Welcome to my new advice column! I decided to start this because I wanted to share my knowledge about mental health, writing, the arts and more with the Cal State LA community. Outside of being a journalist, I am also a singer/songwriter who loves music, fashion, reading, crafting and my guitars! I love giving helpful advice to my friends and uplifting them; I am so excited to share that with all of you.
-Ana
Dear Ana,
Would love to know how you became a writer for the paper?
As a journalism major, I started writing stories in my community news class; JOUR 3910. Anyone can register for this class, and it was a really cool experience. You pick a local under-represented city in Los Angeles County and report on it for the semester. This is a good place to start if you want to gain experience writing in journalism or want to improve on it. From there I interviewed with our Editor-in-Chief, Anne To and advisor Julie Patel Liss, and got the job as a multimedia reporter. This is my second semester with the UT, and I love it.
Anyone is welcome to also become a contributor if you want to go straight into writing for the paper. If you are consistent and devoted to the paper, you can get promoted to an intern position or a reporter position from there. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] to hear more on how to join the University Times.
Dear Ana,
How do I stay productive when feeling down?
It can be hard to find motivation to do things when our mental and emotional health isn’t in a good place. My suggestion to you is to create a schedule. This is what really helps me when I’m in a depressive episode. It can be simple things, like showering or making your bed, but it is really helpful to your mindset when completing tasks. It’s rewarding to our brain to cross something off of a to-do list or schedule.
If you’re looking for higher levels of productivity, it’s important to remember that the hardest part is the start. I challenge you to break up tasks throughout the day or week, so that the idea of a task isn’t as daunting. Our brains like to magnify things, which can make productivity difficult. With these skills you will surely be able to accomplish anything on that to-do list. 🙂
Dear Ana,
Is it better to hang out with friends or be alone to improve mental health?
I think the key to this question is balance. It’s always a good idea to protect your peace and prioritize it, but sometimes there is a lot of benefit to pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I always recommend taking a step back from friends when your mental health needs it. We grow and heal the most on our own. With that said, I recommend holding onto the friendships that take the least amount of effort, the people you are closest to, to get through difficult times. We need our best friends to ground us and provide stability to our mental health.
Dear Ana,
How do I confront someone about betraying my trust when I’m very scared of confrontation?
In this situation, I recommend writing down some things that you want to say, because it can be very easy to get lost in a conversation and forget what the initial problem was in the first place. Having this discussion in a location that is comfortable to you and private is also important. As for the confrontation, remember that the friendship is important enough to you to even bother having the conversation, so let that be at the core of the situation. Remember that you are having this discussion because you care about each other, and that conflict makes any relationship stronger. Holding on to the purpose is key, a true friend will understand and respect the need for difficult conversations, so don’t be afraid.
