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#Lockdown2021

Enforcing a complete lockdown on the island (1st time), came to me as a shock personally as it entailed pretty upsetting things including: not being able to see my friends, not be able to go out and seeing masks nearly everywhere I went! It was quite a stressful situation as I felt, like I was getting way more germaphobe than I already was initially. It was worrying not having any clarity of the situation. Specially with the workload that piled up! I felt like I was overdoing myself. But then I learnt that with some patience and 'giving it some time' , miracles can happen. Likewise, it's like a deja-vu situation as this lockdown also feels like there is a lot on my plate. I definitely feel physically less tired and though I still get frustrated, because of too many things happening at once. I try not to think too much and over do myself and keep a reality check that that we are in an unusual crisis and things are the same for everyone else!

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So far this lockdown is going okay i guess. I feel more motivated than last year to follow my classes and to understand what is happening. I try to do all the work requirement and on time, practice extra questions when it comes to maths, and i try to catch up on notes as well. Maybe it's because I got used to it now and i am more prepared and organised (mentally and literally). Compared to last year, I don't find anything suffocating (yet) and I don't want to move country anymore. I feel content with what i have now and everything seems to be okay. Due to the workload, I didn't really had the chance to bake anything yet but i hope that during the holidays i have the opportunity to treat my mom and brother with something sweet. Perhaps 2 sweet surprises. During this lockdown, every afternoon, my brother and I go cycling in our courtyard. However, i don't workout nor stretch nor dance which is bad because it means i am unfit. My family and I still do movie nights but we haven't played any board games yet. During this year's lockdown, i've had the motivation to try painting however it was cut short due to my very bad skills. After theses 2 lockdowns, I also have a huge urge to go back to travelling as I absolutely love travelling and exploring. I know it's still not the right time to do this and hence this is why I am holding this thought for a little while and am focusing on the importance of being with my friends and family, and respecting the rules and regulations in order for this whole pandemic situation to be "over" more quickly.

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during last years lockdown I didn't do much in terms of school work, but this year on the other hand.. I feel more motivated ngl, the fact that bocage has much more organised and easy to use platforms and methods of communication, it motivates me to accomplish more. Though, I miss travelling, whether it is around Mauritius or to other countries.

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Last lockdown I was with my family so it wasn’t as bad as the current lockdown. i learnt that I can stay alone/isolated for longer than I used to think. I don’t mind the lockdown but its the overwhelming work and pressure from school and parents that makes it harder. i also learnt the importance of the people around you like your friends because you don’t realise how easy or hard they can make your life.

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My first lockdown wasn't that bad as I did some baking and I tried to do some excercice such as "workouts", stretchings and some dance practices. DLP was not that motivating though and I found myself quick slacking on listening to the teachers in class. Since it was the first time that i spent looking at my screens so much, without the ability to go outside, my eyesight worsened, which made me get glasses now. The fun part of lockdown was the fun times i spent with my mom and brother when playing board games, cards and did movie nights together, as well as my baking moments where i had a boost of motivation to try something new. Those were happy times. Ever since this lockdown, i've been wanting to try new things but there was IGCSE exams coming and form 6 was just around the corner. The downside of the lockdown is that i couldn't see my friends and that i wear glasses now. All i could think of during the lockdown, and basically throughout the entire year, was that I wanted this year to be over so so bad. I had enough of everything and at some point it was kind of suffocating. Last year, I was thinking of leaving Mauritius, to start a new/fresh life somewhere else but due to the covid situation, i knew that it was only a dream i could hold on to. During this lockdown, I realised that I appreciate the little things in life and that sometimes we should take a step back and breathe. Not to let worry take over us and everything will be fine.

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I remember the first lockdown as being very pleasant, even though, we were scared and uncertain of the future. I really enjoyed the time spent with my family and I was very grateful that we were all safe and under the same roof. In the first lockdown I was very motivated and really wanted to better myself. I came out of the first lockdown much more knowledgable and appreciative of life than when it had first started. The second lcokdown however, is not going so well. I am overwhlemed with work and I don't really like the DLP. I am constantly procrastinating and i really have no idea how to change that. I miss my friends and I now wish that I would have been more appreciative of all the times we were together. This situation is really taking a toll on my mental health and i feel like i am wasting my teenage years :)

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honestly, during lockdown 2020 I wasn't afraid, I was happy to stay home + my igcse exams had been cancelled. Though I realised how much my friends and family meant to me. I also realised how lucky I am to be living in a well secured and hygienic household with food and space. I am grateful to have a comfortable place I can call home, specially during lockdown. I remember making tiktoks at night, then binge watching series on Netflix and staying up till dawn, I stayed awake like I had no other care in the world, the next morning I would go do a photoshoot on my own outside, crazy times. Moreover, the main thing I realised that I was missing was ACTUALLY living my life. My parents don't get that but they support me when they feel its needed... that is why right after lockdown my friends and I went full party mode, the timing was perfect since we all finished our exams and we were on holidays. We made beach plans, dinner plans, bowling plans, party plans and clubbing plans. Its safe to say that since June 2020 I've been living
'la vida loca.' I sure am grateful for it all.

