Imagine waking up to a world that is not itself, but is broken and beaten. That is what Covid has done to teens today mentally. 

   Mental health has been a big issue for teens during this pandemic, where they feel as if they can’t do anything and move into a depressive state. Physically, many teens don’t go outside to exercise or workout because they are told to stay inside, leading to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Lastly, many teens suffer emotionally from anxiety, stress, depression, and many more illnesses. That being said, members of the Chat put in their tokens of advice in improving lifestyles this school year.  

Tip #1: Eat healthy. Stated by The World Health Organization, “Eat a healthy and nutritious diet, which helps your immune system to function properly.” You can eat foods like fruits and vegetables. You can also limit the amount of junk food you eat, or you can exercise. Sophomore, Jesi Crain, stated that, “ during the pandemic I exercised and walked around the neighborhood to stay fit and clear my mind from the pandemic.” So if one of our sophomores can do it, you can too. And although eating healthy can be hard for teens, it’s a small price to pay for your physical health.

Tip #2: Take a break from Covid. Now others may think, “How do I do that?”. The CDC stated that you can “Take a break from watching, reading or listening to news stories, including those on social media.” Although it is good to be informed, repeatedly hearing about the pandemic can get very upsetting and can lead to anxiety from being overwhelmed with all that information. Sophomore, Tracey Jean Louis, stated that, “ Cleaning my house helped cleanse my mind from the pandemic.”  So, some things you can do During your little break is read a book, play outside, cook, Meditate, Clean like Tracey, etc. 

Tip #3: Connect with your friends and family. Connecting with your friends and family can help you feel less lonely and it helps lower stress and anxiety by connecting with others, even if it’s on the phone, or computer, it is still effective. The CDC stated that, “ Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.”  Doing this can impact you greatly, and make you feel better about yourself. And sometimes talking about your feelings can be a real breakthrough, for a person who really just keeps to themselves.

Tip #4: Stick to a routine. Since we are in school, It can take up part of our day and after, we tend to go all over the place and we can’t figure out what to do first which can affect us emotionally. What you can do is create a routine for yourself, such as waking up, going to school, doing homework, etc. Doing this can better your emotional health and well being. And remember, Don’t wait and procrastinate, work hard and do your work so you can get some time to yourself.

Tip #5: Find something creative that you can do to help express your feelings.This may be a surprise, but playing a guitar, or painting a portrait can help with your mental health. So if your parents try to force you into playing an instrument, try it because you may actually like it. Also An article from Sunrise Services inc, which is a company that deals with mental health and caregiving, stated that,” Creativity allows your unconscious brain to process your feelings and decrease stress.” Some examples of what you can do include: drawing, you can experiment on new recipes, writing, playing an instrument, and many more. Get motivated and be ready to be creative. 

Tip #6: Get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can hurt you physically, and can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and also a stroke. But that’s not as bad as it gets, you can also have a heart attack or heart failure which can lead to death. So making sure you get enough sleep is really important. The average teen should get at least between 9 and 9 and a half hours of sleep. So make sure to go to sleep on time, so you can wake up bright and early for a great day of school.