How Can Students Stay Resilient in the Pandemic?

It is no secret that the current pandemic has had a significant impact on students and their education. Schools have been closed, homework has been canceled, and exams have been postponed. For students who are struggling to cope with these changes, it can be difficult to stay resilient and motivated. Here are a few tips from TutorHelp.Club experts on how to stay resilient in the pandemic:

Grounding Yourself

Some of the major sources of stress for college students during the pandemic are:

• No school: This can be a huge adjustment for students who are used to going to school every day.
• Sickness: It is natural to be worried about getting sick and spreading germs.
• Exams: Many students are anxious about their upcoming exams which have been postponed or canceled.
• Financial problems: Some students’ families have lost income due to the pandemic and are struggling to make ends meet.
• Being away from family: Students who are away from their families during the pandemic may feel lonely or homesick.
• Arguments with family members: The stress of the pandemic can cause family members to argue more than usual.
• Violence in the community: The pandemic has also caused an increase in domestic violence and fear in the community.
• Uncertainty about the future: The future seems very uncertain for many students right now and this can be very stressful. Their academic and career plans may be up in the air.

Stress might manifest itself as physical problems such as a headache, stomachache, or feeling tired all the time. It might also cause emotional problems such as feeling sad, nervous, or angry. One way to cope with stress is to ground yourself. Grounding yourself means focusing on what is happening in the present and not letting your thoughts wander to the future or the past. Some ways to ground yourself are:

• Focusing on your senses: What can you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel?
• Taking deep breaths: Inhale for five seconds and exhale for five seconds.
• Looking at something calming: A picture of a nature scene or a loved one can help to calm and soothe you.
• Doing something calming: Listening to calm music, reading, or knitting can help to soothe and relax you.

Unhooking Yourself

In times like these, you need to move away from negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions and towards values and positive thoughts. One way to do this is to unhook yourself from the negative things that are happening in the world. To unhook yourself, you need to:

• Notice and name your emotional state: “I am feeling scared right now.”
• Label the cause of your fear: “The pandemic is causing me to feel scared.”
• Refocus on your values: “My values are health, safety, and well-being.”
• Focus on the good: What is going well in your life? What are you grateful for?
• Think about your values: What matters to you most?
• Reflect on your positive qualities: What are your strengths and qualities?
• Connect with positive people: To stay resilient, you must connect with positive people. These are people who will support and encourage you, listen to you, and make you feel good. Positive people can be found in your family, friends, online communities, or any other group that you belong to. When you are feeling down, connect with these people and spend time with them. This will help to boost your mood and make you feel more positive.

Living with Values

In times like these, when we are struggling with the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of World War III looming over us, living with values becomes more important than ever. When we live with values, we make decisions based on what is important to us, rather than what is easy or convenient. To live with values, you need to know what your values are. Some common personal values are:

• Kindness: Doing kind things for others and being compassionate can help humanity survive and thrive. You can do little things like smiling at someone, holding the door open for someone, or letting someone go in front of you in line. As a college student, you can also volunteer in your community.
• Compassion: Feeling compassion for others and wanting to help them in any way we can is a very human trait. Compassion can make us feel connected to others and help us to feel empathy for their struggles. As a compassionate person, you can reach out to those who are struggling and offer them support.
• Health: Maintaining good physical and mental health is important to all of us. To stay healthy, you should exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep. You should also take time for yourself to relax and de-stress.
• Family: Valuing our relationships with family members is important. Spending time with family members, talking to them, and showing them that we care about them can help to strengthen our relationships. Contributing to household chores and expenses can also help to show our family that we care about them.
• Security: Feeling safe and secure in your life is important. You can create a sense of security by having an emergency plan in case of a disaster, keeping your home and belongings safe, and being financially secure.
• Community: Belonging to and being supportive of a community is important. You can strengthen your community by getting involved in group activities, volunteering, and donating to charity.
• Justice: Treating people fairly and justly is important. As a justice-oriented person, you can work to achieve equality and fairness in your community, workplace, and relationships. College students can often be seen raising awareness for social justice issues on campus.
• Sustainability: Respecting the environment and living in ways that do not harm future generations is becoming increasingly important. As a sustainable person, you can reduce your waste, recycle, and buy environmentally friendly products.

When you know your values, you can start to make decisions that are in line with them. For example, if one of your values is family, you might choose to stay home from work to care for a sick loved one. Or, if one of your values is sustainability, you might choose to reduce the amount of waste you produce.

Being resilient in times of stress and difficulty is not easy, but it is possible. By following the tips above, you can increase your resilience and cope better with whatever life throws your way. Stay strong, brave, and resilient!