Sofia: surround yourself with things you love

"As soon as I moved back to The Netherlands, I caught a bad illness that forced me inside and away from people for several weeks, preventing me from doing things I love. So, my tip today for all of us who find themselves in a similar situation, perhaps by themselves and away from their families:

Surround yourself with things you love, things that make you happy and that make your place feel more like "home" than it ever has. You might have to spend lots of time inside, so make it as much enjoyable as possible (time to hang those string lights!)

Finally, if you need help, don't be afraid to reach out to people around you. You might be surprised by the love and kindness that is out there. We're all together in these unusual times, facing the same uncertainties and ready to lend each other a hand in case of need! You might feel lonely, but you're not alone :)”
@sof_folgheraiter

Chiraz: It is ok to not feel okay

“Although this post is about Wellbeing, I don’t really feel like I’ve been that ‘well’ today, or the past weeks. I’ve been stressed out by deadlines, exams, committee work and other things.

Additionally, focusing and staying motivated during a global pandemic, in an almost online-only environment, sometimes seems impossible. This results in me being unproductive, which in turn tends to make me feel worse because i feel bad about being unproductive.

But I’m here to tell you, and myself: it’s okay, not to feel okay. We are allowed to feel distressed, demotivated, sad, anxious.
What helps me, when I’m feeling so stressed, is to try and give myself a break. I like going to the beach for walks, an incredible privilege we have in The Hague. If I have enough strength and just need a change of scenery, I like going to uni - although booking ahead is needed these days.

Finally, I remind myself that, although I may not be feeling amazing all the time, better times will come. Slowly, the days will get longer, the sun will shine brighter. Eventually, we will be able to hug one another again.”
@chiraz2503

Dimitar: Set realistic schedules and make time for what makes you happy

"The most difficult thing for me in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was the fact that many of the things I was used to do were either restricted or temporarily forbidden. From the travel restrictions, which made travelling more difficult, to the new normal - the social distance, which is indeed the biggest challenge I ever experienced.

Therefore, I had to come up with a plan by myself in which I had to set new goals. Since travelling was a bit difficult in the beginning (and continues to be so), I decided not to take the risk and travel around Europe, but rather to explore the Netherlands. Since I did not have time to do that in my first year, I decided to do so now, in the first semester in my second year. And it really works for me - it keeps me healthy, as it brings me a lot of positivism, which helps me to stay focused and avoid the current difficulties as much as possible.

Hence, that would also be my advice. Try to find what makes you happy - whether it is your passion about sports, travel, reading etc. Then make yourself an agenda of your upcoming activities and try to add a little bit of more of your passion. Indeed, keeping up with course readings is hard, but it wouldn’t work as well to just do it constantly.

No matter the current circumstances, you should prioritize your mental health. Staying motivated can be indeed tricky, but you can help make it a bit easier for yourself by setting realistic schedules and taking time to care for yourself. For me traveling is what keeps me alive and energetic, what is your passion that keeps you healthy?" 
@dbradoslavov