By Kayleigh Johnson ’22, staff writer
It is certainly no secret that forced quarantine due to the coronavirus is not fun, but there are always ways to improve your situation.
Everyone’s lives have been thrown off-kilter with all the sudden business closures, move to online classes, working from home and pure panic caused by COVID-19. It is easy to lose a sense of purpose when your entire routine is suddenly turned upside-down. Here are some tips from college students on staying sane while barred from the public:
It is a proven fact that sunlight and fresh air are good for you. Going for a walk or even just opening a window to let in some light and air can do a lot of good for your mental state. It is also helpful to go for walks in order to break up your day and make it less monotonous.
“I find that going for a walk after lunch is really refreshing and gets me ready to continue my day,” Kiersten Millward, a senior Public Health major at West Chester University, said. “It gives me a change of scenery for a little bit so I can clear my head.”
I personally have found that designating one “big” task to accomplish per day helps me clear my mind and feel like I am not just stuck in a rut at home. Each day, I pick one task to accomplish that has nothing to do with school or work. For example, today my task was to organize my closet by season. Tomorrow I am going to finish unpacking all of the half-unpacked boxes from my move from the dorms to home. Having a specific task set aside each day helps me feel like I am not stuck doing schoolwork or just sitting around doing nothing all day. It also makes me feel accomplished, which offsets the depression of not being able to go outside or have variety in my days.
Similar to the last tip, I also find that it helps to make a list- and CROSS IT OFF. Crossing items off a list really makes me feel as though I am progressing, not just stuck in one spot, both mentally and physically. I make lists for homework, lists of things to do, lists for anything you can think of. Even writing down the smallest tasks, such as “open window,” and then crossing it off, can help.
It is also extremely important to stay social and active while cooped up. So, why not combine them? Exercising with friends via FaceTime, Skype, etc. is a fun way to motivate each other and catch up on your lives. You can all watch the same fitness class on YouTube or each do your own individual workout, whatever you prefer.
“Keeping connected with my friends from college over FaceTime really helps me keep my sanity,” Amberly Eisenhuth, a sophomore digital communications major, said.
Most importantly, remember that this quarantine will not last forever. Distracting yourself while cooped up is good, but normal life will resume as soon as possible, so try not to worry too much.