Aside from personal safety, the vaccine also provides residents with hope. Its distribution lifted some of the facility’s health regulations and allowed for loved ones to visit, albeit socially distanced. “Being able
to see family and friends through a screen has really raised their spirits,” Downer said. “Also, knowing that soon they may be allowed to leave this facility and spend time with their family is really heartwarming for them.”

As an essential care worker, Downer, along with her coworkers, were offered primary access to the vaccine. “The first time I was given the opportunity to get a vaccine, I was scared and wanted to wait,” Downer said. “The first person who had gotten the vaccine in California had only had it two days before. But I did my research and afterwards, felt more confident getting the vaccine.”

Although she was apprehensive initially, Downer feels grateful for the opportunity and experience. “I feel safer coming home to my dad and mom, who are both not vaccinated and are at higher risk,” Downer said. For now, Downer remains confident that the spirits in Webster House will remain high. “Everyone is in full support of everyone,” Downer said. “We truly are always there for one another and have created really tight bonds. We see each other each week, no matter how bad the pandemic is, and having support from my coworkers and the residents has made working through COVID better and easier.”

Between Zoom classes, homework and extracurriculars, the average high school student doesn’t always have time to dedicate hours toward exercising, or might just lack incentive to roll out of bed. Regardless, exercise is not a one-size-fits-all activity: what works for some people may not work for others. One idea, particularly for those who have limited spare time, is to practice yoga. Yoga is a popular exercise that emphasizes the importance of breath and clarity. It is also credited with increasing strength, flexibility and reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.

The science behind yoga is fascinating: multiple studies report that the exercise decreases the secretion of cortisol, the primary hormone causing stress. Yoga also encourages participants to fully relax, which reduces the activity of our body’s muscles and motor neurons while simultaneously decreasing heart rate. This translates to deeper breathing and greater relaxation, both contributors to lower stress levels. Other studies also suggest that yoga improves sleep, which may be appealing to sleep-deprived students.

Yoga is an inclusive space, as yogis are friendly to everyone, regardless of skill. There is no right way to practice yoga, and contrary to popular belief, the end goal is not to be able to transform into a human pretzel–yoga can be as simple as standing upright and focusing on breath and full body engagement. Certain yoga positions, such as the tree pose, can be the perfect exercise to release fatigue between passing periods. On the other hand, a more in-depth yoga session can last upwards of an hour, and incorporate different exercises focusing on various parts of the body.

Throughout the internet and in our community, a multitude of yoga resources are offered to students. One includes an alternative yoga course in replacement of traditional physical education. In this course, students’ physical activity focuses more on breathing and stretching, rather than high intensity fitness. Besides the class offered at school, a variety of yoga classes from local studios are offered via Zoom. Members of the YMCA have access to these classes almost daily, with each class pertaining to a different area of focus. Finally, there are thousands of YouTube videos and tutorials online that are available to everyone at no cost.

Exercise amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult, yet simple methods such as yoga or any other form of exercise are effective outlets to manage stress and promote physical well-being.

Oatmeal is a perfect breakfast before school: it’s quick, filling and takes no longer than five minutes to make in the morning. Instant oats are ideal for an easy, one minute breakfast–just add some water or milk, a touch of salt and cinnamon if desired, and pop in the microwave. Oatmeal provides endless possibilities of preparation, whether it’s stove-top, microwaved or baked. Furthermore, there’s no shortage of toppings, such as granola, fruit or nut butter. A quick tip is to try to include a variety of toppings that make for a filling and nutritious breakfast: include some almond or oat milk and a spoonful of nut butter for protein, and a handful of frozen berries for fiber. 

Smoothies:

Smoothies also serve as a delicious and quick breakfast, and can include multiple food groups. There is room for personal creativity when choosing ingredients, yet an ideal smoothie before school should follow a similar structure: frozen fruit, such as berries or bananas, a handful of dark greens (don’t worry, you won’t be able to taste them!), and some sort of milk or juice for easy blending. Smoothies are also perfect to sip during Zoom classes, and can easily be transformed into smoothie bowls with a variety of toppings for a fulfilling hands-on eating experience.

