After the stress of finals end, many students are excited for winter break. This year, winter break can look so many different ways! Some of you are headed to family after living near campus, some of you are staying in Chapel Hill for winter break, and some of you have been living with family this whole semester.
Whether you’re adjusting to living at home again, having less to do, or embarking on two more months of regular ol’ pandemic life, winter break can feel overwhelming.
Here are some common issues and ways to address them to help you stay healthy, protect yourself and those around you, and make the most of your break.
Mental Health Strategies
- Manage your free time: We know that at the beginning, the extra time feels like a gift! But the adjustment to free time can be a struggle for some.
- Start by taking time to relax.
- Then consider making a plan or list of things you would like to do over break. Fill your time with things that make you feel good!
- Prep for family & friends: Plan ahead for family and friend encounters.
- What questions or conflicts typically arise? Consider how COVID risk tolerance may play a role in conflict this year.
- How do you want to respond?
- Make a list of coping skills that work for you.
- Plan for your mental wellbeing: Many people experience a worsening of mental health symptoms around this time of year. You aren’t alone!
- If you are in treatment, work with your provider on how to best support yourself.
- If you are not in treatment, this break can provide you time to focus on how you’re feeling, what you might need, and how to make a plan moving forward.
- Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.
- Take a screening: UNC offers a wide range of online mental health screening tools about anxiety, depression, substances, wellbeing and more.
Ideas to protect yourself and others from illness
- Follow general COVID precautions.
- Wear a mask.
- Stay physically distanced.
- Avoid crowds and indoor crowded places.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Monitor for symptoms.
- Minimize contact with people at high risk of COVID-19 complications.
- If traveling:
- Double-check travel restrictions.
- In addition to strategies above, get a flu vaccine.
- Take a COVID-19 test prior to departure and before return. Remember that a negative test is not a free pass to skip other precautions.
- If gathering:
- Wear masks as much as possible.
- Eat outside if safe and feasible.
- Limit the number of guests.
- Have guests bring their own food, drinks, and utensils.
- If moving, quarantine for 2 weeks before interacting unmasked indoors with new roommates/family.
Even though classes are complete, most services available to students will remain open with virtual support through most of winter break. Reach out if you need help!
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