Self-care Tips to Lower Your Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has filled life with a lot of unknowns and “what-ifs,” that when piled on top of one another, can be a recipe for stress and anxiety.  Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress.  These are some of the things you can do to support yourself:

  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media regarding the pandemic.
  • Read a novel, binge watch a show, listen to your favorite music.
  • Missing going to the theater? Catch a Broadway show online.
  • Missing going to a classical concert? Here’s a great resource for online concerts.
  • We could all probably use a good laugh. Check out this link to find something that suits your taste in comedy.
  • Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.  Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
  • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy or haven’t found time for before.
  • Connect with others. Call someone who you haven’t connected with in a while; call friends and family. Use Zoom so a group of your friends and family can celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, play an online trivia game together, or just talk. Be with people even though it is virtual.
  • Remind yourself that this situation is temporary and will pass.
  • If you are feeling like you need someone to talk to about anxiety or if you’re feeling depressed, don’t wait, don’t feel guilty or try to minimize your feelings.  Talk to a clergy member, counselor, doctor, or contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-985-5990.  Students in the U.S. can also contact Cooper Care for assistance. Students currently outside the U.S. and in need of support can search available local resources at  Befriender’s Worldwide.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.