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The future right now is very uncertain, but the most important thing right now is to keep yourself healthy and happy, as well as your friends. Here is a guide to help you discover your new self during quarantine!!

1. Work Hard, Play Hard

Routine is important, and a great way to keep routine is to make a schedule and stick to it. Whether it be finishing your online homework or creating a BBYO program, make sure to get your work done first so you can do fun stuff later! Write out a schedule, prioritize your tasks, and make productivity fun!

2. Find Your New Passion

While there are many things that are tough about this pandemic, this time is a gift that we can use wisely. Use this time to start a new hobby, do a DIY project, or connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise. This time can give us a new perspective on what you can achieve!

3. Stay Connected With Your Family

I know we can all get sick of our family sometimes, but they are there by your side through this whole experience. Make sure to set aside time for family dinners, movie/game nights, or just talk. Don’t annoy your siblings, and appreciate the family you have and support them throughout this experience.

4. Connect With Your Friends

Regardless of whether not you can see your friends in person, friendships are a vital part of good mental health. Reach out to friends you haven’t talked to in a while, reconnect with summer program friends, and schedule a BUNCH of FaceTime and Zoom calls (I like to do virtual lunches with my friends!) Also reach out to your senior friends; they may need an extra hug. You might make your friend’s day!

5. Be Grateful Technology Exists

Technology can be incredible. Not only can we create and maintain amazing connections through video chat, phone, and social media, we can also participate in the extracurricular activities we know and love. Through BBYO On Demand, you can access programming from your chapter, region, and the entire International Order. Through this hub, we can remind ourselves how connected we are worldwide. We can truly be together as one, forever united as one crew, side-by-side through these uncharted waters.

Quarantine is challenging for everyone, but if you take the time to find passion, connect with others, and lift others up, this quarantine can be just as rewarding.

All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.

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