#Stayhome: Lana Kobeici

Lana Kobeici, MACES VP Social, talks about an interesting technique to stay focused in our ongoing series of how the MACES community is coping with isolation.

Working and studying remotely can come with its distractions, from email notifications, family commitments, to social media alerts, and of course Netflix; how do you stay focused?

Lana Kobeici: To start my day, I write the three most important things I need to complete. Then, I use the Pomodoro technique: I mute all my notifications, set my timer on for 25 minutes and only focus on that one task. Once the timer is up, I take a quick break by stretching my body.  If you want to know more about this technique, watch this video.

Have you developed any habits that you will continue once life gets back to “normal”?

Lana Kobeici: I stopped looking at my phone first thing in the morning. Spending the first hour or every day without technology gives me the opportunity to set an intention for my day and have more clarity on what I want to accomplish.

Do you have any tips for SCS students on how to stay social while physical distancing?

Lana Kobeici: I like scheduling time with friends or family for a video call. I have been using Zoom, Whatsapp, and Messenger. If you like playing games, I suggest the ‘’Houseparty’’ app, where you can play Pictionary and Heads Up with your friends, through video. I love using it for quick check-ins and to brighten my day!

Demand for Netflix has surged so much in Canada that they have had to downgrade their video quality…what would you recommend your fellow students start streaming? Or a fitness video/channel, book or activity?

Lana Kobeici: I don’t have a Netflix account 🙃 but If I had to choose one show, it would be The Office.

For fitness, I started a 30-day handstand challenge I found on Youtube. If you decide to do it, let us know in the comments! How fun would it be if we had an SCS crew of handstanders at the end of the physical distancing? 😀

For yoga practice: Yoga with Adriene’s Youtube channel is a fantastic resource.

For guided meditations: Insight Timer app. You can choose a guided meditation based on what you want to focus on (anxiety, better sleep, concentration, relaxation) and the length of time you have (if you are just starting out, try a 10 minute meditation and see how relaxed you feel after). Here is a practice I have been doing for the last few weeks, before bed.

If you love learning, I recommend the Blinkist app. It’s a library of non-fiction book summaries, you can listen to (or read) in 15-20 minutes. I like going for walks and listening to one.