The Power of Habit During a Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic (WHO, 2020).
On Friday March 13th, I found out my last university class had already passed. This was the day, myself and many other university students were informed that the remainder of our semester would be taught online. My heart was somewhat devoid of the thought of empty lecture halls and forgone senior year experiences. In a few short days, the entire world was disrupted. From work to school, and weekend socials every part of our daily routines were seemingly turned upside down.
Such an important part of my life had abruptly ended with no notice or warning. As the days past, I started to settle into some sort of routine, I found comfort in my small daily habits, such as reading or making a morning cup of coffee. These seemingly mundane actions, made me feel some sort of calm amongst this pandemic storm.
The researcher within me wanted to see how my fellow students and professors were finding a sense of normalcy. After countless conversations with my peers, a common theme began to emerge. Similarly to my own experience, others were also clinging to newfound routines that have flipped the narrative about the woes and blows of the pandemic. I interviewed three members from my university community, to see how they've reshaped their routines and leveraged the power of habit to move through times of uncertainty.
Whether it be waking up early each morning or diving into old old books that just never got read, this colossal of a situation has given us the gift of time and reflection. An ultimate opportunity, to be introspective and dig deep. The voices of my university community give me hope and encouragement. I invite you to listen along and see how truly powerful our daily rituals can be.
References
WHO. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
