BEHAVIOURS OF STUDENTS IN THE ONGOING PANDEMIC

The covid-19 pandemic has transformed societies in profound ways and to curb the rising cases, education shifted from face-to-face teaching to online platforms.

Students in schools and colleges have had to undergo a good deal of changes.

They have had to experienced turmoil due to abrupt transitions and uncertainty. Students have reported a vast range of thoughts, emotions, and resulting behaviors. Behaviors are influenced by the environment of an individual. With the current environment being highly stressful and ambiguous students discussed behaving in different ways. Some carried out positive behaviors:

• Some students made sure that they were maintaining a routine that involved a healthy diet and sleep schedule.
• Individuals also made sure that they were exercising for at least half an hour every day.
• Some also used this free time to develop new skills and take up online courses.
• Many got involved in household chores like cleaning, cooking, etc.
• Students also rekindled with their long-lost hobbies like dancing, painting, which helped them maintain a positive mood.

Many students reported low levels of motivation which lead to some unhealthy behaviors:

• Procrastination is one of the most prevalent behaviors which has been brought up by many students. They are unable to manage their anxieties and meet their goals.
• Not having a routine has resulted in lethargy for a lot of students as they have nothing to look forward to during the day.
• Individuals have also reported having uncontrollable negative thoughts and stress due to which they are unable to perform basic tasks.
• Students have an unhealthy sleeping schedule and diet resulting in low energy levels and a negative emotional state.
• Many students also discussed excessive screentime to be the culprit behind their unproductivity.

Overall, students responded to the pandemic in different ways. This was dependant on their environment as well as their personality. A variety of behaviors was also a consequence of the variations in the resources available to each and every individual.