Ever since I chose to learn fully remotely from Chicago, I’ve been feeling a substantial amount of overlap between my academic and personal life. They say to try to leave work at the office and reserve your personal space for relaxation and “winding down after a long day”. I’ve found this challenging. If you’re learning remotely or studying online, where Zoom can feel like a 9 to 5, here are some of my personal favorite ways to find balance and mental separation between work life and life life:
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Reserving time for a breath of fresh air They say fresh air clears the mind, and I’ve found Chicago’s winter winds to be especially refreshing (particularly on sunny winter days). Between classes or between working on two different subjects, I try to take walks outside. Being stuck inside (usually in the same room, dorm, or section of the house) all day can quickly begin to feel monotonous–a routine you don’t want to keep up. Physically separating yourself from your work space or giving your mind a “breather” between working on assignments from different subjects will allow you to refocus. Plus, you’ll be exercising as you relax! Don’t forget to bundle up, play some upbeat tunes, and enjoy the scenery!
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Setting aside time for nutrition Food is nourishing for the mind and the body–even when times become busy and you feel overwhelmed with the amount of tasks in your schedule, try to remember to set aside time solely for a snack or a meal. Try to purpose that time to prepare, cook, and enjoy the meal. I love to cook. Giving myself time to search up/attempt new recipes is therapeutic, and it’s one of my favorite ways to make time for myself on the weekends. If you have siblings/suitemates, you can also surprise them with a lovely feast! If you’re not super confident in your cooking skills yet, it may be nice to prepare a picnic for Forest Park!
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Remembering to call your family and friends Wherever you may be studying from, whether you may feel homesick or may be fully accustomed to your environment, I hope you can reserve time to chat with family and friends. Being a first year, many of my friends are studying at their respective universities and it’s a big change to not see them every day like in high school. Still, I try to call, Facetime, or message them weekly. Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen in a while or even a classmate you haven’t heard from in a bit–you may be nervous to, but you’d be surprised at how heartwarming it is to hear from a familiar face.