Adjusting to all of the curveballs and changes that 2020 has presented this year has certainly been a challenge. With the fall semester officially underway, I’m thrilled to be able to be back on campus even if it means being 6 feet apart, with a mask on, and only 2 days a week. I have to be honest it’s been hard for me to find much motivation with all the restrictions and concerns. The consistent rise of pandemic cases has caused me to divert my focus from what really matters while being on campus. I’m sure some of you can relate. Although we’re living through unfortunate times, we can’t let it get the best of us.
Keeping a positive and focused mindset is everything. Taking care of your mental health, especially in a trying time like this, is crucial. Anxiety isn’t always the easiest thing to work with either. However, something that has been helping me is writing down small daily goals each morning. This helps me stay focused on tasks I have to complete while also being conscious of the time I have to get them done.
I’ve learned to plan out the days ahead of me. Getting into a routine schedule has helped me to maintain focus on my classwork. Studies have shown that maintaining structure and organization in your day-to-day life improves overall mental quickness, performance, and emotional stability.
These are all things that I’ve been doing to maintain consistency in a very uncertain time. As I search for inspiration, I’m hoping in some way I can inspire you if you’re feeling the same way.
This is not our normal. Don’t feel bad for not having it all figured out right now. Understand that it’s okay to have off days. It’s okay if your mind is going in a thousand different directions. Give yourself a break. Enjoy a Starbucks every now and then, but know when it’s time to kick yourself in the butt. Hang in there Golden Bears, we’ll get through it!