustion and stress from excessive online meetings and onscreen stimuli. People are reported to feel burned out after spending hours on virtual platforms of communication, such as Zoom. This effect is commonly dubbed as “Zoom fatigue.”

During this time when we are self-quarantining and maintaining communication, it is important to prioritize health and self-care. With this in mind, anyone can follow these curated self-care tips to reduce stress and increase well-being. 

  1. Practice Yoga Stretches 

Working from home and not taking frequent breaks has caused most people to forget to get up and move around. Sitting all day can lead to body stiffness and build more exhaustion. In spare times or in between Zoom calls, doing light and effective stretches can wake up muscles and increase the flow of blood circulation. Squeezing in 10 minutes to stretch everyday can boost energy and alertness for your next online meeting.

  1. Practice Meditation 

Meditation is a simple way to reduce anxiety and stress. Anyone can follow meditation routines to restore their inner peace. Beginners can practice meditation on their own by streaming online tutorial videos or downloading mobile meditation and breathing apps. 

  1. Take naps 

The lack of outdoor activities and the strenuous effort to focus on Zoom, prompts extreme fatigue. Rather than depending on caffeine, experts recommend taking afternoon power naps. As our energy levels typically slumps mid-afternoon, it is advised to take naps no longer than 20 minutes during the optimal nap time 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to The Sunday Post. 

  1. Eat healthy snacks & try new recipes

During quarantine, we may find ourselves guilty of breaking from our typical diet or consuming way too much caffeine. To ensure optimal health and satisfy any snack cravings during stressful moments, experiment with new recipes and prepare simple and tasty snacks. 

  1. Have a home-spa

There is no better way to practice self-care than indulging in an at-home spa. After a long day of virtual meetings, fixing yourself with a nice bubble bath and setting a zen-like mood is the perfect way to relax at home. For an even better experience, unplug with a nice music playlist and enjoy a cool face mask. 

  1. Take a walk/ run outdoors

If you can avoid large crowds and maintain six-feet social distance, you are still allowed to go outdoors and enjoy a nice run or hike. Taking some time to move and get proper exercise can increase stamina and boost endorphins (which releases “feel-good” hormones). Explore your neighborhood or school campus and stop to take scenic pictures of nature.

  1. Do some arts and craft

Another form of relaxation is to do some arts and crafts or DIY projects. Spend time to bring out your inner creativity or challenge yourself with DIY home projects to de-stress. A few craft ideas include painting, scrapbooking/ journaling or making homemade aromatherapy candles.

  1. Read a book

To help diminish onscreen stimuli, take a break from being on your phone or laptop and open that untouched book on your shelf. Reading is a healthy way to escape from everyday stress, especially during this pandemic and political climate. Fix yourself some nice hot tea and find a quiet place to dive into the literary world.

Lauren Kim

UCSD '23

Lauren Kim is a Los Angeles native and a senior at the University of San Diego. She is currently a Communication major and a Business minor. Being in college, Lauren has a growing enthusiasm for marketing and branding. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, documenting food adventures on her foodie Instagram account, watching movies, and exploring the city.
Her Campus at UCSD aims to create a more open platform for women to share their ideas and passions with the rest of the college community. Our writers are students of all different majors who share the same passion for writing and media and are excited to bring more fun articles for the UCSD community and others to indulge in and enjoy.