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Staying Connected During the Coronavirus Pandemic

If you have an idea, resource, or event you’d like the UNC community to know about, email it to Dave McDonald (david.mcdonald@unc.edu).

First, Make Sure You’re Taking Care of Yourself

With many normal work and social activities moving online, it can be difficult to feel connected and productive. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  • Re-consider what are reasonable expectations for what you can accomplish and when. Don’t expect to be as productive now as you would be if there wasn’t a pandemic (even if you have your own thermocycler at home).
  • Make a schedule for yourself. Structure can help you feel more grounded.
  • Get dressed for work even if you’re staying at home. Since many of us are Zooming into meetings, it can feel like a good option to wear pajamas all day. But you may feel more engaged if you put on the clothes you would wear if you were going to lab.
  • Create a work space. Work-life balance is harder when the barriers between them start to dissolve. Create a desk space where you do your work, and try to keep that separate from areas you relax. And make sure you have a neutral background or a virtual background for your Zoom meetings. You can even use art from the Ackland Art Museum as your Zoom background.
  • Keep up your physical fitness. Go for a walk, participate in an online yoga/pilates class (Triangle Rock Club, Ebb and Flow, Rae Studios, Franklin Street Yoga Center) or fitness class (UNC Campus Rec, Planet Fitness, YMCA, OrangeTheory).
  • Managing mental health during coronavirus

Upcoming Opportunities

Ideas to Spend Your Time while Social Distancing

Ways to Stay Connected with Each Other

Resources