Lockdown tips: Astronaut’s advice for keeping students motivated

Record-breaking former astronaut Scott Kelly shares tips for surviving lockdown on social media, and he knows what he is talking about. Kelly spent 12 consecutive months in space.

It was a record-breaking moment in 2016 when Kelly became the first American to spend a year in space while completing an epic 340-day mission on the International Space Station.

While our lockdown is nothing compared to Kelly’s isolation in space, the lessons he learned up there could help ease our own discomfort during these strange times.

Scott Kelly’s lockdown and isolation advice

Perseverance is key

It’s important to remember that perseverance will eventually pay off for both students and parents, and Kelly advises to “find inspiration”. He adds:

“I recognise that it’s not easy – often things that are meaningful are hard and challenging. Find inspiration where you can find it.”

Create long-term goals

Most children are learning remotely and Kelly emphasises that long-term goals and aspirations are now more important than ever. Their routine shouldn’t change. Kelly tells James Rogers:

“I think it’s important to let them know that their education is still important despite everything that is going on out there.”

Kelly also recognises that learning from home comes with a new set of difficulties for parents and students. Thus, focusing on long-term goals would make it easier to weather the storm.

“Distance learning, or homeschooling, it’s good for some kids, but not all,” he says.

Take a deep breath and support each other

Earlier this month, Kelly tweeted that “isolation and uncertainty are stressful”, and added that “we can find refuge in ourselves and each other”. He added:

“Take a break, experience small joys, get fresh air, go easy on those you are isolated with. Go easy on you”.

Also read – Lockdown: Cosmonaut shares five tips on how to survive quarantine

One challenge at a time

Lastly, Kelly advises that we “will overcome today’s challenge and will be better for it tomorrow”, if we remember that “challenges are opportunities to grow”.

You may ask, how can Kelly be certain of this? Well:

“Despite the perils of isolation in space, orbiting the Earth gave me a critical new perspective beyond viewing our planet from afar. Challenges are opportunities to grow.”

Scott Kelly, Former Astronaut.

Kelly is also the author of Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery, a 2017 memoir detailing his life. Both Kelly and his twin brother Mark – naval aviators and test pilots – were selected for NASA Astronaut Group 16.