Many scientists worldwide were about to start their postdoctoral research/studies when the quarantine started in most countries. Many/most of them are not allowed to enter their labs, offices, or even go to the field. Within this context, working in complete confinement, away from home, can be physically and psychologically challenging, plus the fact that trying to change their planned objectives may not be easy.
Do you have any advice to share with them and make their lives and careers better, considering this social context?
These are challenging and difficult times for everyone.
My advice is that we try to discipline ourselves. Trying to have a daily routine. Work on old papers we have in the pipeline for years. Work on a grant proposal and to improve it. I am promoting Virtual lab Meetings every week using ZOOM or Skype.
and a lot of Netflix!
abrazo
João
I agree - work is still possible in many areas/domains. It is about routine, pragmatics, and utilizing available resources. Keep going and innovate.
From a psychosocial perspective, I suggest the following measures during quarantine outside your country:
1. Strengthen ties: That they stay in communication with their loved ones in their countries of origin.
2. Connect with the local environment: That they establish some local communication and exchange network.
3. Choose a healthy communication style: That these communications are more related to obtaining and giving social support, than to the situation of COVID19, without leaving them without information. But they must carefully select the sources of information and take only the necessary information. An excess of information can lead the psyche to much fatigue and confusion.
4. Relax and generate emotional self-control: Take 10 deep breaths three times a day and engage in creative activities: painting, coloring, composing, writing. In other words, turning helplessness, fear and the feeling of paralysis into creative drive.
5. Emphasize strengths: That they explore and be aware of their internal strengths and abilities they already have and those that may be created during this time (new and possible practices). This is the time to use them, most of all to keep calm and not be overwhelmed by anxiety, anguish, helplessness, fear and / or immobility.
6. Recognize their feelings: That they recognize their feelings about the quarantine or restriction that has affected them, as an exercise of validation of their affections and share it with someone significant to them and is willing to listen. They can also write to them.
7. Exercise: That they do physical exercise and sing, it does not matter if the space they are in is small. Dancing is also recommended; this will balance them integrally.
8. Keep a routine: Without denying that this is an exceptional situation, do everything possible to keep a routine: time to get up, take meals, do your research tasks, recreational activities and to do physical exercise.
9. Balance your meals: Eat less carbohydrates and meats. Eating as much vegetables, seeds and fruits as they can will give them more energy and a better mood.
10. Spiritual practice: Have a constant spiritual practice (not necessarily religious) according to each person’s beliefs, that gives them the possibility of creating awareness and a state of interconnectedness.
11. Specific information: That they be clear about the new process of their research and the exceptional situations they will need to adapt.
12. Manage what can be managed today: That they complete any transactions or procedures they can today, from where they are, and do not procrastinate, knowing that some other things cannot be managed at this time.
Just to add that you could work on a review on the issue, and as previously indicated try to use a routine, establish objectives (2-4 papers for day).
And just remember that 20 years ago just to get a paper could take you some weeks, today in an hour you could get scientific literature for your work to read in 10 years¡
PhD students, especially those without children -and I would say many young researchers- may feel oppressed by the idea that "since we are in quarantine we must be producing more papers, grant proposals, and articles in general, than ever before." This is not particularly true, and I would recommend any PhD student not to get worried about that. We all have safety issues, family issues, and psychological issues to deal with during the quarantine. In addition to that, we all have lost direct/fluent access to students/advisors, labs, aquaria, herbaria, field, etc. I would say that very few to none people are able to deal with those issues combined by overproducing articles. If you can do that ... go for it. Most of us can´t, and it's OK.
Try to keep focused, for instance, on 1) your thesis (review its structure, internal coherence, central questions, methods, explore and analyze existent results, update your reading) 2) do not lose contact with your advisor/s (in which case you should look for immediate assistance at the University), 3) explore the existence of new home-friendly topics you may add to your thesis/research project. 4) make a day-to-day schedule to work on your project and stick to it.
I just came across this tweet and wanted to share it here:
https://twitter.com/SamCPatrick/status/1252158859764027393?s=20
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