The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.
by Jayla Shanmugam, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
The world is in an insane place right now and all of us are stuck at home in self isolation. We all now have an influx of time on our hands, and some have seen it as a great opportunity to pick up some new hobbies and be productive. But, it is not that simple for everyone. Many are struggling to stay productive because they are self contained in their homes. So the Jaguar Times asks some Bradley staff and students how to maintain their physical and mental health during self quarantine.
Many Bradley students are trying to fight unproductivity by filling their days with family fun activities. When asked about how to stay happy during self isolation Penelope Kern (11) commented, “my family and I are playing lots of board games to stay entertained, and we’ve also started some new shows.” Audrey Brill (11) agreed to say that she loves “watching movies with her family”. This is great advice, sometimes getting out of your room and spending time with your family can really lift your mood. So ask your family to hang out because this is an amazing time for family bonding! Another activity students recommend for taking care of your physical health is going outside and getting some fresh air. Ava Batistelli (11) said, “I try to get outside and walk as much as I can because the fresh air and moving around can really boost your mood!” Savannah Montgomery agreed saying “going on a run really makes me feel productive and happy!” It’s so important to get your body moving in some way while in self isolation because it helps better your motivation and inspiration to tackle your goals throughout the day.
Bradley staff also gave some amazing advice on how to manage your mental and physical well being. Mrs. Ashline gave tips on how to achieve this “it is very important to try and maintain a routine. Do schoolwork for 45 minutes then take a break, go outside and walk the dog, go for a walk by yourself, listen to some music, and then your mind will be ready to get back to work. Don’t stay in your pajamas all day, and make sure you are maintaining contact with your friends via zoom or facetime so you don’t feel isolated and alone. You can also use this time to start a new hobby or learn a new skill.” Keeping a routine can be very beneficial for your health because it gives you the same type of structure that we are all used to in a regular school setting. Establishing break time in between school can also be helpful as it emulates a school schedule as well. So try setting your day up like an actual school day, get ready, make a routine, and talk to friends! Mrs. Hodgson also gave some activity recommendations, “Journal your thoughts, make playlists that bring you joy, craft and/or create something, get away from technology, help at home, and reach out to a friend; drop off a treat, a card, something to let them know you are thinking about them. It gets you moving and is positive.” Participating in some of these activities can really help you feel happy and healthier. It is so important to get out of bed and keep yourself busy!
There are so many activities you can do in order to help yourself feel better and up your productivity! You should be doing some fun activities everyday so you can achieve the things we must do. So take some time for yourself and reflect on how you can better yourself! The Jaguar time is hoping everyone is well and staying motivated!