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The first lockdown was enjoyable for me in the sense that I had the opportunity to spend a lot more time with my family which made me realise the importance of maintaining close relationships, especially in times like this where relying on each other is so important. Having my family just made me a lot more comfortable despite the scary situation. The lockdown also helped me realise how little time I had before and allowed me to get back into playing musical instruments, painting, etc. The current lockdown has been a lot more difficult for me. I spend most of my time outside of school hours helping my parents, leaving me perpetually exhausted and stressed. This lead to probably what is my biggest realisation during this lockdown, which is that I find it extremely difficult to concentrate and that I should try and find solutions for that.

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This year’s lockdown has come much smoother to me compared to last year. This time last year, I was coming out of a depressive view of life and myself where the motivation to live and be happy was little. I have learned to love myself more and the body I came with. I have found things to fill my time this time around. These would be reading books, painting and watching coming-of-age movies. Teacher’s are being less stressful too which is good on us.

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Lockdown 1 wasn't the best, due to the fact that everything was so uncertain and nobody really knew what to expect. It was unusual to be in the house with my family all together because usually we all have things going on. I had a lot more time to do things I wanted to though, even if it was mixed in with a lot more responsibilities linked to the upkeeping of the house etc. The second lockdown is going well now that everyone knows what to expect, and although online schooling is not ideal, with the prior knowledge of last year, everything seems more stable.

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Last lockdown I was with my family so it wasn’t as bad as the current lockdown. i learnt that I can stay alone/isolated for longer than I used to think. I don’t mind the lockdown but its the overwhelming work and pressure from school and parents that makes it harder. i also learnt the importance of the people around you like your friends etc because you don’t realise how easy or hard they can make your life.

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During the first lockdown, I realised that I enjoyed spending time by myself, just being in my room and doing my own thing. It allowed me to be more creative and crafty with the things I did, and gave me more time to learn and digest information. It also allowed me to use my technology knowledge to its fullest! And through that, I learned how to edit videos and so on. However, the first lockdown had a huge impact on my mental health this is why I was so reluctant about the second one. Anyways, the second lockdown is so much better than the first since we're more prepared. But its annoying being at home all the time especially with the DLP. I just miss my besties (some more than others tho;)) Calling them isn't the same as actually being with them.

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When I was informed that the first lockdown was happening, I, like many people, laughed it off and was excited for what I assumed would be a "2 week vacation" off school since I had no idea online school was even a possibility. After a couple months of it though, one thing I learned about myself was that I valued social interaction much more than I thought I did, as some days I felt like I was going crazy not having seen anyone in so long. The problem was solved or at least made easier through calls, so that was alright.
As for this second lockdown, it still feels too early for me to have discovered anything new about myself. One thing I have noticed at the very least is that I tend to procrastinate more, yet actually work very efficiently when I get around to it, due to the quiet environment and lack of distractions.

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The lockdown, especially the first one has shown me that I am someone who needs a goal or purpose and needs to have a sense of productivity. During the holidays of the first lockdown and even for a few months after, I felt unproductive and unsatisfied and feeling that way made me uncomfortable both emotionally and physically. Learning from last years experience, this year I give myself small goals and tasks to do (sometimes as minor as making my bed before class...) so that I feel that I have achieved something and that has definitely helped improve my mental wellbeing. I do feel the strain of sitting in a chair for long periods so I try to stretch and keep active. Whilst I do miss my friends and being in a school/public dynamic, sometimes I just don't feel like video calling and prefer to be on my own during my free time

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Both lockdowns has not done me any good. As a whole the long monotonous days only feed boredom and laziness, I have more time to think of irrelevent subjects and therefore my mental health plummets. Each day is spent in front of the screen with no physical movement causing headaches, eye pain and weight gain. I do not like being stuck with my family under one roof and so shutting myself into my room feels suffocating. For myself my family is suffocating to my health. The only outcome of these lockdowns is that the environment is improving and that I have watched more shows and read more comics.

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After lockdown 1, I started to treasure and get much closer to all of my friends as a result of the huge hole their absence has left in my life during the lockdown. Therefore, this lockdown became much harder to deal with because of how my comfort zone had changed; being from my home to now any place with my friends. Since lockdown 1 was my first of such an experience, i didn’t mind it happening, however considering I am a person who dislikes repeating things as I easily get bored and need change, this lockdown became much more complicated. However, this forced me to somehow become more motivated across my tasks, may it be working out or doing my homework as a way not to bored myself. In the past, I was close to never able to motivate myself for things which didn’t appeal to me. Thus, this helped me a lot to grow against procrastination.

