The Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown, imposed by the government to
stop it from spreading, has caused all schools, colleges and even coaching
institutes to shut down temporarily. This has created
unavoidable distress and disruption in the studies of students from
pre-primary to post graduation level. All students, especially of
classes 10th, 11th and 12th have been worst hit because of the dilemma they are facing due to multiple reasons.
Here are top 7 stressors and solutions:
Let’s discuss them in a little detail to understand as well as how to
manage them.
1) Stuck in a different city away from family
If you were among lakhs of students stuck away from home, then you faced
the pain, problems and agony for which no one prepared you. The problems
were many and not ending soon - from limited access to hygenic food, to
short supply of money & supplies, isolation, rudeness of landlords, to
count only a few. Eventually transportations were arranged and
hopefully you are back in the safety of your homes. This was a BIG
stressor. The horrible experiences of those days may still be affecting
you and your studies.
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Do regular meditation and stay positive
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Take healthy and light food
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Sleep properly and on time - do
not stay awake late
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Listen to light music
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Start Tray-gardening, Bonsai - make home environment
friendly & positive
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Help parents in housekeeping
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Learning how to cook will be the most important skill moving forward
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And friends! Who can live without them?
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Start with easy and familiar topics
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Gradually speed things up.
2) What will happen of remaining Boards Exams
Boards Exams are important and already a big stressor. New dimensions of
uncertainty and safety are also added to them. The CBSE and State Boards
plan to resume them with proper care & safety measures to save your
academic year.
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Wear masks & gloves
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Keep sanitizer handy
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Avoid groups when you visit the exam centre.
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Install and use the Arogya Setu App
3) Missing physical socialising
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Zoom, Facetime are great ways to stay connected.
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Make sure you check in on them - Keep the morale of the
group in high spirits.
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Share your experiences, problems and learnings
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Plan a time and get together.
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Celebrate “Lockdown Birthdays” - come together and
plan a nice surprise
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Make some videos or photo collage
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Everyone likes to feel special.
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Make it an unforgettable one!
4) Preparing for entrance exams
JEE-Mains and Advanced, NEET, CLAT, etc are now scheduled for July 3rd
week. Your preparations for them have taken a back seat for a while. You
might not have access to teachers, books, notes and mock tests. Results
are uncertain. Preparations incomplete.
We can’t control or correct these situations. But we can certainly control
how we react to them and what we make of them.
Your preparations throughout the year, your determination, and confidence
will see you through these tough times. Remember,
tough times don’t last, tough people do!
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Coaching Institutes have started online Zoom sessions -
join them.
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Contact School teachers and seniors
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Look for online tutorials on YouTube, Coursera, Udemy
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Practise with online mock test series
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Prepare and never blame yourselves - a single result can
never define you!
5) University admissions
University life is a dream world away from restrictions of teachers and
parents. Here you would take first-hand lessons in freedom, make your own
decisions, and accepting responsibility.
You might not get to enjoy canteens, sports/cultural fests, outings,
freshers/farewell parties at least for this year. Universities will rush
to cover the lost time. Social distancing has to be followed as well.
Nevertheless, seek good Universities, including private and self-financed
ones, where quality education is assured. Some institutes are providing
the best online education to their students and connecting with them at a
personal level.
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Look for regulatory approvals, affiliations and accreditations
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Check the University website for contact details and course
details
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Write an email
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Call their counsellors
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Chat using WhatsApp and online chat
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Download their Apps
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Connect using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
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Attend their Live Zoom sessions to clear doubts
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Apply online and complete the admissions process
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Check reviews from existing students at these
Universities.
6) Physical Fitness & Personal Hygiene
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Make a routine and dedicate 30-60 minutes every day for
physical fitness
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Give and accept fitness challenges to/from friends
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Maintain good personal hygiene – Godliness is next to Cleanliness
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It’s important to keep our immunity strong and metabolism
high - Do Yoga
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Yoga also helps in relaxation of body and mind
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Walk or Jog on your terrace or verandah
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Have a light, regular and healthy diet to keep fit
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Sleep well
7) Screen Addiction's effects on health
Online is the new normal. Parents can’t complain anymore about you being
online for long. Remember, using the gadget for studies and some
entertainment is ok.
But too much usage for long periods has its own set of troubles -
stiff neck, stiff wrists, swollen thumbs, jamming of fingers, dryness in
eyes.
Long usage also results in too many distractions. Avoid them.
Social media is the super spreader of hoaxes, fake news and conspiracy
theories adding to our stress levels.
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Regularly do exercise for neck, hands, fingers, feet and
eyes
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Better to avoid unverified information and news
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Be positive and trust the government sources
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Don’t indulge too much in what is out there
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Keep the news limited and to the point
So we hope that you all are safe, with your families,
enjoying the closeness. Prepare yourselves for a new world never
seen before. Using the hope & determination as the lever and
preparations & safety measures as fulcrum, you can literally
move worlds! We are all in this together.
We will come out of it stronger and better!
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Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear hardship today.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Global Zen Master
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