Leah Deskins ‘21
Professor Liaison Editor
Here we are, almost one week into our time at the Zoom Law School at the University of Virginia School of Law at the University of Virginia. Perhaps as the novelty of Zoom has started to wear off, you’re beginning to wonder how long your toilet paper supply is actually going to last, your Weil Gotshal & Manges hand sanitizer bottle might be running low, and most importantly for the purposes of this column, you’re woefully bored and understimulated.[1]
Luckily for you, there are some ways to stave off the boredom and lack of normalcy that comes with hiding from COVID-19. I solicited hints and tips from some friends—The Law Weekly’s GroupMe and my Instagram followers—and here are my favorites:[2]
1) Go on a walk - This was the most frequent suggestion, and who’s surprised? I certainly love walks! They’re free. You can do them by yourself (but use your judgment and be safe). You can do them with your dog. You can do them with your frog/toad.[3] You get some exercise. And, you get a breath of fresh air. One Law Weekly member suggested different styles of walks...crab walking, anyone?
2) Talk to a friend or family member over the phone, Skype, FaceTime, or, dare I mention it, Zoom - Bonus points if you talk to someone who you really should talk to a little more frequently! This was another fan favorite. I’d recommend mixing up who you talk to. Maybe call or chat with different friends over the course of the week. Variety can really work wonders.
3) Listen to new music or music you haven’t heard in a long time, or if you can, play music - I’ve been going through my phone and revisiting some of my less-loved playlists.[4] If you’re a musician, try working on some fundamentals you haven’t practiced recently.
4) Try exercising with some YouTube exercise videos - I really like the Blogilates videos on YouTube (apparently there’s an app now if that’s more your style). You can focus on different muscles and do as much or as little as you want. And many exercises don’t require any weights.
5) Work on a craft or try creative writing - Knitting is popular, so is painting and/or drawing. St. Patrick’s Day is behind us, but why not try writing some limericks? If you’re looking for some creative inspiration, I’d recommend you check out some Bob Ross videos online. They’re calm and pastoral, and Bob Ross makes everything look easy. Did you know that Bob Ross had at least one pet squirrel? Now you do.
6) Reorganize your living space - There’s no time like the present to move the couch or redesign your childhood bedroom that hasn’t changed since you were fifteen...or seven. Mixing up your living space a bit can provide a helpful change of pace that can actually facilitate better learning.[5]
7) Put a puzzle together - Admittedly, this requires you to have a puzzle in your possession, but if you do, it’s a fun and mentally stimulating way to spend an afternoon.
8) Work on your to-do list - I know what you’re thinking: That’s not fun! That’s work. Ok, yes, it is probably work for most people. But it can be very rewarding to check tasks off of the list, and once you’re done, you’ll probably have accomplished quite a bit.
Pictured: “I’ve already made some progress on my to-do list. You can, too!”
Photo Courtesy of Leah Deskins ‘21
9) Learn a new skill or learn about a topic you wish you knew more about - Ok, maybe you won’t be able to master Aramaic during the remainder of this online semester, but there is a lot you can learn from the comfort of your living quarters. Ballroom dancing, British history during the time of Henry VIII—you name it, you can probably learn about it online.
10) Watch Netflix with friends - No, this is not your normal Netflix experience. Everyone knows watching an old or new show or movie is an option (if you have a streaming service) during these trying times. But did you know that Netflix has a streaming option that allows you to watch a movie with friends and pause the movie to chat over the platform? Apparently, it does. Watch2Gether offers a similar option for YouTube videos, or so I’m told.
Pictured: “I tried out Tip #10, but without any friends, and the movie was on Amazon Prime. So, really, I just watched a movie…by myself…alone. It’s fine.” Photo Courtesy of Leah Deskins ‘21.
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lcd4ew@virginia.edu
[1] Despite the mountain of schoolwork that seems to keep growing...
[2] These are intended to be helpful and perhaps slightly humorous suggestions. The Law Weekly realizes that not all of its readers may have access to resources that would enable them to carry out some of these suggestions. We have endeavored to suggest low- and no-cost activities, and we hope no one will feel hurt by our suggestions.
[3] Professor Coughlin, this one is for you.
[4] Pairs well with walks.
[5] I read this in a booklet about studying once. Therefore, it must be true. True story: After writing this footnote, my mom called and asked where that booklet was. ~ s p o o k y ~