The ultimate pandemic survival guide for my future self
Future me? Is that you? Are you really reading this? Oh my god, I hope you don’t. What did happen this time? Is it another pandemic? A volcano? Did aliens conquer — You know what…spare me the details. I will find out anyways. By the way, what’s the price of Bitcoin in your day? Nevermind, we’ll discuss this another time.
In the unfortunate case you really are under similar circumstances AGAIN — let me give you a few tips on surviving a global pandemic while simultaneously getting your master’s degree done, working remotely, and staying active.
Pandemic survival rule #1:
Master your management of time & space.
Not to be a jerk, but you’re probably still not living in a castle-like mansion with 64 rooms, multiple private pools, and chocolate fountains in every room. That’s okay. But it also means that you should carefully manage your space and your time while working from home.
Define clear time periods in which you work and try to set up your own office or at least an office corner.
You need to set yourself a clear time goal and then actually log out. It is at least as important to follow a proper routine. Also, stick to your sleep schedule. Sure, binge-watching until 3 a.m. is cool, but being well-rested and fit will give you more pleasure in the long run.
Pandemic survival rule #2:
Self-care over everything.
Self-discipline is not just a buzzword, but the most important tool to avoid falling into a deep hole. Simply living into the day out of uncertainty is so 2020. There are no more excuses. Make concrete plans and follow them. That’s the only way to reach your goals. This has not changed in all these years and will always remain that way.
Just as important as discipline is constant self-reflection. Of course, this always is critical. In a global pandemic, however, even more so. You must question if you are being the best version of yourself as well as what works for you in this situation and what doesn’t.
As pointed out by Elisabeth in this blog article, a vision board could help set up your goals. Here is how it works:
Pandemic survival rule #3:
Work hard. But don’t push it.
Mental exhaustion is completely normal in a time like this. You just feel trapped when you’re forced to use your own four walls as your office, study space, gym, and sleeping space. You don’t have to feel bad if you take a break and distance yourself from the never-ending To-Dos every once in a while.
Of course, you have important things to do, but your mental health is more important than anything else. You know the rest days from strength training. Your mind needs them too every now and then.
Here are some tips from my fellow student Stella to stay motivated in times like this:
If you need a reminder of why it’s all worth it in the end, read this interesting article from Rosa:
Pandemic survival rule #4:
Socialize. Offline and online.
A pandemic-like situation like I’m experiencing right now has a huge impact on your social contacts. While you certainly still have your better half to make everything better, you also have to make an effort to stay in touch with family, friends, work colleagues, and, in my case, fellow students.
Maybe seeing each other in person doesn’t always work out. But even via Zoom (do you even use that in the future? It was a video chat tool in my day, anyway) is a great way to talk online. Do you guys have holograms yet? Or do you meet in the metaverse? Anyway. I hope the point I wanted to make comes across. It’s much easier to deal with a situation like this together than alone.
Pandemic survival rule #5:
Move your butt and grow it.
Countless hours spent with only a few centimeters of distance to screens need to be balanced by activity. Your eyes also want to relax and not always watch pixels being moved around.
No matter how old you are right now when you’re reading this: I hope you never stopped going to the gym and working out. The gyms were closed for quite a long time during those two years. Too long. We both know how much you hate home workouts. But that work must be done. You’ll be upset if you don’t. As Shia LaBeouf used to say in a viral internet hit: JUST. DO. IT.
I’m giving everything I have to make sure you’re okay at this moment when you’re reading this. I hope you do the same with your — or rather our — future you…or future me? This is getting confusing. Anyways, bye, take care of you, uh, me! Argh!
