Covid. There’s a 90% chance you read that with 0% attentiveness at heart. I don’t blame you; it’s become a part of our everyday lives. The word, unfortunately, seems to endure a sense of familiarity. The less we seek it, the more it seems to ease into our lives, almost like a child pestering the parents to purchase some candy, for which every ‘no’ matures into a blaring scream. I’m sure you’ve heard of a friend, family member or alas yourself, who contracted the virus. So, let’s talk about it, it seems to be the topic of everyone’s break time, well if you’re an essential worker that is.
Assignments can drain you
I’m currently studying in my penultimate year at university. Being a student can sometimes feel as though you’re hanging onto a rope, just the rope is above a 2000 metre cliff. Every assignment added to my plate, added a disproportionate weight, dwindling away at my rope and leaving me solely a thin thread. Contracting Covid-19 was definitely the final straw, in which my thread snapped. It is extremely important to seek help when needed. If you need to speak to someone, talk to someone! If you feel extended deadlines will help you to achieve your best potential in terms of your academic grades, email your university. Take control of your situation, asking for help isn’t necessarily a weakness, we are all humans who need help sometimes, and that is okay!
Social life thrown out the window
Balancing your education in one hand and your social life in the other can already appear to be tough enough. The continuous lockdowns and isolating periods can be very nerve-racking; being physically constrained can mentally feel as though you’ve been blocked by the outside world. Guess it’s not all sunshine and rainbows to be a modern-day Rapunzel. Feeling down from time to time is normal, life is full of ups and downs, and although you may feel hopeless in the current situation, it can help us to appreciate the good moments of life. But it is important to look at the brighter side of things, acknowledge those who have your back, call your loved ones, read a book, watch some good TV, bake a cake or play a board game with your family! It may not be as fun as getting smashed on a night out, but it definitely is a way to pass some time. It is completely normal to feel agitated by those around you, spending too much time with those you are isolating with can mentally drain you. Take some time to relax and breathe. You are in control of your own life. Go for a walk, treat yourself to your favourite take-out and most importantly remember you will get through this!
Learn a new skill to pass some time!
Currently, we are in a national lockdown. Routines may seem repetitive and mundane. This is definitely a great time to learn that new hobby that you always said you’d try out, but never had the time to actually do. Some new hobbies you could take up include gardening, dancing, painting, yoga or even cooking! The list is endless, so pick something, and maybe you’ll discover something you really enjoy. On the other hand, you could take this time to reflect and declutter your mind. Detox your soul, think about your good qualities as well as, the bad qualities. Where can you improve? Don’t let your past define you but allow yourself to use this time to learn from any mistakes and heal.
It is understandable that this is a difficult time; everyone will deal with it differently. For some, it may be easy, and for others, it may be extremely hard. Just know, whatever you’re going through, is temporary. Try to be there for the people around you, uplift others but don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back too from time to time! As is described by the Chinese philosophy ‘yin yang’, embrace both life’s ups and downs, for they allow us to become stronger and I’m not only talking about immunity!
I know it feels as we are stuck in an unprecedented and daunting time, but you are capable of getting through this.