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Though lockdown number 1 was much longer than our current one, I found it much more easier to cope with. It wasn’t how I would have expected my year 2020 to happen but through this event i was able to take a break from everything beyond my home, limit the influences which act upon my self and rediscover the things I like to do. For example, I started swimming and writing a lot more than I did before and doing a lot more art for my personal appreciation. This lockdown really showed me how independent I actually was, that I didn’t have to rely on parties and friends to have fun.

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This lockdown is surprisingly more productive than the past one, maybe its because of the teachers or the lack of stress on our shoulders but so far there are no major issues.

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This lockdown is surprisingly going better than last year's lockdown. I was a mess last year and I did not know what I was doing most of the time so I learned from my mistakes of last year and I'm trying to this one's better. I am trying my best to stay positive (that's not going well) and be more productive. However I feel like I should be doing more to stay active and productive.

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Maybe it is time to address ourselves and think about what is going on around. I don't think any one of us had expected this to happen 2 years ago. It is a reality and maybe we have to realise how many things we have, how many things have gone undone that may remain undone? All those things that have been put off for "later". how many regrets are we gonna have? This is supposed to be some of the best years of out lives and are we really just gonna spend it staring at a screen day in and day out? How long until one of us cracks... and that truly is a scary thought

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The monotonous and repetitive days are not something I am strictly against but it also allows me to indulge in what probably are bad habits; skipping meals, staying up late, no physical activities and etc. Also, one would think that this would be a better opportunity to interact with the family, but apart from awkward encounter in the kitchen in the middle of the night, not really. Yet the lack of social encounters is not something I would be opposed to if I was to be honest - no more overwhelming crowds and shallow small talk. On the other had, that does not seem to be the case for others who seem to be experiencing cabin fever from this pandemic

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Lockdown one was much more easier as it was new to all of us, I stayed in but went out from time to time to my garden and keep myself busy. I was genuinely surprised how fast the 4 months went and I was really happy when I met up with my friends after such a long time at school. I felt great during the first lockdown compared to this one. This may be because I know what it feels like and I cannot wait to get back to my friends and see the outside world again.

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The second lockdown is definitely hitting harder. It has only been 2 weeks and I'm already tired of being inside, I feel suffocated. I am constantly sleep deprived even if I never feel tired when I wake up or even during the day. It is just when I lay down during the afternoon that sleep just take over and I wake up 3 hours later. This time inside and away from everyone has made me be grateful for everything I have and the people surrounding me. I sometimes wonder how my mind and body will cope if this lockdown becomes like the first one and lasts for nearly 4 months. I'm sure I'll get used to it too much to the point where I would not like to go to school anymore when the lockdown gets lifted.

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This lockdown has been different to the previous one. Ive become more adapted in a way. I have free time to spent with my family and to reflect on myself which is great. It's less stressful that we don't have a huge exam to write but I think since we've moved to IB there is some stress involved. I tend to sleep very late but I feel so exhausted at the same time. I have started to exercise every night just to keep myself fit after sitting in front of a screen for over half a day. Ive also tried different sports with my parents and sibling which turned out better then I expected.  I have also been keeping contact with my friends and family thanks to technology..

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During the first lockdown, I had tons of different feelings. Not being allowed to go out of my house really showed me how privileged i was. It taught me to be appreciative for the small things I have in life. I had a lot of me time which allowed me to reflect on what's been happening in my life. It was a hard time for my metal state. But my spending time with my family, i realised how grateful i actually am of them. It was a stressful time but I had a lot of time to study and work so it was more comfortable being at home.

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This lockdown made me realise many things about myself. One of them being that if i stick my mind to something, i tend to carry on doing it and make it part of my routine. For example, since the beginning of this current lockdown i have been doing  exercise for nearly 30 mins at the end of the end. It has been one of the things that i look forward to after online school.

Another thing that i realise was that i shouldn't have taken my " non-covid days" for granted because now I'm stuck at home , having a mundane routine where sit in front of my laptop for more than 6hrs a day. Yet, im not such  a sociable person so i guess what im trying to complain about(lol) is that i miss having a balance in life.

Lastly, i realise that i get bored too quickly so i struggle in finding a creative way to spend my time instead of staring at which i do everyday for 8hrs.

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well my first lockdown was really different compared to this one. That is because i was still at my old school and then had made us do a "pre-IB course" which i took i very lightly to be honestly speaking so it didn't really hit me that i was doing online school. However , this year made me realise that in my opinion, i believe online schooling is very hectic because you are just stuck at home with your parents and siblings for 24/7 which sucks to be honest. You cant really distant yourself from them and you don't get to relax by meeting up with your friends during lunch.

