This week, many in the Stanford community are experiencing feelings of fear, loss, and grief. During difficult times, it is especially important to take small steps each day to care for your mental health and emotional well-being. Here are tips for caring for yourself and each other from the mental health and well-being teams in the office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

Make space for feelings. First and foremost, acknowledge that your feelings are valid. Explore how you are feeling by journaling or being with someone you trust, and balance time with others and time by yourself. Seek places for quiet contemplation or spend time in nature. Try a guided meditation or mindfulness exercise. You are not alone.

Take breaks from screens. While it’s important to stay informed, social media and the 24/7 news cycle can also lead to feelings of overwhelm. Consider setting a specific time aside to check the latest news, temporarily removing social media apps from your phone, or setting screen time limits on your phone, and find connection with others instead. You do not have to watch to care.

Check in with your friends and find community. Peer support can be a good first step to sharing your struggles and identifying what support you may need. Hillel at Stanford and the Markaz Resource Center are offering support and community to students now and always.

Maintain healthy habits. During stressful times, it is even more important that you fuel your body with nutritious meals and snacks and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Be sure that you are getting enough sleep and stay physically active. Regular exercise can help improve your mood and boost your overall health and release the stress and tension in your body.

Seek professional support. Consider finding a counselor, groups, or workshops provided by Counseling and Psychological Services or through Well-Being Coaching to help you cope with feelings of fear, loss, and grief around current events or if you find yourself unable to stop thinking about images or videos you have seen.

Check out the Mental Health Resources at Stanford website for additional mental health resources to support you during this time or connect with the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life.