Education Will Nourish Your Spirit During The Pandemic

If you're looking for ways to care for yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should know that a University of Toronto study showed that people with more post-secondary education report stronger feelings of well-being, according to The New York Times. With this in mind, you may want to dabble in adult education during these uncertain times. When you do, the focus that you put into learning and coursework will take your mind off problems. When you successfully complete a course, you'll receive a credential that makes it easier to move up in the world when quarantine eases or ends.

Free online courses are available

While we traditionally consider self-care to be about meditation, exercise, a clean diet, hydration and adequate rest (and all of these things are definitely important and beneficial) stimulating the mind through learning is also part of the equation. If you're not interested in pursuing a traditional degree, through universities that don't require the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations test), such as a Masters of Accounting degree or a Master's in Counseling, you may opt for free online courses that anyone can sign up for. One of the most popular options right now is Yale's 'happiness" course, according to CNN. Known as 'The Science of Well-being", this course may be accessed through the Coursera platform. This distance learning course will debunk common myths about happiness and teach you how to boost your own well-being by changing habits and negative thought patterns.

Video-based lectures will make you feel connected

Many online courses include video-based lectures. Others offer more interaction, through group video chats. If you're feeling isolated during the pandemic, you may find that choosing to take a course of this type helps you to feel more connected to humanity during a difficult time. When you're able to learn via video platforms and connect to professors and other students via chat platforms, it'll help to take away that aching sense of loneliness that so many people are feeling right now. Many people are dealing with anxiety and depression at the moment, and online education may help to ease symptoms. In some cases, a doctor's help may be needed, but some people feel relief just by getting closer to others, if only virtually. Human beings need social interaction, according to Psychology Today, and courses with interactive features offer this kind of social contact.

Reading course materials will clear your mind 

Online learning means reading, and a University of Sussex study showed that reading relieves stress. When you lose yourself in reading material, it will help you to unwind. The same University of Sussex study showed that participants' heart rates decreased while they were reading. Reading will also improve your overall intelligence and help you enhance your vocabulary. Sure, you can read juicy fiction novels to get the same benefits, but why not do some reading that leads to personal achievements, such as course credits or certificates? Then, you're de-stressing as you build a foundation for a successful future. As you can see, education is powerful. You probably knew that already. However, it's empowering from a mental health standpoint as well as in terms of opening up career possibilities. Be sure to nourish your mind, body and spirit with distance education.

If you are interested in education but aren’t sure about going back into a physical learning space, there are plenty of options for online learning available. Many universities are starting to offer exclusively online learning experiences that can guarantee you a work placement in the future. Institutions such as Marymount University are offering students online opportunities that can help them ease back into education without the pressure of attending in person.