Ever since returning to college, a weird ambiance is spread throughout the air. After talking to many of my friends, they feel the same way. Of course, this stems from the current situation in our country, but it is sometimes hard to turn around the notion and feel some sort of normalcy.

One of the oddest feelings to me is school. I never feel like I have work to do or that I am really learning anything. On top of that, it also feels like a huge struggle for professors or teachers to get used to teaching fully online and knowing how to work technology. My biggest fear from all of this odd school routine is that I will not properly be ready for exams or midterms when the time comes. Right now I am trying to go with the flow and feel things out since it is a new world for everyone, but I think as time goes on something will click.

Another odd feeling to me is time. Going throughout the school day online makes everything seem so slow, but on top of that, it makes me feel lazy from doing my school work from home. I feel like managing time nowadays is much odder because it is an odd balance between online or in-person class. From this back and forth, the days seem much more tiring and hectic.

On top of all this, the transition from a dorm and meal plan to living off-campus and doing your own cooking takes some getting used to. My go-to meals are always Crockpot recipes because it is so much easier than having to cook for an hour or so. I feel as if living off-campus and getting used to all these news additions takes a lot out of you to figure it out at first. For example, time management has always been important, but when you actually have things to do on your own, it takes a very strict schedule to get things in order and done.

Speaking from my experience now, every week my planner is filled to the brim with all my chores, work, and school. I learned that I do need to make times for myself, especially in such a hectic time. Therefore, Sunday's I usually reserve time to grocery shop and have a rest and relaxation day. In my rest and relaxation day, I try and pamper myself with face masks and junk food. Usually, I will pick up some cookies or other sweets to treat myself. While doing that, I will turn on a movie and just feel all the stress leave my body. I think everyone deserves to treat themselves here and there, especially to their guilty pleasures.

As time goes on, I believe the odd ambiance will go away once a strict schedule becomes my new normalcy, but it is going to be a change for sure. I think if I try and have more time to rest my mind and body then I will start to feel less frazzled and stressed about everything going on.