Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Conn Coll chapter.

For some students at Connecticut College, the majority of their classes are online. And even if you are fortunate to be on-campus and attending mostly in-person classes, you are probably staring at your computer for club meetings and the like for more than you would during a regular semester. So, here’s what you can do to ease the stress and pressure your eyes and (let’s be real) entire body are experiencing while you attend Zoom University.

Use Printed Reading Material When You Can

I will be honest when I say that, at this point in my collegiate career, I have given up on buying books and have sold my eyes to staring at long texts on my laptop screen to save money (and trees). However, with three out of five of my classes online, my eyes are already beginning to strain on week three and I have become even more prone to headaches. I have splurged on printed books for two of my classes. I also try to have printed books on hand to read in my free time (and in between Zoom classes) to give my eyes a rest. Of course, printed books can be more expensive so try to rent or buy used books for readings that are on the longer or denser side and which you will be spending more time discussing in class. – Elizabeth Berry ‘21

Take a Walk

To be honest, this is more of a “do as I say” (or as my parents say) rather than a “do as I do” moment, but moving your body, getting out of your room, and taking active breaks are important. Walk around the arbo or even walk laps around Tempel Green. Or, if you’re really just too lazy, walk to the furthest dining hall from your room to grab a meal — even getting a few extra steps in is better than nothing. – Samantha Barth ‘21

Take Handwritten Notes

This tip is more for paying attention during Zoom classes (which I’ve found are even harder to focus on than in-person classes) rather than reducing Zoom fatigue, but in the age of online everything, taking written notes will be even more important. It’s pretty widely known that handwriting your notes allows you to better understand and remember the lecture material — with my notebook out and a pencil in my hand during online classes, I’m less tempted to open another tab. Plus, when you’re studying from your notes, you won’t be looking at a screen. – Samantha Barth ‘21

Take a Nap

I know that sometimes the idea of taking a nap is overwhelming, like you can’t possibly imagine having enough time to finish everything if you sleep. But the keyword here is nap. Honestly, a short nap can help you be more productive. The trick is to take a quick nap (ok, or you can just lay down with your eyes closed) for 10 to 20 minutes. I find that I am way more exhausted after Zoom classes than the classes in-person. Epecially with our new module system that has a 30-minute break built in, you might want to consider setting an alarm for a little power nap. You can then use your extra break time to get a quick snack and get ready to rejoin class. Just remember to actually set an alarm, so you don’t oversleep. – Elizabeth Vinson ‘21

Try Doing Yoga

So, maybe I impulsively bought a yoga mat right before I went to college and have been looking for ways to use it ever since so it doesn’t feel like a total waste of money, but like Samantha said, being active can really help. So for days when you don’t have time to leave your room or when it’s raining, you can try doing some yoga. The nice thing about yoga is that you can really tailor it to what you like, both in the movements and the timing. Start by finding a short yoga video on YouTube and get a designated “yoga towel” if you don’t want to buy a yoga mat. And bam! Just like that, you’re a yogi-in-training. – Elizabeth Vinson ‘21

Samantha Barth

Conn Coll '21

Samantha is a senior at Connecticut College, double-majoring in Sociology and Economics. She is currently the Beauty Section Editor and a National Writer for Her Campus, having prior been a Beauty Editorial Intern during the summer of 2019. She is also a writer and Co-Campus Correspondent for Her Campus Conn Coll. She is passionate about intersectional feminism, puns, and sitcoms with strong female leads.
Elizabeth Berry

Conn Coll '21

Elizabeth Berry is an English and Italian Studies double major at Connecticut College with a passion for journalism. She enjoys overnight oats, traveling to new cities, and reading the night away.
Elizabeth, originally from just outside of Chicago, is a senior graduating early from Connecticut College where she is majoring in English with Psychology and History minors. She has an insatiable appetite for a compelling story and hopes to use that passion to pursue a career in publishing in a big city. If she’s not reading or writing another essay, she is binge-watching a new TV series, scrolling through Pinterest, baking cookies, or hanging out with family and friends.
Her Campus Conn Coll