Staying Cool in Online School

In the midst of such a stressful pandemic, doing school online can be tough to endure. At the very least, remote classes are mentally draining. Professors have created more assignments than they probably ever have (seriously, what’s that about?), recreational activities are limited, and most of the time we are stuck inside trying to stay safe from the coronavirus.

If you’re already on the path to losing your mind, trust me, you’re not alone. So, here are some tips to help you not go insane in the brain.

Stay Organized.

The best way to ensure academic success this semester is to keep things in order. Now that everything’s online, we are ten times more likely to get off track and maybe even miss assignments without the typical classroom setting keeping us aligned. 

What’s the best way to stay on track? Invest in an agenda! Agendas can be incredibly helpful in making sure you know what assignments are due and when, and they also are great tools for creating to-do lists each day and night.

If you need something a little more pressing, utilize that handy dandy cellular device you use so often. Set reminders, fill in your calendar, or create new alarms and alerts to make sure you stay updated and on task!

Take Breaks.

Let’s take the time to admit to ourselves that we are not invincible! You do not have to spend hours upon hours working nonstop for school. Our mental and physical health are so significant, and can contribute more to our academic success than incessant working. Looking at a computer screen for hours at a time is enough to tire anyone out.

Taking even a 30 minute break to recharge by napping or engaging in a leisurely activity can be exactly what you need to give your mind a nice time out. You can even take the time to refuel by eating a meal or a light snack to carry you through the day. Whatever you do, make sure you take at least two breaks throughout the day to keep you going.

However, be careful not to drag out your breaks too long, otherwise it can be hard to start working again. Also, taking too frequent breaks – like one every five minutes, for example – isn’t as effective either. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Be reasonable and take the breaks you need, but be careful not to abuse them!

Make Time for YOU.

Yes, remote learning is demanding and takes up a majority of our time. Plus, we can’t forget the typical errands we normally do like cleaning, laundry, food shopping, cooking, etc. Our busy routine can make us feel like mindless robots. Work, eat, sleep, repeat – and some of us do not even fit eating and sleeping into our daily schedules.

The best way to thrive this semester is to make time for you! Treat yourself to a nice meal at dinnertime, buy those shoes you’ve been wanting, binge netflix, be creative, anything! Whatever you do, enjoy it! Create your own fun this year and grow comfortable doing some activities solo. 

Leave an empty slot in your calendar to spend time with yourself. It will be so worth it!

• online learning
• Zoom