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"It's called time management," Says Student Successfully Balancing Virus Anxiety with Class Anxiety



Due to the mid-semester shift to online instruction, a lot of students have been having trouble keeping up with assignments that seem to have materialized out of nowhere, as well as a virus that seems to have done the same thing.


However, sophomore Amari Monroe doesn’t seem to be fazed. Amidst the fear, uncertainty, and stress that has been keeping this writer up at night, Monroe has been able to maintain their normal class-related anxiety and still find time to have that quintessential pandemic experience. When asked to share their tips on how to find balance in the busy schedule of an online college student who’s involuntarily involved a frightening historical event, Monroe gave these words of wisdom:


“You know, it’s called time management. That’s what really works, and that’s how you can make the most of your pandemic experience,” said Monroe. They were then asked to elaborate further. 


“Well, I don’t sleep in. I know it feels like an extended spring break, but I make sure to be in bed by 1 AM and get a good few hours of staring straight up at my ceiling thinking of how future generations will judge us for being complacent in this dystopia we live in. Usually, I get up around 5 AM when I feel myself slipping into madness, and that’s the best time to do homework. Everything is so quiet that you can hear yourself think, so you’re practically begging for an organic chemistry lecture to listen to drown out your own thoughts,” Monroe explained. 


“Also, really lean into that paranoia of the outside world to intensely focus on your homework and boost your productivity levels!” Monroe chuckled and continued:


“One thing I find that really helps me is compartmentalizing my workspace. I have all of my class-related breakdowns at my desk, and then when I’ve completed my to-do list, I move 1 foot to the left to my bed to have all my virus-related breakdowns. I find that it really helps my body focus my overwhelming anxiety on the task at hand,” they explained. 


“And you can have a social life in the mid-semester upheaval and uncontrollable viral pandemic! I finish my homework for the day around 11:00 PM. Then I skype my friend who graduated last year and listen to them tell me about all the Netflix shows they’re watching and all the bread they’re baking. I tell them about my classes and how I’m feeling and then they reassure me by saying ‘Damn that sucks. Well, goodnight!’. Then I scroll through Twitter to give my anxiety material for the night and that’s all there is to it!” finished Monroe.



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