5 Ways To Deal With Face-To-Face Classes Anxiety

Two years of the pandemic felt like it went by too quickly and too slowly at the same time. On the one hand, it went by too fast because we were all stuck at home, missing the things we wanted to do with our classmates and friends. We yearn for the group project sleepovers, spontaneous squad trips, and all the after-school gala! Much of what we hoped to do and listed on our new year’s bucket list didn’t end up happening. On the other hand, it also felt like it went way too slow because day after day, we kept thinking about when the health crisis would end. We couldn’t get over the future we anticipated back in 2020, as the pandemic had taken it away from us.

But now, we’re back! And we’re slowly making our way back to the future we’ve been missing and returning to face-to-face classes. While we are thrilled that our voices for reopening the schools have been heard, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I can’t help but feel anxious and nervous to meet people I’ve only been seeing online. Two years stuck inside our homes have made it hard for us to socialize. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just go back to the time when we didn’t have any trouble talking to other people? Sadly, life doesn’t work that way. But we can still do some things to cope with the anxiety that comes with it!

1. Reach out to your classmates 

During my first year of college in an online setting, I had a hard time connecting with other people. Back then, I felt so alone and had a lot of breakdowns. But suddenly, one of my classmates, who I haven’t talked to much at all, sent me a message. She asked how I was, shared her reaction to an inspiring post I shared online, and said how she wanted us to be friends! Just one message made me feel so excited and hopeful again. And until now, even though we haven’t met IRL, we’ve been so close and friendly. We’re constantly chatting through our DMs and even planning out our future adventures together! 

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that we all need a friend. They are our comfort zone, support system, and an extended family. And sometimes, all it takes is to reach out, send them a wave, or chat them hello. They can be the ones we can look forward to the most on the first day of our face-to-face classes so that we won’t feel left out and alone.

2. List out the things you enjoy back then

Doing the things we love the most can help us get over our fears. So when we’re feeling anxious or lonely, we can think of things we used to enjoy and miss. They can help us think more positively and hopeful—giving us something to look forward to. 

In my case, I’ve always been a fan of going to local bands’ gigs and concerts, whether alone or with my friends. This was one of the things I had also stopped experiencing when the pandemic and lockdowns began. For the return to normal classes, I wanted to do this again with my newly-made friends and classmates. Just us, singing along with Lola Amour or Ben&Ben’s music. The best and most wholesome way to get rid of the stress from schoolwork!

3. Enjoy your ‘me’ time

Whenever we feel overwhelmed, the first thing we should do is to try to breathe. Like how we refresh our computers after having too many activities at once, taking a break also refreshes our minds from too much thinking. Check-in with yourself and take some time for self-care. You could find your own breather like meditating, taking a bubble bath, or just watching your favorite comfort movies and shows! We can also find inspiration from them. Like the friendships and school adventures of the best squad we know from Twenty Five Twenty One! It’s not easy to quickly go back to the way that we were forced to let go before. So, give yourself some time to refresh and re-condition! 

4. Follow the news 

One possible reason why we get anxious is because of our uncertainty. I know the news can be a bit overwhelming for us. And because of this, we tend to turn our TVs off or skip the news posts on our social media feeds. But actually, one of the best ways to fight our uncertainty is to stay up to date on the news about the return of face-to-face classes. It helps us become informed, know what to expect, and be ready for what’s to come. We get to have the things we need and learn more about the healthy protocols to follow. It’s kind of the same like doing research: You need to know things before you can do things better.

5. Seek professional help

It is undeniable that our mental health is one of the things that have been greatly affected by the sudden changes in our lives due to the pandemic. Self-help books, videos, and blogs can be helpful, but the best way to deal with and care for our mental health is to get help from a professional. Unlike the stigmatized view of mental health care, anyone can ask for a consultation. For us students, we can check with our schools to see if there are any free mental health services for us that they offer. 

Since we’ve all been waiting for a long time, we’re all greatly anticipating our #LigtasNaBalikEskwela. In this campaign, it stands up for the overall well-being of the students. That’s why as we try to prepare ourselves on our own, we need to keep encouraging each other to support this call for concrete plans to reopen schools and safely return to face-to-face classes! 

Art Header by Angela Pabilona