I never thought that I’d say this, but I kind of wish that classes were staying online. For most of my university career, I’ve sat behind a computer. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my small taste of what in-person classes were like, but I’ve developed so many habits being online that I don’t really miss being in class. I appreciated being able to interact with my professors face-to-face; but for the most part, I didn’t find the experience that different from what I had experienced during my first year. I understand that some programs are hard to teach online, like nursing and engineering, but as an English and Classical Studies student, most of what I do is read on my own!
I’m not going to lie, part of the reason that I’m worried about going back to in-person classes is because I’m intimidated. I don’t have much experience learning in-person, and there is so much more that I worry about than when everything is online. I worry about what clothes I’m wearing, how my hair and makeup looks, if I’m typing too loudly or too slowly to catch all of the important information, etc. They might seem like silly things to worry about, but sometimes I can’t help it. It’s even harder when you haven’t been able to develop any sort of routine. Considering how worried I am about returning to in-person instruction, I figure that there might be others out there who feel similarly. So, I’ve decided to put together a list of some things that I’m going to try to do to make the transition a little more comfortable.
- Get Things Ready the Night Before
When you have an 8:30am class, the last thing that you want to do is have to scramble to find your textbook or pencil case. You’re sleepy and likely in need of caffeine, so the less that you have to do in the morning, the better. It might seem silly, but even pulling out clothes or knowing what you’re going to wear before you go to sleep is one less thing that you have to worry about when you wake up!
- Don’t Stress About Missing One Class
Missing one class can sometimes feel like it’s the end of the world. It feels overwhelming when you sleep-in or just can’t get out of bed, and suddenly you feel incredibly behind—and then you don’t want to go to any other classes because it seems like too much work to try to catch up! But the truth is, it’s really not a big deal. There are lots of other people in your class that is definitely in a similar situation and will understand where you’re coming from if you ask what you missed or to borrow notes. Reaching out to a classmate, TA, or professor will relieve some of the stress from missing a lecture.
- Write Due Dates Down
It’s so easy to get off-track and miss important assignments when you don’t have things written down. I like to type out all the assignments that I have due throughout the semester, and then print them out so that everything is clear and right in front of me. If I do that, then I’m less likely to forget to hand something in, because the date that it’s due is right in front of me! Also, once I finish it, I get to cross it off my list, which is super satisfying!
- Try to Make Healthy Habits
Throughout the semester, it’s easy to lose track of taking care of your mental and physical health. I know that I often sacrifice my own mental health in order to complete an assignment on time or study for a test or exam. Ultimately, if you aren’t taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing, it will be hard to carry out your tasks effectively. University is important but staying on top of your wellbeing is even more so. Give yourself breaks, take days for yourself, check-in with yourself. Let yourself breathe. University is stressful and overwhelming, especially if you don’t know how to manage those feelings. Put good food into your body, get enough sleep (even if it means having to get 3% deducted off an essay), and hydrate! Practicing good self-care habits will make the transition to in-person less scary.
University can very quickly become overwhelming, and suddenly, the topics that you were studying and used to love don’t have the same appeal anymore. It can feel like you’re going through the motions of learning something, but not actually doing so. I let myself get caught up in trying to make everything perfect, or doing all of my readings, that I fall behind to the point where I don’t do as well as I know I can. I’m really nervous to start in-person classes again, but I’m hoping that if I follow my own advice, it won’t be as bad. I hope that this shortlist can help you start off the second half of the semester in a positive way!