6 ways to stay productive and healthy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic!

Attention at Home College Students: 6 ways to stay productive and healthy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic!

Attention at Home College Students: 6 ways to stay productive and healthy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic!

You may be reading this article from home, not because you are ditching classes, but because your university is one of the many that has asked their students not to return after spring break due to the COVID-19 outbreak.    Now, if you have not heard about the coronavirus or COVID-19, then you have been hiding under a rock. Local and international news outlets are covering the novel (new) coronavirus as well social media and the outbreak has been affecting daily life as schools are shutting down, experts warn against travel and caution against large gatherings.    People are increasingly searching on Google about coronavirus with questions such as:   
  • What is the coronavirus?
  • How many people have died from coronavirus?
  • How to prepare for the coronavirus
  • How did the coronavirus get started? 
  • How is coronavirus spread?
Image from Google Trends

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

According to the CDC (2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Summary), the novel (new) coronavirus is a respiratory disease that was first detected in China, but has spread internationally. (Live updates: Coronavirus cases pass 115,000 worldwide For frequent updates of confirmed locations of the coronavirus/COVID-19 cases, please check with the CDC website   Locations with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Global Map   Up to the minute updates of the coronavirus outbreak can be found on CNN’S website. All major sporting events for the NBA, NHL, MLB are being cancelled, amusement parks are shuttering their doors, businesses are asking employees to work from home, and travel has been ground to a halt. With the number of coronavirus cases rising, the effects it is having on our communities is serious. You may have noticed a shortage of toilet paper, water and hand sanitizer at your local stores.  
Trader Joe’s in Santa Monica, CA (3/12/2020)

Universities shutting their doors

In direct response to the CDC limiting large gatherings of people, Large universities such as Harvard, Northwestern, UCLA, Stanford, NYU, Yale and Columbia (among many others) have announced cancelled classes, shutting down campus and holding their courses online. (Major colleges and universities going remote over coronavirus fears & Harvard University is shutting down because of coronavirus).  Indeed, for example in a statement, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday; “It’s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19. School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.”

What can I do to stay productive and healthy? 

With schools shutting down likely until the end of spring term, you have to find ways to stay healthy and productive! Why? Because at first it may seem like a dream, but after a few days without your regular routine, you may find yourself going stir crazy or unmotivated from lack of a strict schedule.  So here are a few ways to stay active and productive during this time:

1. Self care. Your school may be putting your courses online, and while that may seem like a breeze, you may struggle with staying focused. Take a break. You don’t find yourself sitting in classes for hours on end, or sitting completing work without getting up for a few breaks here and there. Stand up and stretch, go for a walk or give a friend a call. Avoid being stagnant. 

2. Designate a work space. You may find yourself working remotely or studying from home, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be regimented. You may work best from a coffee shop or a local park bench. Find what works for you and reserve some areas of your home for work-free spaces (such as your bed or that cozy nook you like to read in).

3. Have a schedule. Working or studying from home may feel like freedom, but the key to success is having a little structure. Manage your time and structure time blocks for getting things done. Building a schedule instead of aimlessly floating around your home will help you continue to stay productive and happy.

4. Eat healthy and stay hydrated. Don’t neglect your diet, workout routine or sleep habits. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will continue to help you stay healthy and active. “Eating well, getting plenty of sleep and taking regular breaks for 10-15 mins to stretch the arms and legs helps keep focus and avoids eye strain from computer monitors.” (21 Tips for Online Classes Success | How to Study) (It is key to stay ahead of this virus by being informed. Here are some top ways to avoid being exposed to this virus: Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

5. Try new things! If you’re finding yourself with more free time in your hands, pick up a hobby or participate in something you haven’t done in awhile. Dance, read, listen to music, play games, draw, FaceTime your parents or start an online community.

6. Stay connected. If you find yourself quarantined or thrown off your regular schedule, it’s easy to feel alone or depressed. Make sure you utilize technology to stay connected to friends and family. If you are not sick, take the time to get coffee or grab a meal with a friend or colleague. 

  To read more on how to prevent coronavirus, please visit the CDC’s website HERE

 

CONCLUSION: 

Keep yourself informed by doing your own research:  *Direct link to case map: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html…   Stay busy, read, continue with any class assignments, study, workout, etc. While there are a ton of funny memes floating around, if you do have tests to prepare for or assignments due, make sure you’re mapping out a timeline and staying organized. Contact your professors for additional guidance for classwork.    We are all in this together, and Write Track is committed to being a resource for our students. Please feel free to contact us with any admissions questions: info@writetrackadmissions.com.