Last week, our brothers as well as the rest of campus were in shock. At around 5:30 pm on March 11th, all students and faculty of Boston College were informed that due to the coronavirus outbreak, classes were to be moved online and campus was to be closed for the rest of the semester. So, all the students packed their things and moved out by the deadline, which was March 15th. Our Massachusetts Iota brothers were extremely saddened by this news and wish more than anything to have our semester back at school, but also understand the seriousness of the situation and that the safety of our friends and families comes before anything.

So where does that leave us? While the brothers of Massachusetts Iota may be prohibited from seeing each other at BC, we will remain in touch via Zoom, Google Hangouts, or any other way possible. Whether it be official business (we are continuing what we can), or just some casual face time, we have been doing what we can to see each other this past week. I know I cannot speak for my entire chapter, but working from home with family around can be distracting and counterproductive, but here are a few tips that have helped me this week, and maybe could help you:

1. Establish a schedule. Maybe this means get up early and do classes all at once, or do your online lectures during the times they were held on campus. Either way, you need to budget time (hopefully several hours) in your day to work on assignments and attend online lecture.
2. Wear appropriate class attire. I’ve found that working/watching lectures in clothes you’d normally wear to class helps keep you attentive during lectures, instead of wearing pajamas. Appearance is everything!
3. Find an extra hobby. Hopefully something productive that engages your mind (not video games). Try doing puzzles, learn an instrument, or learn to cook some new recipes.
4. Stay active. Try to also block at least an hour for exercise, and it could be as simple as push-ups or going for a walk. But getting a good sweat in is good for both mental and physical health during these times.

Of course, it is imperative we all practice proper hygiene during times when a communicable virus is traveling around. Thorough hand-washing (20 seconds), not touching your face, and social distancing are the three best ways to stay healthy during these times. I can speak for all of Massachusetts Iota by saying that we all wish we could see each other, travel, and have fun during this time, but we all know that’s the wrong thing to do. We collectively must quarantine ourselves, no matter how the virus has affected you. COVID-19 is extremely serious, and fighting the spread can be as easy as staying home, and that is what we are going to do.