Peter Jaskiewicz

Stay at Home Billboard

Penn State Abington student Breelyn Webb wanted to kick off the new decade on a good note. She was anticipating fun adventures with her friends while attending classes.

However, her plans for the year came crashing down when COVID-19 took the world by storm. To slow the spread of the virus, Governor Tom Wolf ordered all non-life sustaining businesses to close and discouraged large gatherings in movie theaters, gyms, and religious services.

This sent Breelyn home from campus abruptly and away from her friends. She, her classmates, and their professors were all forced into a virtual college experience for the remainder of the Spring semester as the country dealt with stay-at-home orders.

Many of us were not used to this new lifestyle. We could not meet with our friends in-person, and any vacation plans, job searching goals, and get-togethers had to be postponed or canceled altogether. Back then, we knew these changes would not go away anytime soon.

However, the lockdown was not as bad as we thought. Seven months have passed since the initial lockdown, but the time allowed us to experiment with new habits and lifestyles. For some of us, we felt we wanted to do these things even after the lockdown finally comes to an end.

There are a variety of ways you can fight the stress of quarantine.

Firstly, you should always keep in touch with your friends. Talk with them daily through private messaging or phone calls. According to the Mental Health Foundation in the UK, friendship can play a key role in helping someone live with or recover from a mental health problem and overcome the isolation that often comes with it.

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You can also hold web conferences with your friends at any time to communicate with them. Try to arrange meetings with them outside of classes or over the weekend.

If you need assistance but lack friends to talk to, you are not alone. The Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, are here for you. They offer telepsychology and individual appointments for students to speak with advisors at any time. CAPS also has health resources and mental health emergency hotlines you can use at any time. All these services are free to use and do not cost anything.

When Tom Wolf advised a stay-at-home order back in April, there were a few exceptions to the rule. One exception was engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running while maintaining social distancing.

A man running for exercise

Exercising is important for you as it can help you control your weight, reduce your risk of heart diseases, helps keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp, and improve your mental health. In other words, exercise is important in keeping you healthy even when times are rough.

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But you do not have to exercise only at home. You can go to a park and walk, run, or just enjoy the fresh air. However, remember to wear a mask and social distance when you do.

Your electronic devices have ways to keep you relieved during the quarantine. There are streaming services you can use to watch your favorite shows.

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For example, Netflix gained 15 million new subscribers during the first quarter. The low subscription price allows subscribers to watch as many films as they want in a short time. Other streaming services have similar pricing options.

Nintendo Switch console

Video games are a definitive example of beating stress. VeryWellMind discovered that video games can provide a safe and fun outlet for developing emotional awareness and coping skills. They also offer online services for a variety of games such as Fortnite, Among Us, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

A recent example is the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons back in March. The game encouraged players to find ways to connect through the game rather than in real life. Players have been creative in using the game for marriages or other get-togethers they could not do in real life.

While other methods of stress relief do exist, find what keeps you relaxed and stick with it. Some students found working around the house as a good time killer.

Some businesses have re-opened, but they do enforce health guidelines, such as social distancing and wearing a mask or face covering at all times.

“I think things have gotten better,” Webb said. “We’re allowed into the free world for more than just the necessities.”

While we still need to emphasize social distancing and wearing masks, we are on the road to recovery. The world is not ending. We will get through these harsh times. We just have to keep calm and hope for the best.