Toast:

An age-old breakfast, toast, is particularly convenient to grab before an online class. Similarly to oatmeal, toast provides a multitude of toppings that make it nutritious as well as appetizing. Some of the most popular ways to enjoy toast is with your choice of nut butter or Nutella: these spreads are filling and add another texture component to toast. Peanut or almond butter is creamy and flavorful, while Nutella is rich and sweet. Either are effective methods to add protein and have a great start to your day. 

Junior Summer Steadman shared how her experience as a competitive soccer player has been impacted. “Showcases are great opportunities to play in front of coaches that are recruiting you,” Steadman said. “But all spring showcases have been canceled, as well as campus visits. I’ve noticed that the overall timeline of the recruitment process has greatly lengthened.” 

Steadman also noted the importance of staying fit during time off the field, reflecting on how being able to train together as a team always improved performance in games. “Because practice and league games have stopped, the responsibility to improve as a player now rests on us as individuals,” Steadman said. “Independent growth is really being stressed at the moment.” 

Yet Steadman remains unwavering and optimistic. “I can’t wait to get back together with my team and start training again—we’re going to pick up where we left off,” Steadman said. “My team has taught me selflessness and sacrifice, and we are a family.”

Even for the athletes who have already committed to their college program, the impact of corona is still extensive. Senior Jonathan Affeld is attending Stanford University next year for men’s swimming. By committing this fall, Affeld explained that the virus is not impacting college prep, but it is hard for him to work out and remain in shape. “All the pools are closed, so I have to workout in other ways,” Affeld said. “And practicing on land is not a direct replacement for the workout I would get in the water.” 

As a senior, Affeld is also disappointed to have missed his last season. “I really would’ve liked to have made another run at the CCS championship and create more memories with my teammates,” Affeld said. “I also would have liked to leave more high school records.”

Despite an unfulfilling senior year, Affeld looks forward to attending Stanford and has great ambition. “I’m keeping my eye on making Olympic Trials next year,” Affeld said. “I’m just going to continue training and get recognized on an International scale.”  He expresses his sympathy with this season having come to a close so early, yet remains hopeful. “Sure, this isn’t ideal, but it’s one bad year preceding many good to come” Affeld said.

Gaming is at an all time peak. With a myriad of games across many platforms and applications, gaming offers relaxing and enjoyable entertainment. Social distancing has caused trouble for friends trying to stay connected; online games allow friends to collaborate and interact in a way that one cannot with texting and calling. In times like these, gaming allows many to stay connected when they are feeling lonely.

League of Legends

In sophomore year, I promised myself that I would give it up. Yet here I am, only a year later, launching the Riot Games app to play what is the most addicting game in the world: League of Legends.

League of Legends, colloquially known as League, is a multiplayer online battle arena game that allows players to select one of over a hundred champions with unique abilities and, in its standard game mode, work in teams of five to dismantle the opposing team’s nexus. The game is known to be addicting, especially for high schoolers procrastinating on their Required Online Learning Experiences. With game times of anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, each game is a time commitment —but the happiness that comes from destroying your opponents is worth it.

One of the reasons why League is my “quarantine game” is due to the fun vibes it has, allowing you to hop on a call with four other friends and work together to accomplish your goals. Sure, it’s known for being toxic (friends certainly get upset when you steal their kills!), but getting to chill and play with your friends makes it very worth it. Plus, the game doesn’t require a fancy gaming setup—it can even be run on a Mac!

For anyone looking for a game: I’d recommend never downloading League of Legends. I promise that you’ll never be able to give it up.

Anagrams

Compelling, competitive and extremely addicting, Anagrams is the perfect video game to indulge in during the shelter in place. To those with iPhones, it’s accessible on the Game Pigeon feature within iMessage, requiring no additional download. Plus, you can play the game with anyone else who has an iPhone, helping you stay in contact with other gamers.

