SWAdcast

Show Notes

Some General tips for Zooming:

• Take a few moments before clicking “Start” to settle and ground your attention.
• Take the time to truly greet whoever is in the room with your full attention.
• Choose “speaker view.”
• Resist the urge to multitask.
• Try to take measured breaks between sessions.
• And finally, remind yourself periodically that this is a new place.

Further Reading/ Our Sources:

• How to combat Zoom fatigue
• Zoom exhaustion is real. Here are six ways to find balance and stay connected
• Feeling fatigued from Zoom? Give your brain a break
• Zoom Fatigue is real. Here’s why you’re feeling it, and what you can do about it.
• The reason Zoom calls drain your energy

The COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving health issue. The information shared in this episode is up-to-date as of April 29th, 2021. Please explore the resources below for current information.

Further Reading/ Our Sources:

• Comparison of available vaccines from Yale Medicine, including vaccine efficacy and efficacy against variants
• Partial efficacy of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) 2 weeks after first dose:
  • Thompson MG, Burgess JL, Naleway AL, et al. Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–March 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:495–500. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6912e2.
    • Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness
• Centers for Disease Control Prevention: COVID-19
• Minnesota Department of Health: COVID-19 
• Further reading on vaccine anxiety:
• • Calming COVID Vaccine Anxiety, University of Arizona
  • Coping with Vaccine Anxiety, New York State Office of Mental Health
  • Talking vaccine anxiety, guilt and shaming with the U of M
• Carleton-specific pages and resources:
  • Carleton COVID-19 Updates

• General Tips for Overcoming Pandemic Fatigue:
  • Recognize the signs: These can include being excessively tired, feelings of worthlessness, or feelings of a sense of ineffectiveness in life.
  • Seek mental health care: Therapy
  • Find ways to have community: Video/voice chatting or online hangouts
  • Maintain hope: Things will get better
    • It may seem like continuing to follow guidelines feels hopeless, but the more we do it, the faster things will get better
  • Create a schedule: Creating some change in your routine
  • Focus on what you can control: Fitness, scheduling, being mindful of your feelings, etc.
  • Practice positive affirmation: There are things to be grateful for
  • Set boundaries for social media: Limit how much time you spend
    • Avoid doomscrolling
  • Continue to follow preventive measures: While vaccines are effective, it is still important to wear masks and stay up-to-date with Carleton’s requirements regarding physical distancing, etc.
• Our sources:
  • What doctors wish patients knew about pandemic fatigue, AMA
  • Coronavirus and COVID-19, Everyday Health
  • Our Bulletin Board on Combating Social Isolation

In this episode, SWAs Gaby (she/her and Cas (they/them) discuss the transition to in-person learning, how it impacts students, and how to navigate a return to life on campus.

• Some general tips for re-adjusting to being back on campus
  • Remain patient and compassionate with others: Be gentle with others, and be sure to check in on one another.
  • Take time to organize your responsibilities and establish routines: These practices can help you slowly but surely incorporate structure back into your college life.
  • Friendships are hard! Remember that friendships in college change all the time, and new connections will continue to form throughout the year.
  • Utilize the resources that the college makes available to students: OAR, SHAC, and OHP 
  • Be honest with yourself about your needs, your energy level, and your abilities: You’re allowed to leave grind culture in the past!
• Our sources:
• • Evaluation of reopening strategies for educational institutions during COVID-19 through agent based simulation
  • Tips for Returning to School After COVID-19, The Hun School of Princeton
  • You’ve made it to campus! Now what? These tips can help you navigate college life, NPR
  • How to Navigate a College Reopening, Consumer Reports
  • College After Covid – 6 Things To Consider When Returning to In-Person Learning, Mansfield Hall

In this episode, SWAs Gaby (she/her) and Cas (they/them) discuss the importance of boundaries, and how to set them in your academic and interpersonal relationships.

In this episode, SWAs Gaby (she/her) and Cas (they/them) discuss the importance of sleep, and tips and resources to help improve your sleep.

In this episode, Cas responds to questions about health on campus from students in the Carleton Community! Join them as they discuss working in the OHP, the SWA Dogs, learning to practice healthy routines, and finding the motivation to stay at Carleton.