How hard is it to catch a break? I wonder... Well, the reason I've started writing this blog post was due to the fact I wanted to write something different from my dissertation (thesis), university assignments and more. It's been about 4 months into 2020, and we all know it's been quite a rollercoaster for everyone at the moment. We went from a possible WW3 crisis to Australia's forests burning down, and here we are amidst a pandemic known as Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

I would be lying to myself if I said this year wasn't already hard for me. For many people like myself, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll for our studies, jobs as well as our overall health. I hope that despite everything that is going on that we can all reassure another, support each other and take care of ourselves. It is extremely important to prioritise our health amidst this difficult period - Okay... I'm not exactly the best representative if I'm honest with you but I do recommend it. The COVID-19 pandemic has left fear in our lives as for the majority of us, isolation is our only resort. I would also like to reaffirm that despite the circumstances, please take into consideration of others. I've learnt a lot over this period and seen the selfishness of others as people proceed to gather amongst each other rather than stick to the boundaries of social distancing. You could be risking the lives of others for your own selfishness, and you're not making it easier for those working in essential departments such as healthcare. Despite everything, I hope that this pandemic will cease sooner than later. 

Actually, I want to ask, how have you been coping with isolation? It is perfectly ok to feel like you aren't coping as this is a time which is difficult for many of us. For myself, I've found days where I would be coping by socialising with my friends on Discord/Messenger etc., watching Asian TV dramas, playing games or even just completing my assignments (I mean other than all the eating and sleeping I've been doing). But, that doesn't mean I've coped entirely, I've had my share of emotional breakdowns and that's okay too. If you are having a hard time, don't be afraid to reach out to others in this time of need. Particularly for those isolating alone, you may be finding it the most difficult. I feel I was fortunate enough to be able to safely return to my family home and I'm very grateful that my family can support me in this difficult time alongside my studies. 

Additionally, how is COVID-19 affecting you? We talked about how the pandemic may be affecting your studies, work or more, but I want to know how you may be feeling personally. At the moment, I'm currently in the final year of my degree and it's been quite a journey. Saying goodbye to some of my closest friends during my time at university has been the hardest for me. We told ourselves, we would still have a lot of time together to make the most of our final year memories, yet suddenly our whole uni life was disrupted due to the pandemic. But don't worry, it's not goodbye forever, but goodbye for now. I'm also very grateful for my university for providing us with a 'no academic disadvantage' policy to help consider my final year certification. I hope no matter what you are all doing out there, you can take this opportunity to have a break. Remember, even if you are still working it's very important to not be so hard on yourself, make small goals for yourself which are attainable daily and do what you can but remember to think about yourself too. 

This post was something for not only you as a reader, but for myself too. It's easy to say all these things, but to act on it is another story. Some of you have been learning and developing your skills e.g. cooking, learning languages, to singing/practising an instrument or more. I've been seeing a lot of Dalgona coffee going on right now - Is it good? I've yet to try! However, if you haven't had a chance to develop or learn a new skill, that's ok too. Just as long as you can prioritise yourself and slowly work on yourself little by little, that is perfectly okay too! 

Anyways, that's it for me! Stay safe, stay well! And a big shoutout to all those who have supported us through this journey. Whether it is your family, friends, significant others, your pet but most importantly yourself! Take care, and I'll be back soon!

PS: Y'all should check out this COVID-19 song from some of my favourite Vietnamese artists! The original song is called Ghen. But I love the adaptation of the song for COVID-19.