Or just abstaining from sex with another person at all (because you know, you can do it yourself ). Theresa Tam, Canada’s top doctor, recommended using barriers, like masks, when engaging in sex with people outside your bubble, and trying positions that aren’t face-to-face in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. And while young people turn to various outlets as a means to blow off steam and de-stress, from exercise to bread baking and Netflix marathons, one of their other outlets is no longer really an easy option-or at least as safe an option as it was pre-pandemic: having sex. But school is already stressful enough, and with a global pandemic still ongoing, it’s safe to say that academic stress is amplified this year. If you’re a post-secondary student, you might be trying to have as normal a year as you possibly can, whether you’re living in residence, in an apartment off campus or at home with your parents. But in a school setting, there was always something alluring about a clean slate, new classes and the possibility of meeting new people. It’s cold and dark and, even in the best of times, going out may not be particularly inviting. The sparkle of the December holiday season has faded. January is not a particularly sexy month.
