3 Things to Get Through the Bumpy Fall Semester
Have you ever been jealous of your best friend? No. But you're envious (and annoyed) at your brother. He was pursuing the pleasure of leisure (or so you think), even bragging about a foreign student he met a few weeks ago. Her family lived in Bengalaru, which wasn't far from the ancient city of Hampi. She recommended your brother to visit India (and see the remains of this ancient wonder). She saw too many movies, which made your brother laughed out loud. (There are many ways to make an entrance. The three best options are: show up like Aragorn in the last Lord of the Rings movie; show up like John McClane in every Die Hard movie; and show up as an actor in every Bollywood movie, with an invisible wind blowing through his hair and everyone suddenly dancing around him.) A conversation about anything (and everything) would make him think less of the pandemic. What about the fall?
Your best coursemate asked you, one more time, to forget about the previous term. It was summer, which was the perfect time to debate about Captain America's shield and Thor's hammer. (You're not a Marvel fan. You're not curious about the actor who will play Adam Warlock.) Your mate talked about stories that his grandmother told him, about how, over in Africa, people used to fly all the time. They'd whisper the powerful words, the phrases dripping in old magic, and shoot off into the sky. Brothers raced sisters. Mothers and fathers carrying babies over shining lakes and snow-covered mountains. It made him wonder if such scenes would appear in the Black Panther sequel. You forgot about climate change, and how it hurt this year's apple crop. (But you kept your thoughts to yourself.) Your mate was about to tell you about High John when you remembered the deadline for your assignment. It was about Gothic fiction and the fear of going into deep water. Your tutor hinted at Mexican folklore, about La Llorona. You were thinking of Titanic, but it was your spacey-ness. It brought back your appetite. (You missed the sight of college students filling into a local pizza joint for a slice or two between classes.) All of these didn't demystify your anxiety about the semester (and the deadline for your assignment), so you stopped researching and writing.
The university brings up feelings of stress, anxiety, and nervousness, and the pandemic makes it even more of a challenge. You were a bit uneasy about it until you told your tutor about dealing with a huge uptick in learning. You were a bit relieved when your tutor told you that he was amazed at how you got far, which gave you the courage to tell your coursemates about it. And you were surprised that they felt the same way. Winning people over with a cup of tea (or soda), while exchanging stories, would be one way of boosting your wellbeing.
Balance is Fulfilling: How to Look After Your Mental Health
Read up on your nervous system. You recalled your heart pounding when you procrastinated on your assignment (on "Walden" and social distancing) and how you forgot to breathe. It was your adrenaline, which you could've used in other (or better) ways. Aside from managing your schedule, you can go out for a walk (whenever you feel your hormone rushing through your body). You can run, but check out the (gray) sky first. And you can Google on 4-7-8 breathing techniques.
Boost your self-esteem. Trying new things is so important for students. (If it didn't dawn on you, then you should be enthusiastic about the next lecture you attend.) Your coursemate is attempting to channel his inner French chef, and he's inviting you (and your other friends) for a lunch. Be nice. (They might laugh at you after you show your dance moves during a party.) This is not about excelling in it, as doing it would make you feel good. And that what's counts most.
Strike a balance between what you need to do and what you enjoy. An ideal routine involves getting up at the same time each day, making time for exercise, and getting eight hours of sleep. It's easy to burn the candle at both ends at university, though. Forget about partying until the early hours, even studying extremely hard, as you prioritize self-care. Stretch your body (after studying for 60 minutes). Lie down (if you're dizzy or tired). Listen to some music
Challenge Your Inner Critic
The pandemic might make you feel bad about perceived gaps in learning. It upset you, such that it didn't cross your mind that other students are in the same boat (with you) and your professors are more than willing to fill that gap. If something goes wrong, contact your professor(s). Don't whine. And you don't have to prove your worth to anyone. (You must change your perception.) Your inner critic can pile pressure on you, so try to be upbeat.
Your coursemate was annoyed at you, unable to tell the minutes you spent on daydreaming. You wondered about the kind of robot that could best handle the unpredictable topography of Mars. And space had nothing to do with your (current) assignment.
