The tap tap of tiny footsteps running upstairs. The smell of fresh baked bread in the oven, because who can actually find bread nowadays? The sound of siblings bickering. Yes, everything that makes your house a home. And for the first time since Christmas break you are able to enjoy some time away from school. 

But what about the annoying bell that goes off every hour, or the crowded hallways each day. Being able to hear your friends laugh from across the classroom and even that gut-wrenching feeling when you remember that you have a test fifth period. 

As teenagers, we get so used to a simple routine of waking up, going to school, doing homework and going to bed. This leaves us very little time to focus on bettering ourselves and making sure we stay mentally healthy. 

However, with this quarantine we have plenty of time on our hands. This may be the answer to some students’ dreams, but to others, it’s affecting their daily life and mental health much more. 

“I haven’t hung out with my friends or even gone to get coffee,” sophomore Brooklynn Bennett said. “Every non-essential building is closed and I’m not allowed to be in many areas because of the risk that comes with it.” 

So, not only are we ripped out of school, but we also aren’t allowed to participate in any of the activities that make us happy and allow us to be ourselves. 

Learningpotential.gov states that being on a routine has many benefits and “can provide stability during a time of change.” 

However, this quarantine is a time of change for everyone and for some, there isn’t a routine to be found. But for others this is a time to focus on bettering yourself and becoming relatively stress free.

“I have been doing more self care lately,” junior Elsie Spomer said, “like working out, doing yoga, eating healthy and spending time outside.” 

This quarantine is an amazing time to do all of those activities that we previously never have the time to complete.

“I think being outside and doing activities you enjoy is really important for your mental health,” Spomer added. 

With many more weeks of self-quarantine likely  remaining (see related story), most are more than eager to go back to their normal life. 

“I definitely have found myself missing school and missing the structure that it brings to my life,” Bennett said. “Now, since the quarantine, there isn’t a lot of order to how I spend my days.” 

This seems to be the case with students and parents around the world. Everyone has to adjust to a whole new lifestyle, and for many this is uncharted territory. 

“It has been a struggle to adjust to a lifestyle that I’ve never had to accommodate in the past,” Bennett said. “Don’t get me wrong though, I really enjoy spending this extra time with my family and using this quarantine to spend time with my FFA projects.” 

And as for me, I am using this time to catch up on some much needed beauty sleep (self-care, am I right?)  A pandemic is something I never thought I would live to see, and now it just feels like the world is silently on fire and we are all fighting this problem from 6 feet apart.