Have you found a healthy way to process anger or frustration during this COVID-19 period? What is it?

It has been a challenge for sure. But I have relied a lot on the people I live with, and mostly on the hope that we will get through this. I have found also healthy habits, such as eating better and practicing some exercise, to keep me healthy and mindful. Coloring mandalas, making music and most importantly, staying in touch with my family in my home country. Special thanks to Amber Connors for her yoga sessions.

My way of processing negative emotions has been a combined approach of working through it with my therapist, running and writing down what I’m feeling. For me, I need to get all my words out of my head and onto a page. I also really enjoy running when I am really mad because it fuels me to run faster. And then I’m tired and can’t think about how angry I am. It’s a break from everything. Running also ensures that I will go outside and that I shower. Having a therapist during this crisis has been extremely helpful. I don’t know what I’d do without mine.

Exercise has been a super helpful way to process my frustration during this time. I’ve found it to be a necessary part of my daily routine. Every day I am in my living room doing SU fitness classes like Total Body X, or other online classes. For over a month, I have also been teaching my own online Dance Party Fitness class every Saturday morning. Being able to help others keep active and healthy is so rewarding. I look forward to it all week, and it keeps me busy creating new routines for every class. This picture is a post work-out selfie with my roommate, D.M.A. in Performance (Voice) student, Carly Baron.

My favorite thing is to enjoy the beautiful music of Emily King. I like to turn it on and crank it up as I perform my night-time routine. Her soothing voice really helps to calm me after frustrating moments, situations or days.

A few years ago I started incorporating kickboxing into my regular workout routine, and this past Christmas my husband gifted me with a bag. It’s incredibly therapeutic to box a few rounds between Zoom calls or kick it around after a frustrating practice session!

I have started to listen to all types of music. New types of classical music like Shostakovich, old music I used to listen to like rock. Since this quarantine period, I have really expanded the variety in the music I listen too. It has really helped keep me grounded and whenever I feel frustrated I just start listening to music.