We are nearing the end of the first full semester of COVID-adapted schooling. We have struggled through masks, kept ourselves distanced and washed our hands thoroughly, and it has paid off.
We’ve only had a dozen cases through the whole semester, which is saying something compared to the University of Kentucky, where 10% of campus had COVID at some point according to their COVID-19 data dashboard.
We can pat ourselves on the back a little bit for such an accomplishment.
Going back home is going to be an interesting time for all of us, but one thing we must make sure of is to get our recovery time from such a stressful semester. According to a study by Texas A&M University, 71% of students tested were impacted by COVID mentally in such a way that it was hurting their sleep schedules, moods and even their academic performance.
Making sure that we are able to recover from the stress of school and the pandemic is imperative. Rest is a necessity that many of us neglect during the semester in favor of keeping busy to block out the stress of anything outside. Slowing down for the break will force us to contend with our mental health a bit, but that is necessary for us to truly cope with everything around us.
Addressing the problem is something we have been able to either ignore or simply joke about while at school, but Christmas break will allow us to contemplate everything around us and take stock of our lives.
Make sure your break is full of these contemplations and mental health breaks. Even though you may become claustrophobic from being stuck with family, make sure to make your Christmas break a real break for your mind.
