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Many of us have experienced restrictions on movement and social contact during the pandemic. Talk about any restrictions that have especially affected you.
hey researchers i hope you guys are enjoying the memes. i honestly don’t know what the social restrictions are where i live right know. obviously i know there aren’t supposed to be big crowds anywhere and we’re supposed to wear masks but i don’t know any of the numerical limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings. i honestly don’t remember if we’re on lockdown right know. it’s too difficult to keep track. for me the problem isn’t legal restrictions as much as it’s my parents. i’m only allowed to hangout with my friends outside which is hard because it’s february and it’s 0 degrees and snowing. not being able to see my friends freely is really taking a toll on me more than anything else. i don’t care about masks or whether we can dine indoors or go back to school. i just want to see my friends so badly. it’s not the same online. texting/snapping is awkward, and calling is awkward, and facetiming is awkward. i end up isolating myself because it’s too hard to keep in contact with people. it’s so hard to answer texts and snapchat’s. i feel like an awful friend too. this is probably an important point in my life for social development but instead i’m just isolating myself. i know everyone’s teenage years suck but at least everyone else’s didn’t suck this badly. i feel like the most marked example of teenage isolation is the rise of fiction and escapism. almost all of my friends have found some media they use as a way to cope. don’t judge me for this one but right now it’s Taylor Swift and Glee (I KNOW IM SORRY). but i think i’m becoming so wrapped up in my own fantasy world i’m letting my real life slip. i feel like everything is slipping through my fingers. i just want to see my friends
February 17, 2021
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Does this time of the year feel different than it normally does, or different than it should? If so, give some examples of what feels different.
This is usually the time of year, as a teacher, where I am enjoying the end-of-year events and celebrations with my students as well as getting started on planning for the next school year. None of that is happening this year. Some of it is due to precautions and health protocols. Some of it is just due to the level of burnout I am feeling.
The elementary school where I teach is not holding any big schoolwide events such as field day or moving up ceremonies. We are doing some virtual events for Kindergarten and 4th grades, but since I don't teach them, I am not really involved at all. I usually do not enjoy field day, but it would've been nice this year since so much of the joy has been removed from school right now. Who knew I would miss sweating for 4 hours, being dehydrated, and getting a sunburn while my 7 year old students ran relay races!?
We aren't able to invite families into our classrooms this year, either. So our traditional end of the year open houses and celebrations are not happening. Here's where my burnout comes in - I could try to hold something over video meetings, but I just can't bring myself to organize another virtual activity. I just don't have it in me.
Similarly, I have no mental or emotional bandwidth right now to start thinking about next year. Normally, I'd be excitedly brainstorming new projects with colleagues, and talking about new things we wanted to try or old things to change or replace.
May 24, 2021