How TUFS Students Manage Their Wellbeing at Home

May 20, 2020

During a class (Basic Literacy) on April 28 and 30, we asked students (mostly new students) to participate in a survey on “small things I do to manage my wellbeing at home”. As a result, we received 2122 answers from 764 students. These results were then analyzed using the KJ Method (Kawakita 2017). Below is a summary of the ways students are actively managing their wellbeing at home. I hope that these results will serve as a useful reference for other students.

- Kosaka

Using time productively

  • Do what you can under the current circumstances
    (focus on studying, do things you otherwise wouldn’t have time for, indulge in something you normally wouldn’t, start something new)
  • Time and task management
    (organize papers, plan a schedule, use your free time productively)

Having fun

  • Spend time however you want to
    (Spend time freely, spend time in your own room)
  • Enjoy your hobbies
    (play instruments, games, draw pictures, read, watch movies and series, listen to music)

Health management

  • Keep to a daily routine
    (Soak in the morning sun, wash your face and eyes, wake up early to utilize the morning, get plenty of sleep, get sufficient nutrients, stay hydrated)
  • Exercise
    (Walking, radio calisthenics, weight training, stretching, massaging, yoga, workout videos)
  • Relaxation
    (Take deep breaths, meditate, play relaxing music, daydream, close the curtains, lie down, take a nap, take a break from your phone and the internet, hold something soft like a stuffed toy, experiment with scents)
  • Bathe
    (Bathe/shower, take leisurely baths, buy bath toys)

Managing food, clothing and housing

  • Food & Drink
    (Drink tea and water, eat sweets, cook and bake, have your favorite foods and beverages)
  • Look after your appearance
    (Do you hair, dress properly, do your nails and makeup)
  • Do things you’d normally do outside at home
    (Invest in better furniture, recreate a café atmosphere, turn your TV area into a cinema, buy new things, window shop online)
  • Create a better living environment
    (Do housework, redecorate/rearrange your room, clean your desk, adjust your chair, display your favorite things in your room, change the brightness of your room, prepare and internet and sound area, set up a trash can, clean and tidy)

Connecting with people and nature

  • Enjoy nature
    (Bathe in the sunlight, feel the wind, enjoy greenery and flowers, make a garden on your balcony, open the windows, ventilate your home)
  • Communicate
    (play with your pets, talk to your friends/partners, help with housework, communicate with your family, do things together with your family)

Emotional management

  • Put your feelings into words
    (Write a diary, post on social media, say them out loud)
  • Refresh your feelings
    (cry, laugh, sing, dance, sing in the shower)
  • Change how you see things
    (Think of reality as a novel, don’t blame yourself, think positively, use lucky charms)
  • Reminisce
    (Look back on old memories, look at old photos)
  • Think about the future
    (Look at videos and guidebooks to get that holiday feeling, make plans for post-COVID)

From the above results, I could get an understanding of the various things TUFS students are doing to look after their own wellbeing during this time.
I would like to say thank you to all who participated in this survey.
I hope other students will try these methods and use them as a reference for stress management during this time.

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