College Has Become Virtual, What Do I Do Now?
Like many of my fellow college students, the COVID-19 virus has promptly disrupted my education and I will be finishing my Sophomore year online. The four years you spend in college are supposed to help you find your path in life and figure out not only what you want to do, but who you want to be. As I have made the transition to online classes, I have developed numerous tips and tricks for allowing myself to continue to learn and grow as I did a few weeks ago.
Stick to your original school schedule as much as possible.
In this time of change and confusion, it is important to keep as much consistency in your life as possible. These past few weeks I have made sure to follow my class schedule, this has helped me manage my time and ensure that I am staying productive. With this, I would say I am also conscious of giving myself the breaks I once did and not drowning myself in school work. Another way to maintain your normal routine is to get ready every day, even if that just means changing from pajamas to joggers, this helps me feel ready for the day!
Communicate with your classmates and professors.
Before this virus we had study groups and office hours easily accessible to us to ask any questions we may have. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors if you are struggling with your classwork and transitioning to online classes, I promise you are not alone! Another way to stay connected to your on-campus community is to make a conscious effort to reach out to your classmates every day and check in on them, it will make you feel better to interact with other people! This transition can feel very isolating, make sure you keep in touch with your support system.
Take this time to start working on new hobbies.
As we have transitioned to online education, we suddenly have an increase of free time! While it is extremely tempting to just spend your free time binge watching your favorite show, it will make you feel better to do more with your spare time. From exercise to artwork, this is a time for you to develop new hobbies that you can continue once life returns to normal. I personally have been trying out at-home yoga workouts, running and utlizing meditation apps (I have been loving Breethe) to develop new habits to manage my stress and anxiety. These new habits are building up both my mental and physcial health, which will help me in the long run!
Spend time with your family and close friends.
If you are able to spend time with those you love, do it! While social -distancing can be frustrating for young students who are used to being around friends 24/7, think of this time with your family as a gift. Help your parents with any extra stress they may be under, like cooking and keeping the house in one piece. Ask your siblings if they need help with school work, or if they are able to help you with yours! Check in on your extended family and see how they are doing, chances are they could really use a call or text from you and would love spending some time talking with you.
Remember that this is temporary.
I know it is very easy to say that you will stay positive and see the bright side, but doing it is much more difficult. We are all missing out on experiences that we have been looking foward to and are now faced with dissapointment. While this time can be incredibly frustrating and hard, it is vital to remember that this is not a permanent situation. Yes, it is scary and uncertain, but the world has gone through tragedy time and time again. We will learn and grow from this and tell our grandchildren about the time we had to stay inside and distance ourselves from others. It is easy to get lost in the fear and negativity, but the key is to stay positive and remember that this is all temporary and in just a few months we will all be back on campus!
