As you have just experienced firsthand, finding your first co-op job is no walk in the park. Even so, you have managed to secure a co-op job that actually pays (although minimally). Here’s the catch: you’ve got to move away from home and potentially be all alone for four months in a strange place. If the above description is (or will be) the story of your life, then this article is for you.
Cabin fever, as described by Wikipedia, is a “claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, paranoia, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail.” Assuming that only a couple of these symptoms are reasonable (who gets irrationally frustrated by objects?!?), your situation is a prime breeding ground for “cabin fever syndrome.” Being the helpful person that I am, here are a few tips to keep you from experiencing such urges as “going outside even in the rain.”
#1: Find others who have co-op in the same area as you
If you have secured a co-op job at a company, ask whether there are other UW students who have been offered jobs at the company too. If you are working in a remote area with few people around you, having another person from UW can be a great source of comfort when you feel especially lonely without your friends. The added bonus of following this tip is the potential housemate you could get when you get around to looking for housing. Living with someone with whom you have something in common will make your life a whole lot easier and potentially give you a new and lasting friendship. If you are living at home, then don’t hesitate to ask your friends where they are working next term and make plans to meet up every three weeks as this will give you something to look forward to.
#2: Find student housing
If you don’t know anyone at UW who will be working in the vicinity, look for housing that is specifically geared toward students. Living with a student like yourself (compared to an older professional) makes you more likely to get along with them and potentially create new friendships. This definitely beats peeking out of your bedroom every time you want to go to the bathroom in order to avoid awkward encounters with your housemate.
#3: Make an effort to bond with your colleagues at work
During your first week of work, make an effort to introduce yourself to your colleagues and don’t pass up opportunities to bond with your colleagues outside the workplace during “happy hour.” While some people are able to walk up to people without any problems, if you’re more timid (like me), bring in doughnuts or cookies {editor’s note: or a carton of jelly beans on your desk} into the office one day and offer them to your colleagues. This will help you strike up a conversation with your co-workers without having to navigate the always awkward ice-breaking.
#4: Go exploring
For more populous areas, navigate your town or city’s website for ideas on what to do during the weekend. Since this is the time where having no company really impacts your mood, don’t hesitate to go explore the area you live in. For example, go for a bike ride in the park or take a walk downtown (where applicable) for a bit of window-shopping. This is also a great opportunity to try out different food establishments since you have ample time to find the eatery of choice that will serve as your lunch when you’re too lazy to make your own.
#5: Get a gym membership/library card/take a class
Since you have no homework to worry about, you’ll have loads of free time as soon as you leave work; this is, therefore, an excellent opportunity to get yourself in shape, catch up on your reading, and/or take a class. Joining the gym is a great way to perk up your mood as you perfect the 8-pack you’re currently sporting while reading a good book will fill up the seemingly endless amount of time you have. My personal suggestion would be to take a class. It could be anything from painting to aerobics; keeping your mind occupied while interacting with others that share your interests is another great way to make friends. Taking a class that requires couple or group interaction (like salsa dancing) is even better because this will allow you to relate to each other on a more intimate level.
#6: Skype like there’s no tomorrow
If you are essentially living on farmland during your co-op term, your only choice is to keep in touch with people who naturally perk up your mood: your friends. Skyping or calling friends (after adjusting your phone plan for long-distance charges) will give you something to look forward to and will keep you cheerful while you rant about how much your life at co-op sucks.
It should be noted that trying out these tips as soon as possible or as soon as your co-op term starts is key to your success in avoiding cabin-fever. By prolonging the implementation of the tips I’ve just shared, you are less likely to put them into practice later and will undoubtedly adopt the symptoms associated with this condition. Before you know it, you’ll be huddled under your blankets in the middle of a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon, unable to get yourself out of this disheartening state. On a fundamental, all humans are social animals therefore, all of the tips above share a common theme: human interaction. Think of all of these tips as ways of increasing the amount of time you spend outside and around others in social situations; rather than following the tips above as strict rules to follow to avoid cabin fever, think of them as practical ideas that can increase your need for social interaction. In any case, whether you follow these tips or not, keeping yourself busy and outside is key to prevent depression and making the best of your co-op situation.
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