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Opinions can still be expressed from the comfort of your own home. T H E
alestle view
New routines call for new personal standards THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
Like most college students, our staff has faced our shared fears about the transition to fully online classes. On one of the last nights we could come into work, our reporter John raised quite an interesting one: How awkward would it be if students felt the need to ask their instructor to go to their own personal bathroom in the middle of a Zoom class? As unrelated as this little anecdote sounds, it actually bears a lot of merit when discussing all the changes we are going through due to the pandemic. We don’t ask permission to make normal bodily functions, especially not in our own homes, because it’s a normal bodily reaction. For all us college students, our routines have been forced to change. Naturally, this
will cause a shift in our bodies — both physically and mentally. So, why are we beating ourselves up over shifts in weight? Why do we automatically consider it a personal failure when we aren’t bouncing back as easily from setbacks? Things are different now, and sometimes, there is no way around it. Our schedules inevitably look different: most of us aren’t able to work and study at the time we normally would, let alone do so in the same place as before. Many don’t have access to the same foods as before, and with the call to social distance, we are limited to the foods at home. For those who have moved from dorms back to their parents’ homes, these food options are bound to look different. Where money is tight, the only option might be cheap foods, which aren’t always
the most healthy. Add on the social distancing factor. With the closure of local gyms and the Student Fitness Center, plus not being able to see our workout buddies, motivation can be lost. For those researching ways to stay in shape at home, finding exercises that have the same desired effect as the equipment at the gym takes perseverance, and no matter how far down the fitness video hole you go, you may never find it. In turn, many of us will experience fluctuations in weight. This is normal, and this is part of your body’s natural reaction to all the changes you’re enduring. For those who feel ashamed of the number on the scale, remember, it is only natural. You are figuring it all out, and your body is, too. Just as your physical body is
experiencing changes, your mental self is, too. For some of us, our coping mechanisms have been taken away; friends are no longer just down the hall or across campus for when we need that added support, therapy looks different (if it is still an option at all), and going out to relieve stress is no longer an option. In times of great change comes great stress, and when you’re no longer surrounded by your support system and are forced to find new coping mechanisms, progress may feel lost. It’s unrealistic to expect to feel like you have it all figured out at this point in time, so don’t feel bad if you feel lost. It’s not fair to compare yourself to your former normal. Until the dust has settled, tailor your standards so they are reasonable for this time of transition.
Isolation is not ideal, but we can learn from it DAMIAN MORRIS reporter COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, and that won’t be changing anytime soon, but that shouldn’t keep us from learning from the experience. There is plenty to hate about being stuck at home. Some people are out of work or school, struggling to transition to online courses, frustrated with not being able to get to the store often enough, or simply tired from the lack of much needed social stimulation. At first there was a large percentage of people ignoring the signs and blatantly doing the opposite of what the regulations recommend. This highlights a problem we had before, but is much more prevalent now. How many people, especially men, avoided going to their doctors before COVID-19 was even a concern? According to a 2017 survey from the American Academy of Family Physicians, one in four doctors said up to half of their male patients failed to show up for follow-ups visits, and the majority said it was because there were no noticeable symptoms.
This issue is highlighted now because many with COVID-19 aren’t symptomatic, but can still spread the disease. Avoiding doctors was common for some before this pandemic, but in most cases only had an individual effect, and now has an effect on everyone around them. However, most of these people have realized the severity of the situation at this point and listened to the medical professionals who have their best interest in mind. This has forced people into learning to cooperate more in the wake of this pandemic. Not leaving the house or socializing is difficult, but necessary, and more and more people are starting to recognize this. Most people didn’t realize how serious this pandemic was until it was already here. This can happen again, but hopefully they will now be more aware of the level of negative effects ignoring medical experts can bring. This will not only hopefully lead to higher percentages of people listening to their doctors, but can teach employers things as well. Many employers have been forced to either lose business or
transition their businesses to an online format. While this isn’t possible for all businesses, many have been able to make this transition, and made it easier for certain employees whose job wasn’t any different when working at an office. Some employees may prefer working from home, and it may be easier for certain employers. This isn’t true for all, or arguably most, people in the workforce, but some are now aware that it is possible to move almost entirely online. It also makes for a learning experience for jobs that, while it’s not ideal, have been forced to go online, and will be prepared to do this again if it ever becomes necessary for its workers. Organizations, be it school or otherwise, have been forced to teach themselves how to move events that were originally in-person only, to an online format. For most of these organizations, in-person was a much more ideal way to host events, but that doesn’t mean the new skill can’t be helpful. Who says they can’t run both in-person and online events in the future? For some people who may not
be able to always participate in these organizations ordinarily, it would be easier to connect online, whether that be sometimes or all the time. Planners for these events are always trying to reach as many people as they can, and this allows them to do that in a more effective way. Having to always be away from home or travel can deter some people from ever participating in organizations in the first place due to not being able to be there in person. Now they can. No one is arguing that COVID-19 is ideal, or in any way a good problem to have, but that doesn’t mean no good can come out of it. There is so much negativity, and rightfully so, surrounding this pandemic. However, taking a positive outlook on dreadful situations is not only healthier mentally, but gives something to look forward to after we come out of this trench. Allowing yourself to stop worrying for a few moments and reflecting on what good can come from this will allow the people most strongly affected by this to not have struggled in vain, and to teach lessons that can be applied for a brighter future.
