Flipping Things On Its Head

This year, my idea of normal has been flipped on its head. I never imagined that my first year of university would entail a daily trek of approximately one metre from my bed to my desk. But alas, here we are.

Whilst each day looks a little different, lately, most of my time has gone into studying. I’m currently finishing off my first semester of university online and it’s been an interesting experience. I love having a routine. Structuring my time allows me to thrive and feel in control of my life. By doing this, I’m able to conserve my energy for the important things.

“It’s been a steep learning curve, but it feels like the new normal. ”

On most mornings, I have breakfast at my desk and do some admin. Then I’ll tidy around for a bit and get to work. I usually start my day with my favourite subjects (maths) to get me into work mode. (Obviously while studying for exams, I spend all my time on the nearest exam). Something I’ve enjoyed whilst being at home is taking time to eat lunch. After being on campus for two months, I got used to my hour of lunch - a bit of calm in the middle of the day - and decided to continue that routine at home. I work again until the early evening, and after dinner, do an hour or two of studying. I’m not really one for burning the midnight oil. I tend to get tired quickly and don’t get much done late at night. Also, I enjoy having my evenings off. It’s been giving me something to look forward to, and has motivated me to push and work extra hard while the sun is still out.

The transition to online learning has not been without some bumps in the road. I’ve had to adapt the way I work and change some methods I’ve used since forever. It’s definitely been a case of trial and error for me. I’ve tried a few things, sometimes working for hours on end to finish early enough to take the evening off, and other times, working in short bursts with frequent breaks. Eventually I just went with whatever felt right on a particular day. It’s been a steep learning curve, but it feels like the new normal.

“It can be easy to get caught up with life and lose sight of what’s truly important, but this year, things have truly been put into perspective.”

Some days, the thought of getting out of bed and spending hours in front of my laptop, confined to my bedroom with hundreds of things to do, is enough to make me want to cry. At university, I got used to being surrounded by people all the time and working in groups.

But I think we need to give ourselves credit where it's due. This has been something no one could have anticipated, and our adaptability has been put to the test. I’ve often heard before how being adaptable is a crucial skill in our modern, fast-changing world and this time has been a testament to that. Often, my thoughts can’t help but turn to my extreme privilege and how incredibly grateful I am to have a safe space to isolate in, practice social distancing and continue my education, comfortably, online. I know for many, this hasn’t been their reality.

I’ve come to realise how sometimes, things aren’t quite as important as they seem. It can be easy to get caught up with life and lose sight of what’s truly important, but this year, things have truly been put into perspective.

Nabeela Parkar is one of our monthly Comeback writers. She has a keen interest in writing and would be more than happy to read her way through an entire library. She enjoys being challenged and facing tasks that require her to think for a little longer. She is fascinated by maths and science and also have a deep appreciation for the ocean, mountains and the natural world at large. She is currently in her last year of school and is on the path of deciding what to do with her life as of next year. She’s an avid believer that whilst everything happens for a reason, taking action towards achieving your goals and dreams is key.