It’s every teenager’s dream to have their school close but when it becomes a reality it can become a nightmare.  Schedules can be disrupted and thrown out of whack. This disruption can also lead to anxiety and overwhelm about how to stay focused, organised and disciplined to keep going with your studies when the world is under attack.  Here are 5 Tips to Maintain Control during Times of Chaos.

1. Maintain Daily Routines as much as possible – Start with getting up and going to bed at the same time each day like you would any other normal school day.  Keep your body clock under control so that your immune system remains at a super charged level.  Any changes to every day life will have some impact on your Physiological and Psychological States.  So you want to trick your mind and body to thinking that it’s business as usual.
2. Wear School Uniform during School Hours – It helps!  By getting ready as per normal school day, especially wearing your uniform can create a psychological shift and put you in the mindset for study.  Give it a try, see how productive you get when you get out of your PJs.
3. Work from a designated room in your home that is separate to your bedroom – Most teens have their desk in their bedrooms.  If possible, create another space in your home that is away from the rest of your home life.  Again it shifts the mindset into study mode and get’s you in the zone.
4. Journal your thoughts and feelings – In these turbulent times, our thoughts and feelings can become jumbled.  It can be difficult to navigate what’s going on inside of us when there’s so much rapid change outside of us.  By journalling it gives you back a sense of control and refocus your energies to getting all the negative chatter out of your head and onto paper.  This will reduce the over thinking and catastrophising thoughts.
5. Face Time Friends – Last but certainly not least, make sure you keep connecting with your school mates.  If you’re normal routine was to get to school a little earlier to banter with your friends, then do the same via face time.  Meet for virtual recess and lunch, so you can continue your connection and conversations.

Just remember, what the world is currently going through is only temporary.  It’s easy to get caught up into thinking that this is the “New Normal”.  It’s not!  You will build confidence, courage and resilience in the meantime.  See it as an opportunity not an obstacle in getting you prepared to thrive in tomorrow’s connected world.  We will get through this together, stronger and more empowered than ever before!