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personally, this lockdown has been much easier than last years one, as last year no one knew what to expect as it was all new to us. This lockdown has gone much quicker and I am used to it and online school as well.

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This lockdown has also given me time to think about and realize the situation around me and I have become more grateful for what I have and the situation that I am in. As i have witness many people struggle around me in these hard times. Lockdown has also made me realize how grateful I am for my friends and how much I miss them and miss leaving the house during lockdown.

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During this lockdown, i have definitely learned that I have quite a a busy life involving long days, waking up early for school, doing sports almost every day after school and finally going to bed quite late after spending time studying. Therefore during this lockdown, I have been quite bored, sometimes it is nice not to be busy all the time and to relax as this is what i wish during some of my most busiest days before lockdown however, I also miss it. I have also been struggling with sleeping, mainly due to the fact that I am so used to being exhausted on normal pre-lockdown days, that now when i am faced with a day where i hardly do anything and don't leave the house, my body doesn't know how to respond.

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Through this lockdown I realized that I love spending time with my family or even by myself. It's nice to get some alone time once in a while and fortunately technology allows us to communicate with loved ones so if ever you feel like talking to a friend or another family member, your phone is always there. I even picked up some new interests which I would have not been able to discover without the free time available at the moment. During this lockdown I actually feel happier and I think I have a stronger mindset. Fortunately we are not revising for exams so the pressure is alleviated.

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Throughout this lockdown specifically, I'm  trying to develop new skills involving instruments. I have always had a passion for music and I'm always listening to it. However throughout this lockdown on a more positive note I have been working on creating my own music which is quite challenging but keeping me busy. The days are starting to become repetitive and this has become one of the main things to distract me.

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Every day kind of feels the same, which is making me realize that I shouldn't have taken our "covid-free" time for granted. With monotonous days come waves of fatigue and boredom which regularly frustrate me. But at the same time, I am not a very social person - I am rather introverted and I enjoy spending time by myself - so why is it that I feel this way?

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I think that the first lockdown really taught me a lesson on gratitude. First of all, I was able to spend more time with my family and understand their struggles better. This made me feel very grateful for everything that we had even during such hard times, as there were people who did not even have food at home. I think it served as a lesson to teach me about the privilege that I hold.

Whilst staying at home, I also ended up spending quite a lot of time reading about what was going on in the world, since I felt extremely disconnected just sitting at home. This made me realize that I was living in a bubble, unaware of all the hardships different individuals and countries were facing for various reasons. At the same time, I felt helpless, as there was barely anything that I could do to help.

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My second lockdown, however, is much worse. I think in the first lockdown it was my form 5 year and it was just a matter of revising and IGCSE is much simpler than IB. Form 6 is much harder, we're getting used to the subjects and the work load and to go into lockdown when we've only had two months of face-to-face learning hasn't been very good for me. The topics are a lot harder and trying to understand things like maths and biology online have been tough. I don't have as much motivation as I did last year and I stay inside a lot of the time. Hopefully this lockdown is shorter though, even though I doubt that very much I'm still hoping.

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I think the first lockdown brought both good and bad things. It was something which I had never experienced before and very different from ordinary life. It was very stressful because exams were coming up and I did not know whether I was revising enough. The thing that definitely got worse though was probably my anxiety.
It was stressful, however it also made me realize that I am capable of reaching my goals by myself.
The first lockdown also made me feel grateful. It made me realize how fortunate I am of having a family that gets along and a comfortable home. I also noticed that I was more organized and motivated at home.

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Throughout Lockdown whether it being from last years one or this one, I have noticed and realised that I heavily enjoy being by myself. I consider myself as someone quite independent and I enjoy being alone, I always find something to do and never get bored, which many of my friends find hard to do. Staying home allows me to focus on myself and being more  efficient ,I feel more motivated to complete my tasks and I’ve noticed that I am more productive. However, despite not having any distractions being a benefit, it also slightly affects me as during the weekends i’m usually out with friends doing something. Weekends are typically the hardest for me as during the week I have schoolwork to distract myself, but on weekends is when I feel drained, I often go to sleep late and all the “tiredness” hits me at once during the weekends, I feel more in a bad mood and as a teenager it plays on my insecurities which I find hard  to control, I tend to let my thoughts wonder which affects me a bit. However the lockdown is giving me time to work on them and changing my state of mind.

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I miss physical exercise more than I thought, my body feels like a sponge

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My first lockdown not that bad. I mean I was motivated and I tried to make a big effort because of the exams.
It was hard though, of course, because its the first time that I had to stay at home for six months without being allowed to go anywhere. I tried to keep a balanced life so I would work and then I would go excercise or something.
My first lockdown also gave me an immense appreciation for something as simple as driving somewhere, because when that priviledge is taken away from you you notice how much you actually rely on those types of things.

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Im worse with technology than I initially though which isnt great for DLP