So, school just started back up again. I was so excited to be back on campus, work out, be with my friends, and not have to live inside my house 24/7. I finally felt like I was approaching normality again, and then… BAM. I was working out and BROKE MY ANKLE! Like, seriously? How does that happen… two weeks into the semester and an unexpected freak accident results in my ankle breaking. Like really??? Just my luck. To say it has taken a toll on my mental health is an understatement. Being so excited about an awesome semester just to have this happen can really mess with someone’s head. I’m sure that I’m not the only person this has happened to. All I wanted was to be able to do things relatively stress-free because the pandemic is finally more under control and I felt that freedom was coming back into our everyday lives. However, I had to (and am still doing so, only two weeks into having my first-ever broken bone) conform to this new situation. There is no point in complaining about it because it won’t change anything. So, that being said, here is how you can make the best of a bad situation, no matter what it may be!
1. Remember that this is only TEMPORARY
This pain may be unbearable, but remember that it gets better every day. I was in some of the worst pain I have ever experienced for the first few days, but I have made remarkable progress ever since. Everything you feel right now is only a temporary feeling, and the recovery process will go by quicker than you may think! It’s important to remember that as days go on and you may not feel like this feeling will ever end.
2. Make a list of things you want to get done that you typically might not have been able to
Sure, I might not be able to work out or walk to class, but there are so many more things I can do that I truly just didn’t have the time to do before this happened. For example, I have been reading so much more and catching up on TV shows I have always wanted to watch.
3. Your friends are there for you – don’t hesitate to ask for help!
I have never ever ever been the type of person who asks people for help. I always feel like a burden, especially because everyone has a ton of their own stuff going on. It may feel like you are being so annoying, but trust me, you aren’t. If you have decent friends, they should have absolutely no problem helping you out with tasks you may not be able to do right now during this hard time. Ask your friends for rides or help to do laundry. Trust me, they will say yes!
4. Spend this time focusing on YOU!
In college especially, we tend to not have a ton of time on our hands to just focus on one of the most important things: taking care of ourselves! I have taken so much time to write in my journal, meditate, clean my room, and keep myself clean as a whole.
It may seem like a tough journey, but I promise you can make the most out of any bad situation. Hang in there everyone and give yourself some credit for being you!
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