Virtual Wellbeing Kit

Thinking about how you spend your time during isolation can be difficult and challenging. This time can offer you an opportunity to focus on your overall wellbeing. You might consider using this time to care for your mental and physical health. You can also take some steps to build stronger relationships with yourself and others. Or, spend time reflecting on what values are important to you in order to find a sense of purpose. This can also be an opportunity to explore any interests or passions you may have as well – you might even learn something new about yourself!

Here are some ways you can use resources that are available to you to prioritize your wellbeing throughout the days of your isolation and help create a routine. These are just some suggestions – adapt it and discover what works for you! Give yourself the permission to know that what you need, each day during your isolation might look different – and that’s okay!

Wellbeing Tip: Planning out and setting some goals early on in the day can help structure and focus your activities for the rest of the day.

Start your day with mindfulness

Try any of these guided meditations:

MIT Medical can help you with choosing a mindfulness app or select from one of these free options:

Take a Wake up & Stretch class from MIT Recreation to get your day started

Starting with gentle stretching postures, the class will move through sun salutations and work toward a peak posture that gets you focused and ready for the day. Virtual Classes are FREE! ZOOM ID: 95850461225.

Read the newspaper while eating your breakfast  

Your kerberos account gives you access to a huge library of magazines and newspapers. There are also foreign language newspapers available too. 

Wellbeing Tip: Make sure to eat a lunch to keep your energy up

Break a Sweat

Try taking a virtual fitness class from MIT Recreation or these low impact at home workouts:

Reset yourself with a Noon Unwind

This live, virtual 15-minute class is a combination of simple stretches to release tension in the body and guided meditation to mentally reset during the day. Offered Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Try MIT@2:50  a daily virtual pause and reflection

Join MIT community members in a brief moment of pause and reflection.

Shake off the day

Take an evening work out class like Virtual Barre Mondays at 6:00 pm from MIT Recreation.

Check in with loved ones

Call a friend or loved one to check in on how they are doing. Or, just send a text to check in with someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Writing has been shown to help people feel less sad or upset.

Schedule a virtual “hangout” 

Spend time in a virtual setting with friends or loved ones using FaceTime or Google Hangout.

Invite some friends to  watch Netflix together

Schedule group video calls to play trivia or virtual games

Visit a museum virtually 

Here are some free museums you can visit from the comfort of your current room:

Spend a night at the Theater

With your kerberos account you can spend a night at the Theater virtually. There are Broadway musicals, plays, and documentaries you can stream for free.  You can always stream a ton of additional content and audio books through MIT Streaming Media

Stay in and read

Sign up for a Boston Public Library eCard and rent books on your tablet, computer, or mobile device.

End your day with gratitude

Practicing gratitude has many proven benefits for your physical and emotional wellbeing. Plus, reflecting on your day and finding appreciation for even the smallest thing is a great way to end your day. Here are some tools to help you practice gratitude:

There are also some great Gratitude Apps available to you for free:

Make sure to get quality sleep

Sleep is so incredibly important for your mind and body. Try to keep a consistent sleep schedule. There are some great sleep tips from Community Wellness at MIT Medical that can help. You can also utilize these additional sleep resources:

Wellbeing Tip: Give yourself a break

Throughout your day, take quick 10-15 minute breaks. These breaks should be a time where you are not focused on a specific task but allowing your mind to relax. This allows your brain to recharge and refocus.

Read an article from The NYTimes newsletter At Home and Away

Tips and blogs for individuals who find themselves in isolation. 

Play a game or be creative:

For other tips to prioritize your wellbeing, during and after your isolation, visit doingwell.mit.edu.

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