QUARAN‘TEEN’: HELPFUL OR STRESSFUL?
“The best way to describe ‘quarantine period’: outward smiles and inward screams.”
The sudden lockdown, over the effects of COVID-19, has brought all plans to a standstill. Practicing social distancing is now an uphill task for many and one of the best and most relatable song lyrics in this context is “Don’t stand so close to me” by ‘The Police’ . As for introverts like me, it has been more of a blessing! Since our routines have been disrupted, there have been fundamental changes bringing in stark contrasts in our way of life but changes aren’t necessarily bad, are they? Whatever it is that you’re most proud of, you probably didn’t accomplish that by sitting peacefully in your comfort zone, relaxed and carefree.
While this lock down has struck homes in different ways, majority of the brunt has been faced by the teens and adolescents who might have missed on important events of their school lives, like farewells and graduation. From socialising with friends, going for outings to not attending school, the quarantine has definitely shown both its good and evil sides. Although exams have been postponed, which seems like the only good thing here, online classes are now being held by schools globally via video-conferencing so nothing much has changed for a teen academically. “This is a stage in life when social connections and experiences are a healthy and critical part of development. Not being able to see friends, go to school events, play sports, all of this can cause sadness and major disappointment.” as stated by Terill Bravender (Michigan Medicine C.S Mott Children’s Hospital). Sadly, it may be a particularly difficult transition for adolescents and teens who are redefining social lives and foregoing rites of passage.
So here are some awesome ways how teens can survive this quarantine and make their “stay- at-home” fruitful:
- ‘Virtual’ Social Gathering
Sounds paradoxical but that’s how teens could interact with their friends and closed ones. Since going on long drives with friends and dinner dates or birthday celebrations are not possible, why not pursue those interests through video-calls? From video conference dance parties in place of outings to Face-Time hang outs and virtual concerts, teens are connecting in alternative ways.
2. Break from school?- Think Again!
For those teens who think that you are rid of homeworks, think again! Schools might have shut down for the pandemic, apps like ZOOM are bringing school back to your house so your routine for classes will remain the same as it was in school, but with some relaxation. Teachers are keeping an eye so teens have to be very wary about their attendance. The crux of the whole story is- School isn’t going anywhere!
3. Get Creative
Apart from video games and social media, there is a world outside of it too! Harnessing hobbies and making good use of your talents is one of them. So start whipping something delicious or practice your dance moves to make your time worthwhile because surely this lockdown could bring the best out of you! You could also try cleaning up your closets or your rooms to discover some ‘long-lost treasures’ like old photos or a diary- sounds tough but it’s fun!
4. Mental Check-Mate!
While quarantine has its own goodies, some don’t handle it very well. Who knew staying at home way too long could be both relaxing and taxing? It’s like two sides of the same coin? Thing is, despite trying to keep ourselves busy with work, mentally, we shut ourselves out to the world- and this isn’t a pun! Teens are said to suffer the most from the frustration of not socialising anytime sooner and coping with the lockdown gets tougher. So the initiative has been taken up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, to spread awareness on how to manage the anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 outbreak. The psycho-social aspect of a teen should be checked by parents to make sure their child doesn’t face any hindrance in their mental health growth due this crisis. Mood swings could be to an extreme so if a teen stays in his room for days, do not ignore this red flag!
5. “Meditation quarantines distractions”
As said by Khang Kijarro Nguyen, this is one of my favourite quotes and trust me- it is extremely helpful! Sounds ironic, but there is no better way to calm a stormy mind than meditation and Yoga, so, for those teens who feel that they are unable to keep up with the current situation, you can try to meditate early in the morning for few minutes to stay recharged the whole day. Stay away from your phones for a while and read books or make some diary notes instead.
6. Health is Wealth
So what if you can’t step outside your house for the gym or the Zumba classes? Try turning your room into one! Adopt, adapt and adjust! Turn on some music and hold your own dance classes at home. For your exercises, try skipping or doing some burpees to keep your health fit. Make healthy dishes for yourself and try walking within your house or an open space within the house for a better workout.
7. UNO!
Up for some family time? Bring back the stored board games and enjoy with your family. This not only makes up for some fun time, but also connects parents with their children. Have a marathon NETFLIX binge-watching time or some old movies for a feel at the theatres-just at home.
So I hope that this has been helpful because resting too much could also get stressful. While cruising through this quarantine we should spend quality time in our comfort zones when we need them. But, we should spend the majority of our time outside of them. Trying new things. Forming better habits. However, routines also have a way of turning into our comfort zones. And, these zones help us to feel relaxed and content, void of significant stresses and challenges. Maybe this quarantine is just what we might need!
Published on behalf of RUBEX, an ed-tech initiative that offers live classes on-demand. You can take our subjective tests to check your preparation level, clear doubts live with our subject matter experts or even request for a counseling session. Visit www.rubex.in.
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