Hello Echols Family,

Tommy here, wishing you a great start to another week. Serious question, are Mondays still so bad if we get to stay in sweatpants all day? In the spirit of barely knowing what day it is anyway, let's not sabotage this day by thinking it's intrinsically bad. Instead I want to commit to setting our intentions for a triumphant and productive week!

In all seriousness, I asked to pen this issue’s opening note because I want to divert everyone’s attention briefly to something really important. This chapter in our lives is truly wild, there’s a ton of uncertainty, constant barrages of scary news, and an added unhealthy dose of isolation. These factors and a bunch more (Hello transitioning to online classes??) combine to make an absolute breeding ground for anxiety. I know I personally have really struggled at times in these last few weeks. It’s understandable, being in the throes of a viral pandemic makes it easy to focus on physical health, but we shouldn’t lose awareness of our mental health and wellbeing. UVA’s own Bethany Teachman, professor of psychology and clinical psychologist, provided a great discussion on this topic here . If you’re short on time, I encourage you to jump to the bottom for some really fantastic tips on how to manage any anxiety you might be experiencing right now.

And finally, a great way to feel a little bit less encumbered by the weight of the moment is simply to reach out to members of your circle. If you haven't been already, please check up on a friend on zoom/facetime/skype and just have a chat. Ask them how they’re coping and let them know that we are all in this together. You might be surprised by how much better you feel and how much easier it is to feel up to the challenge of enjoying another week in quarantine ;)

Thanks for reading and please be well,
Tommy Ferrier

oh yeah... and as always...
Have something you’d like to submit? Send it to  EcholsProgram@virginia.edu !