Advice for International Students Preparing to Come to SMU

By Melisa Kaya

Some productive ways to spend your time in quarantine!

Keeping busy in hotel quarantine may seem challenging at first, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make your hotel quarantine fun.

So here is a little list that will hopefully bring more joy to your stay.

Read

Can you think of a better time to get lots of reading done than quarantine? What an excellent opportunity to engage in a book, concentrating entirely on the characters and the storyline without distractions. That being said, it doesn’t have to be books and novels that you must read. Perhaps you could spend more time reading about global events and some articles on blogs!

Check out Saint Mary's University's only source for Campus News written by students for students, the SMU Journal.

Listen to More Music or Podcasts

Now you have all the time to listen to anything you want, so why not spend time going through music collections and discover new songs? You can listen to new genres or find a list of the best albums of 2021 and listen to them all. While listening to music is to one's liking, podcasts can also be engaging and good language practice. So if you are like me and you've never listened to a podcast, now's the perfect time to start!

You can subscribe to Husky Talk on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Get Creative

Studies have revealed that colouring a mandala pattern or colouring books can lead to a meditative state that helps reduce anxiety. Colouring and doodling are also great ways to express yourself and an excellent alternative to passing the time in quarantine. You can consider choosing one of the hundreds of many colouring and doodling apps available online.

Write/Journal

Keeping a record of your thoughts, activities, and education is always a great idea. Whether you write in a notebook or an app, journaling can help you process your experience in Canada in a broader context. It can also be a record of what you’ve been up to through your time at Saint Mary's University!

Adjust

Since you are free from regular day-to-day commitments in quarantine, you have more time to cope with your jetlag. The sun helps recalibrate your circadian rhythm, so do not forget to wake up early. Try your best to get loads of morning light, plan your meal times and manage your sleep time to adjust the time zone quickly.

Yoga and Stretching

You can develop some sorts of stiffness and pain from lying and sitting too long in your room. Fortunately, you can do a healthy set of stretching to help relieve and prevent pain while safely isolating. You can also try beginner's yoga as a quick solution.

Exercise

Gyms and exercise studios may be out of your reach; however, there are still plenty of ways to exercise in your room with free YouTube channels and social media live streams. In addition, there are many online resources for workouts that don’t require equipment. A fun exercise is sure to get your heart rate up and make you feel better.

Saint Mary’s University has a variety of programs through the SMUfit YouTube Channel.

Join Student Societies

For many students, societies are an important part of their university experience. Whether you like dancing, gaming, singing, writing, or activism, societies can help you connect your passion and further enhance it. By joining societies, you will also meet people who share a common interest with you, who can become your long-term friends.

Click here to find out more about student societies.

Plan your Visit

Planning where to visit in Halifax after their self-isolation might also be fun to do. Explore info about Halifax! This city is so rich in culture, and has so much to see and do that you’ll never get bored

Connect with Events & Activities

Our New to SMU Welcome Activities & Events are a great opportunity for you to meet other students and learn everything you need to know to be successful. Check out the details here and contact us with any questions at welcome@smu.ca.

Important note

While this page mainly focused on being productive during quarantine, you must put your mental health first. It is okay if you’re not interested in doing some of these things. Do what feels right to you.

Visit The Counselling Centre website if you want to book a counselling session for mental health concerns. Stay up to date by visiting the Student Events page for workshop and event information. Check out the Healthy Minds NS suite of services by visiting https://healthymindsns.ca/

Stay safe, and I hope you found this helpful!

MK

Melisa Kaya is an international student at Saint Mary’s University where she is studying English Literature while also working part-time at the Studio.