COVID-19 has had profound impacts on the world as a whole. As a student, your life has also been turned upside down as your school’s physical location is shuttered and you shelter in place. Here is some advice on how to get through these unprecedented times.
Stay Motivated at Home
Just because you are not in a formal classroom does not mean that you cannot come close to replicating the experience on your own. The key to maintaining your level of motivation comes from the steps that you take to organize your environment.
Try to create your own personal space for studying that reflects some of the formalities of learning. If possible, make your own workplace using a desk that you keep organized at all times. The organization should also extend to making a schedule for yourself to be “in class” and study time that you can follow.
By being as professional as you can under the circumstances, you can make online learning more closely resemble the in-person experience. You should have a plan at the start of each day that breaks the time into different tasks.
Use Campus and School Resources
This is certainly a most challenging time for students, as it is for people at other stages in their lives in all parts of the globe. In your case, your college campus or school likely has various online resources that can help you through difficult times from mental health to online checkout of materials at the library to free software. From an academic perspective, this could be in the form of study support from student advisors that can counsel you and give advice on how best to deal with the situation. Check with your campus to see all the resources they have available. During this time of online schooling, make sure you have access to the technology and remote learning tools being used for your classes and if you find yourself falling behind, it is a good idea to reach out to your teachers to let them know so they can provide you with the resources to help you catchup.
You may also be worried from a financial standpoint because you may have student loans to pay for during this challenging economic situation. You may have even lost your means of support as many have been laid off from their employment. Campus meal pans and other resources are no longer available. The good news is that with the CARES Act that recently passed all federal loan payments have been paused. While the CARES Act doesn’t directly include private loans, many lenders are also putting student support above profit and have created new options to be flexible with payments on student loans during the challenging economic time we’re in. Some lenders in the private space have recently released their plans, which are typically allowing three months forbearance. Options vary depending on the lender.
Stay Connected
Just because you are not physically present does not mean that you cannot remain connected. Many campuses are doing the best that they can to provide a virtual experience for students even when they are not on campuses. They may offer activities over Zoom or other ways of sharing experiences in addition to classes.
Sometimes, just staying in touch with friends is enough to maintain a sense of normalcy. Human contact can come in any one of a number of different forms even if it is not face-to-face. Try to talk to your friends as often as you can when you are in your home because it will brighten your day and remind you that you have plenty in your life.
Without regular activity and interaction, you may end feeling isolated. This will exacerbate feelings of stress during this difficult time. Instead, try to create as much of a virtual life for yourself as you can using Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and your mobile device. You can also plan online meetups with apps like Houseparty.
Practice Self-Care
While you must remain in your home to stay healthy for much of your day, the orders do not prohibit you from getting some fresh air and exercise so long as you maintain the proper distancing. In fact, sunlight is a necessity for many people who may end up feeling depressed without it. If you are able, try to set some time each day to go for a walk and enjoy the spring weather.
Self-care can also involve using relaxation techniques to improve your mood. Daily meditation is one way to make yourself feel more centered. Taking care of yourself emotionally and mentally is the key to getting through this difficult period. This can impact your well-being and physical health, and it does not take much to spiral into a depression as the world seems to be in chaos. There are many free online programs with everything from Yoga to meditation. There are also apps for your phone.
Modern technology (tele-medicine) has enabled doctors and patients to connect via video-conferencing tools when it is not possible to be physically present with each other. There are many tele-medicine resources for you to reach out to if you need to visit a doctor for medical checks and evaluation of symptoms. You need to make sure that you are using HIPAA compliant sources.
There are plenty of resources to help you until things improve and life returns to normal. Keep connected and know that there is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. Most of all, you are your own best resource as you make a life for yourself and do what you must to stay healthy and sane.
