How to Stay Productive During the Coronavirus?
By Path Mentor A.G., alumnus of Columbia University, majored in Art History (Originally Posted on March 25, 2020)
It can feel hard to work on your project in the midst of global and local uncertainty. The first thing you should do is recognize that there are no wrong ways to react to the corona virus and that everyone handles stress differently. But there are a few other things to bear in mind:
Talk to your mentor if you’re having trouble focusing. It may be helpful to take a break, adjust to your new routine, and try thinking about your project again in a week. Be patient with yourself as you adjust to new changes.
If you’re working from home for the first time, try to keep a regular schedule. Even if you sleep in a bit more than you would on a school day, start doing your homework or online classes at the same time every day, try to work from the same place, even if it’s just a corner of your room.
The pandemic can be a source of motivation for your work: if you’re writing historical fiction, why not think about setting your story during the 1918 flu? If you’re working on a coding project, maybe it could help map data about the spread. There are hundreds of outreach and community service projects you could start to help those who have been most effected by the virus: think about the elderly, the newly unemployed, young immunocompromised people, and those who live alone, to start.
It can also be a source of comfort. If you’re overwhelmed by discussion of the virus non-stop, try letting the time you work on your project be a form of escape, where you can focus on something different completely.
The important thing to remember is that we are here to support you, however you need it!
