How to Stay Productive, Strong and Calm | Study With New Zealand

I often wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” and realised that there is a silver lining to every cloud. It’s when we are put through difficult times in our lives that we are able to grow.

As a full-time PhD student, it is important for me to adjust to the “new normal” and these are my 3 tips to stay productive, strong, and calm throughout your academic journey.

With the university shutting down physically, the universities are turning to online workshops/classes via Zoom.

At the University of Waikato, the library offers a variety of courses for higher degree students every month such as “NVivo for Data Analysis” (of which I highly recommend), “Getting Started with EndNote”, “APA Referencing”, and many others.

Nonetheless, it can be slightly frustrating when you experience a tremendous amount of lag and having your webcam or audio not work on Zoom!

It’s normal to feel homesick or alone as an international student. It is a natural part of getting used to a new culture and environment. However, in the wake of the current COVID-19 situation, these emotions are further intensified!

Therefore, at moments when I feel lonely or worried, I try to communicate with my friends and family back home through WhatsApp calls and let them know how I’m feeling. Sometimes, it would be just a 5-minute video call to get a glimpse of their faces.

Staying connected to my loved ones gives me the reassurance that everything will be okay!

Along with the lockdown, a feeling of uncertainty and panic will sometimes take over.

To stay calm, I often meditate when I am struggling to quiet my mind. For example, it could be something as simple as sitting down at a quiet corner, closing my eyes, taking a few deep breaths, reflect on the 5 things that I am thankful for and journal it.

Through reading and looking back at what I have meditated on, it will help me to divert negative thoughts to something positive – e.g. being grateful.