LIFESTYLE - How to Survive a Pandemic: the Student Guide
To say we live in unprecedented time would be an understatement: everyone is locked inside, the PSNI is enforcing lockdown restrictions, and you can’t even go to the Winchester to wait for all this to blow over. Admittedly, many scientists already saw this coming - Spanish flu in the 1920s and Cholera in 1820s should have been a dead giveaway. With each day blending into the next, in your pyjamas in front of your computer screens, making plans for the future when all this calms down, what really can be done other than getting past twelve and replaying old games or binging old shows?
Well, I’m here to give some advice on what to do with your time during what feels like the end of world:
Start a new Hobby:
When I’m stuck inside all day, my brain turns to mush. Nothing particularly challenging when I re-watch Brooklyn 99 and know the lines before they even say them. Great examples of which being picking up an instrument, a new tv show, cooking, baking or a workout routine. So, in these uncertain times I’ve been trying to push for new hobbies to keep me occupied and mentally motivated. A niche but fun one I’ve started is resin 3D printing. I realise this isn’t a relatable one but just using it as an example. The basic gist is being able to take time away from the hustle and bustle of regular life in order to achieve some of your long set goals, or simply something to occupy your time.
Reading can be a good way to escape lockdown
Read, read, and read:
As the great George RR Martin once said “a reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man that never reads lives only one.”
During this time where most people’s lives are on pause, I think this is very applicable. Try and find a genre or series that interests you. Whether it is rolling countryside of Austen’s England, the gritty war-torn beaches of 1940s Normandy or the depths of space aboard a high-tech freighter. Whether you’re reading a classic or a self-help book, reading can be the difference between time spent sitting around passing the time or expanding your knowledge through an exploration of different worlds full of colourful characters.
Look out for numero uno and practice self-care:
As someone who struggles with mental health even without these unexpected lockdowns, this can be a challenging time for all. Stuck in the one place unable to meet with those you love, can take an unseen toll upon your mental wellbeing. Since this could be the status quo for the foreseeable future it is important to take care and treat yourself well. Whether it’s ordering your favourite food every now and again, watching your favourite movies or running yourself a bath. Be productive if even in small things, whether it is doing the washing, or cooking for yourself - something to give you sense of achievement. Overall, this can be a very testing time for everyone, so be kind to yourself.
Get some kinda routine going:
I’ve found that in the last half a year (I know right?) of this pandemic it is very easy to fall into lying around and doing nothing. This is another unseen threat that can quietly slip inside before you even realise it’s happening, and before you know it, you’ll be practically nocturnal and on a first name basis with the pizza delivery guy. So, in a time that feels like purgatory, it is important to maintain routine; get up around a reasonable time, make sure to wash yourself and try and be productive as to not slide back into apathy.
Reach out and stay connected:
It’s important to keep connected to our family and friends
A sometimes-forgotten part of taking care of oneself is remaining in contact with your loved ones. We are social creatures after all. Being stuck in your own head for extended periods of time can be harmful to your wellbeing, and if it’s applicable to you then it’s most definitely applicable to your friends and family. This pandemic is like cabin fever on steroids so it’s important to help combat it for yourself with the added benefit of helping those around you. A great example is my friend who has decided to start a crusade of challenging me to chess games, in the quest to beat me into the ground.
Hopefully my tips help you to combat these strange times, and fingers crossed we will be back to normalcy sooner rather than later - mostly because I’ve ran out of different ways to prepare Pot Noodles.
