Healthy NTU

Written by Tarania Suresh a current 3rd Year Law student

Stay happy, stay healthy: How I have been surviving lockdown

It took me some time to digest the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a complete standstill with lockdowns here, there and everywhere. Never have I ever imagined being put through such situation especially being far away from my family and country too!

Just like any other students, I had so many plans ahead of me to be executed after my exams. The list just goes on and on but I would like to highlight the fact that I was REALLY looking forward to the summer law school. Students like me who left our homeland to pursue our education started to panic and took snap decisions to go back. However, it did not bother me much as being in the UK would mean working together with friends and keeping up with each other to make sure we are all in a good state of mind and health. This situation definitely only strengthened our bonds a lot more! It brought us closer together making sure we had each other’s back.  So, this made it a lot easier for us Malaysians to decide on our next step. We collectively agreed to stay and get through with exams together despite the whole pandemic chaos.

At first, I pondered upon so many things!  How am I going to look after myself? My mental health? And what am I to do if I fall sick? I contemplated with my thoughts and starting asking myself, “Should I just go back? Am I making the right decisions?  Will I focus once I am back home?

Phew! Today, I’m so glad that I decided to stay in the UK. This is probably the best decision I have ever made! My friends and I figured out some activities to keep ourselves occupied and of course to keep our minds in the best state as possible. Although my initial thoughts were quite self-consuming, I think hey it wasn’t that bad after all. To be honest, my friends and I are happier, safer and healthier with the choices we have made. I would like to share what my friends and I have done during this quarantine.

It was Quantastic (a new name: Fantastic Quarantine!)

“life is too short to regret”

Don’t you agree with that quote? Have you done anything just to feed your soul with satisfaction? I realised that being worried about what has happened isn’t the right way to overcome the situation. Thus, coming up with solutions is certainly a way forward to a healthier mind and happier soul.

Cooking 

Cooking has always been something I enjoy doing. Being locked up  at home for a longer period has got me discovering more about cooking and of course my cooking skills got a lot better too! Cooking  just keeps me occupied and is very much soul satisfying too. The more I learn about nutrition, the more I have come to realise that the most important factor for healthy eating is to avoid processed food and focus on using raw  ingredients (I try to avoid online delivery food as much as I can). Isn’t it fun to cook your own healthy meals and indulge in the goodness of it with friends who are like family?

Healthy and positive mind 

A healthy and positive mind is the key to getting rid of negativity. To avoid extreme boredom I work out with my friends. It might sound cliché but getting active with friends can be the key to a good work out session. Some of the things I like to do are zumba, jogging and house chores! Well it’s a kind of work out as well (at least to me!)

We humans are made to be innovative and creative. Anything is possible if we put our heart and mind to it. Likewise being quarantined doesn’t need to be as dull as it may sound. We can always shake things up by doing things which keep us happy and occupied throughout. 

Self-motivation and staying connected

Staying motivated and focus amidst this pandemic especially when I am away from home is something very crucial to me. Besides cooking and exercising, I also share my thoughts or stories to motivate my friends and vice versa. I do read quotes to boost myself mentally (being a law student it’s never been that easy for me to cope with my work during this pandemic, well generally if you are a student “I feel you! (hugs”)

I do crossword puzzles and play online games with my cousins back in Malaysia as that keeps me sane and occupied. I’m very grateful for the vast advancement of technology  that has helped us stay  connected with our family and friends whom without, my life would have been miserable especially during this pandemic, it is not fun to stay away from family during this situation.

Revision 

Exam preparation was a lot easier with my friends around me. I believe if I have done well then the credit goes to my friends as well who constantly motivated me. What could be worse than a mental breakdown during an already bad enough pandemic! I lost myself a little when I was doing my coursework but my good friend Ahood from Oman who encouraged me throughout my examination period even though we are far apart and were in different time zones. (3 hours difference yet managed to set time to discuss and study together).

Besides that, with blessings and support from my family and friends, I have managed to lift myself and my friends up to get our exams done on time with no extensions.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell

We educate each other (listen and teach when we are wrong). It wasn’t that bad in the end, in fact, I personally felt that having friends around you is the most effective way to study. 

I have lots more tips and stories to share – so join me in part 2 of my blog post as I continue to share how I have been coping during lockdown!

Don’t forget that Student Support Services are still here to support you and we are regularly posting through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as over on the Virtual Global Lounge Team

For help and advice whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Depression advice
Counselling
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Struggling at Uni? Go to Student Minds
10 Keys to happiness