By: Madison Houser
Human beings are creatures of habit. Any interruption in our daily routines can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Often it can make it feel as though our entire world is upside down. The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to our lives. The last year and a half may have felt destabilizing for many college students. If you are feeling any of those feelings, take solace in the fact that you are not alone; many of your fellow Cobras are feeling the same way. Getting back into the flow of yet another “new normal” is not easy, but here are five tips to finding and creating your new return-to-campus routine:
Photo by: Madison Houser
Plan, plan, plan!
Planning your time can alleviate so much stress and anxiety. Seeing a physical outline of the day written out, or typed, is especially beneficial when creating new routines. 2021 Parkland graduate and EIU transfer student, Emma Larson, said, “I have had to schedule out what my typical week should look like using a planner, whiteboard, sticky notes, you name it! This way, I can stay on top of my work and get everything done.” Former Parkland student Madelynne Rosenbery added, “Using a planner has helped me keep track of everything. I can write down my work schedule, social activities, and cross it all off at the end of the day. My planner really helps me finish what I know I need to get done.” The best part about planning your new routine is that you get to do it in any format that works best for you. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to effective planning.
Make promises to yourself.
A common routine-creating-mishap is promising we will make the perfect, healthy, backed-by-science routine in one day. Some of us can wake up at 5 am to get in an early morning workout, cook an egg and toast breakfast, clean our entire house, shower, and get ready for the day ahead all before we have to leave at 8 am, but that is not realistic for others- and that’s okay! When creating your new routine, be honest about what you can accomplish at that time, and don’t overwhelm yourself with impossible standards. “We all went through virtual weirdness and the pandemic impacted us each in our own way. There are so many opportunities being back on campus now so it’s important to take it one day at a time,” Larson said. Take it easy and be kind to yourself. Coming back to campus after a year and a half of Zoom-school is another change in a short amount of time. Start by planning one day at a time, focusing on what is right in front of you, rather than overwhelming yourself and worrying about the entire week. Doing this will help keep you in line with realistic standards.
Gradually expose yourself to the tasks that make you anxious.
Many of us felt trapped on Zoom for a year and a half. Going back to classes in person can be a very anxiety-inducing time for some students. As you head back in with the crowd, Rosenbery suggests taking it all one step at a time. “Be patient because the flow of things will feel normal before you even know it. If you need to, just observe on the first day of class. Then, as you get more comfortable with the vibe, raise your hand to answer a question or ask your Professor for clarification on the topic you are confused about,” Rosenbery explained. Doing this works for other areas of life as well. If there is any task that makes you anxious, take it one step at a time, but always moving forward, you are allowing yourself to confront your anxiety and develop coping skills to gain more confidence as time goes on. The key is to take it slow and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Control what you can.
Although many classes have returned to in-person, there is still a looming feeling of uncertainty about what the next couple of months may bring. Rather than working yourself up about the unknown, Larson suggests working with what you already know. “Work out that school schedule, but remember, this is your routine, not your neighbors. Build it the way you need to in order to be successful. Avoid worrying about the behaviors of others and focus on what you’ve got and already understand,” Larson said. There will always be circumstances that come up that we have no control over. It is crucial to let those circumstances pass as they will and focus our energy on what we can control. Consider what makes you feel secure and allows you to relax, then take some time to do that.
Have some fun out there, kid!
Don’t let work and school tie you down. The best way to put together a successful routine is to make sure you allow yourself to get out there and have some fun. Larson said, “I was recently told not to shrink myself because if I did, I would miss out on so much. We have had so much taken away from us this past year and a half. As long as we are being safe and are mentally ready, let’s get out there and just have some college fun!”
