It’s our second week of quarantine, and understandably a lot of people are pretty down about it. Having to limit physical contact with friends, not being able to go outside much, not being able to do fun things such as swimming in pools or going out to eat, it’s all a pretty big change in our lives, and while it’s nothing too traumatizing (at least not for me), it’s safe to say that this event is going to change our generation forever, in numerous ways. 

For me, it’s been a lack of a real schedule to get me motivated to do online school work, much less remember what it was that I’m supposed to be doing and what time and day something is due. I’ve written it all down, but I still struggle to remember. Sometimes I just sit at my desk and stare at whatever my eyes happen to catch, unintentionally procrastinating. 

But that aside, I’ve always been a loner and never one to really panic about events such as these, so self-isolation hasn’t been an issue to me, but it does make me a bit sad to see those who aren’t coping with this quarantine as well as I am, whether it be because they’re more extroverted than I am, or they or their loved ones are more at risk to the virus, or whatever. 

It’s truly a stressful time for all of us in some way, and it’s especially important now to be more understanding and patient with people who aren’t handling any of this as easily as others do. It’s a weird period in our lives and probably a very unique experience exclusively to our generation (unless something like this happens to some other generation years from now, but even then it doesn’t change the fact that this is a rare happening) and the best thing we can do right now is not panic and show support when we can. Social media and the internet, in general, is now more useful and essential to society more than it ever was, and though we may be unable to physically show our support, these tools allow us to do so in other ways.

This moment will pass, even if it’s going by so slowly that one might think we’ll have to live like this forever. We’re still going to graduate, we’re still going to live our lives to the fullest, and we’re still going to have fun while doing it. Your loved ones aren’t going anywhere, and if you can’t shake the feeling that that’s not true, then check on them! 

Call them, text them, send them a funny tweet, whatever! This period of isolation doesn’t mean the absolute destruction of your relationships. If anything, your relationships, whether it be your friends, families, or significant others, are the best things you can have right now.