The game itself is quite straightforward. Players are given six random letters and have 60 seconds to create as many words as possible. The words must be at least three letters, and different point values are given to each word based on their complexity and length. For example, a six letter word scores 2,000 points, while a three letter word may only score 100.

The 60 second time limit also creates a sense of urgency in the game. Players are forced to work quickly to outcompete their opponent. Additionally, as each round consists of only so many seconds, it’s often played dozens of times–once the clock starts ticking, no one wants to stop.

Anagrams is the essential game that everyone should be playing during shelter in place. It targets all audiences, from elite gamers to novel beginners. It is dependent on quick thinking, yet not to a tedious extent; likewise, speed is a factor, yet not the determinate. Everyone should play Anagrams, and see for themselves just how universal the game really is.

Wii Sports

Many teenagers these days are taking up new hobbies while sheltering in place, and to no surprise,  gaming is one of the most popular. But video games don’t have to be violent, and you don’t need to be guns-a-blazing to have fun. For a relaxing alternative with little to no violence, try Wii Sports Resort, an enjoyable blast from the past.

Wii Sports Resort is a collection of 12 different sports ranging from sword fighting to wakeboarding. Whether you want to have a dogfight with a friend or take on a competitive game of bowling with 100 pins, there’s something for everyone.

The game mainly takes place on Wuhu Island, but for a entertaining game of golf you may be flown out to Wedge Island. Wii Sports allows you to play as your Mii, an avatar that you can design to see yourself play each offered game. Throughout the island, there are certain places to play each sport, which can be explored in the game Island Flyover in which you pilot a plane searching for unique landmarks across the archipelago.

Wii Sports Resort is a classic and nostalgic game from almost every kid’s childhood. The game lets you combine fun with a nice amount of exercise to get the best possible video game experience. If you ever need a calm break while staying at home, hop on the Wii and check this game out.

1. Watch Netflix. The world-renowned streaming site has served as a source of comfort for millions. Netflix provides a range of movies and shows that cater toward specific audiences and moods. Yet, as an avid Netflix-watcher myself, I understand that the selection can feel underwhelming, and often lacks many of the newer releases. My suggestion is as follows: try to find the worst reviewed and lowest budgeted movie, then watch it to see really how awful it is. I have done this countless times and still walk away shocked at how terrible the movies are. While it may sound counterintuitive, purposely watching bad movies often brings in the best laughs. 
2. Bake. I often consider baking to be quite time-consuming, and among the stresses of school, find that I don’t have the patience or commitment required. However, our month-long break serves as the perfect opportunity to ignite our baking skills. Cupcakes, cakes, lemon bars, pies, brownies and cookies, is your mouth not watering already? Between the delicious smells that are sure to fill your kitchen and a yummy treat to share with family members, baking over break both passes time and is a foolproof way to spend time at home—just make sure to wash your hands!
3. Reorganize your house. That pile of laundry that has been building up for weeks? The cluttered shelf that you always tell yourself to clean but never do? Now is the time to tackle those areas. I have found that cleaning and organizing when I have nothing else to do is surprisingly fun. It helps me focus on one particular activity and leaves me feeling accomplished and productive. Put on some music, take your time, fold your shirts and hang your clothes! What sounds like a chore can actually transform into an addicting hobby.  
4. Make art. Time to get out those crayons and colored pencils shoved in your drawer from middle school. Art is therapeutic and relaxing, an ideal activity in a stressful time. Draw to some of your favorite music in the background or paint everyday objects in a different light. 
5. Engage in safe habits. Yes, it’s tempting to go run off with your friends, or go hit up amusement parks or movie theaters. What is important to remember is that this is a dangerous time, and we should take every cautionary measure possible. Try to use this time for focus on you—your health, mind, and wellbeing. Pick up a hobby you lost, read a book, treat yourself to a home spa day. Practice healthy habits like washing your hands, staying hydrated and maintaining your personal space bubble. And if you miss talking to your friends, Facetime can become your most used app!