Quaranteens

By August Oh ‘22

Social relationships and school are two very important things that make up the teenage lifestyle. However, due to Covid-19, quarantine and online school put forth many restrictions. Social distancing prevents many friends and families from spending time together in person. People cannot give hugs or shake hands with each other like before. Not being able to hang out normally at restaurants, the mall, amusement parks, and other public areas is a definite loss. It is also not easy to stare at a screen all day in one sitting. Many students may not have the ideal work space or materials for online school and may struggle to adapt to this new type of change.

To survive as a teenager during quarantine, it is important to keep your social life active and to stay on top of your classes. It is also important to focus on physical and mental health, as well as minimizing screen time. Here are some tips and ideas to make your 2020-2021 year better.

1. Discover a New Hobby

Hobbies are a great way to take time to focus on yourself and relieve stress. After a long day of school and homework, it’s best to take a break. However, don’t just watch Netflix or play video games; do something that will keep you away from the screen. If you are a creative person, try photography, painting, baking, embroidery, calligraphy, origami, or digital art. Bullet journaling is a very beneficial hobby because you can keep yourself organized and express your creativity at the same time. If you’re more active, try a new sport, learn dance choreography, do yoga, learn to skateboard, ride a bike, or play board games.

2. Create a Study/Homework Schedule

Usually, students come home after school and begin their homework, but with online school, being stuck at home all day disrupts that daily routine. Many students begin to procrastinate and are unable to manage their time. To help fix that bad habit, it is very important to keep yourself on track. Use a planner or bullet journal to write down what homework you must complete, due dates, club meetings, and test dates. Each day, write a detailed schedule with time stamps of how long you are going to work on each assignment and how long your breaks will be. Make sure to not take too long of a break and when working, get rid of any distractions.

3. Video Chat and Online Activities With Friends

Since friends cannot physically be with each other, video chats are the best way to consistently be in touch. Texting does work as well, but it’s no fun to be sending messages full of words without human reactions. Instead, during lunch breaks, you and your friends can go on a call, enjoy lunch together, and talk about anything. Some fun online activities to do are skribbl (a guessing game by drawing), trivia games, Bingo, Kahoot, Mafia, or Charades. However, make sure not to spend too much time with your friends or else you won’t be able to focus on school work.

Being a teenager in high school during this pandemic is definitely not easy, but it’s up to you to make it your year. Remember, focus on self-care, stay organized, and keep communicating with your friends. Don’t spend too much time in front of a screen and give yourself some “you time”. You got this!