Mental Health & Self-Care Tips

The Counseling Center at Columbia State understands that this is a very apprehensive time for many.

Our routines have been changed drastically which can cause stress, anxiety, frustration, worry and irritability. Please know our services are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. via HIPAA compliant telehealth video chat Theranest or through phone sessions.

Columbia, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg, or Clifton Campuses:

Williamson Campus:

Self-Care Tips

  • Limit your social media/news intake. Yes it is important to be informed, but too much can increase anxiety and stress our mental health. Take important precautions and try hard to focus on the positive aspects.
  • Instead of connecting with friends and family only through social media, call or video chat with them, it will help with feelings of isolation.                   
  • Create a routine and try to stick to it. Routines create structure and structure often relieves anxiety.  Stick to consistent sleep patterns with regular night and wake up times. Go through your normal morning routine that you would when getting ready for class (care for hygiene, get dressed, eat breakfast, etc.) Block out your class schedule and study times and block out some time for social virtual connections and other self-care measures. Check out this link to create a daily planner https://www.canva.com/create/daily-planners/
  • Guided imagery is a practice of detaching from the anxiety and stressors that are in our environment in a calming, gentle, guided meditation.  YouTube has many on all different topics, but here are some you may like:
  • Journaling and writing are great ways to express ourselves and a healthy way to learn about ourselves.
  • Exercise has been shown scientifically to help ease stress, anxiety, and depression, while boosting our immune system. 
    • When the weather is nice go for a walk for at least 10 minutes. While walking notice 5 things that you can see and what the colors are, 4 things you can hear and how the sounds make you feel, 3 things you can touch and what the textures are, and 2 things you can smell. 
    • Gold’s Gym is allowing free access to their app Goldsamp until May 31 with many different exercises, music, and coaching. Promo Code: Fit60
    • Take a virtual walk with a friend either call them or video chat with them while they walk too. 
  • Laughter is very important for our health. They do not say laughter is the best medicine for no reason!  Did you know that laughing for 60 seconds, even if it is forced (the brain does not know), has been shown to improve our well-being and some cultures even have laughter groups. Watch a comedy, YouTube your favorite comedians, or check out memes that make you laugh. 

The Counseling Center
Columbia State Community College

For mental health crisis call 911 or go to your local emergency room immediately. Do not use email for crisis or emergency contact. Counselors do not maintain 24 hour access to email. Mobile Crisis can be reached at 1.800.681.7444.  National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached at 1.800.273.8255.