During this unprecedented time, people all around the world have had to change the way they live to accommodate safety rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This global pandemic has had a major impact on almost everything, from the economy to healthcare, and from education to socializing. It has already caused a major recession in many countries, forcing business and schools to close down for a few months to contain the virus, which has also led to several other consequences.
But in lieu of this pandemic, life still continues on and people had to adapt. Businesses started doing online deliveries, offices went to work-from-home models, and schools opted for distance learning. Young students have had to deal with these forthcoming problems quite rapidly – giving them no room to breathe as they’ve had to adapt to online courses and finding resources to do their school work from home.
Teachers also had to adapt materials and lessons to an online format and struggled to make it just as effective – if not more effective than in-classroom instruction. This has caused plenty of stress on both sides, the teachers have to juggle students’ and parents’ concerns as well as administration. Students have to worry about changing the way they learn and socialize and also complete their work in an efficient manner.
Effects on Mental Health
COVID-19 has really changed the way we live our normal lives, taking away convenience and comfortability. All the things we know and love have changed for us and forces us to be in a different mindset – which to many people can be offsetting. Our mental health deteriorates because of new situations – life is just a bit more difficult for us in these new situations and we are forced to change the way we do things. Because of this, our stress levels increase due to atypical stressors, or things that don’t normally cause us stress. People who were already struggling with their mental and physical health will see even more adverse effects due to the pandemic.
One major aspect is the anxiety induced by this situation. Not knowing how long this will last, or if you will contract the virus, or even how you will make it through these tough times is bound to cause a lot of anxiety within people. On top of this, school work for students amplifies this anxiety and now we’re seeing an increasing number of young students dealing with high stress and anxiety levels.
What are some signs of stress and anxiety?
There are many symptoms for high stress and anxiety, and everyone’s body reacts differently to it. But there are lots of common symptoms that are caused by high stress levels. Feeling tired and fatigued during the day can be caused by stress – being unmotivated to do anything or even feel obstinate. Low energy levels can be attributed to increased stress levels, as well as weight gain and depression. Another common symptom is your uncertainty of what you are to do with your life. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you may be dealing with higher stress and anxiety.
How can students handle this stress?
Lots of students going into the fall semester are worried about their progress and their grades as well as finances and life at home. It can be a very stressful time, but the first thing to acknowledge is that handling stress isn’t easy and that you should approach it by managing it instead.
Here’s some helpful tips to help you manage the stress and anxiety you might be facing during this pandemic:
- Take things at your own pace – Just as any situation, people will have different reactions and opinions on how to deal with it. Keep in mind what is best for yourself and apply it to the situation. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take things slow and one at a time. It’s okay to move a bit slower now, as everyone adjusts in their own way. If you like to keep busy and occupied, you may try handling lots of things at one time to alleviate your stress.
- Do your research – Since the world is changing so rapidly, our minds have to adapt at the same level. This means knowing what safety precautions we should be using – such as mask-wearing and social distancing – or about your deadlines for important documents and homework assignment from your teachers and professors. It’s always important to stay informed so you can be organized.
- Reserve time for yourself – We all know you’re working hard to achieve your goals and even make it to the end of each week. But we have to be more aware of our mental health and balance work and play time. Save some time each day and even on the weekends to do something you love, something that can help you put the stress aside, even just for a little bit. It’s important to do things for yourself so you don’t feel so miserable.
- Keep your physical health – A major contributor to high stress and anxiety is your physical health. Poor physical health can lead to lower energy levels, tiredness and fatigue and demotivation. This affects the way you perform not only in school but other parts of your life. A good way to make sure your physical health improves is by getting enough sleep. Eight hours a night should be a normal thing for students, but you also should be eating healthier and finding time to get a little bit of exercise a day since you’ll be mostly at home sitting at a computer.
- Manage your time efficiently – It’s easy to get lost in the mess of everything happening. Days and even weeks seem to blend together while being at home most of the time. If you are able to plan ahead, even a little bit, it will help you avoid stressful situations such as missed deadlines and special holidays and events. You can also keep track of how much work you’re actually doing and make sure that you don’t overwork yourself.
If you’re still worried about school work and the next academic year, Assignment Expert can help you mentally prepare for it, and keep you on track to succeed this year! They’ve got the tips to make distance learning more manageable for young students.
