It’s a challenge to draw the line between studying/working and home especially when you’ve spent the past five months inside the house. How can you possibly concentrate on learning when your bed is right there and the scenery has never changed? With some schools starting this August, more and more students are settling into remote learning. Here are a few tips on how to survive online classes, to help you transition from lounging around the house for the past summer to becoming a productive student.
Fix your sleep schedule
It turns out downing a hearty breakfast isn’t the key to having a good day (although that could be a factor) — it’s getting enough rest the night before. By now, you might be used to sleeping just before the sun rises but that has to change if you want to have a breezy semester. Can’t discipline yourself? Download sleep trackers, listen to sleep podcasts, set up alarms for sleeping, or even enlist the help of your siblings to confiscate your phone at night.
Create a morning routine
If you’re planning to wake up 15 minutes before your class just because you’re home anyway, go ahead and quash that idea. You’ll only cause yourself to rush through the morning and half-listen to a lecture without being fully awake. Treat online classes as you would a normal class, but substitute your commute time to creating a morning ritual that works for you. This could include preparing your breakfast, tidying up your study space, listening to a motivational podcast, or doing a few stretches. This is the time where you can mentally transition from being a slob at home to being a dignified student.
Let’s get physical..ly ready
Part of that morning routine should be getting yourself ready physically. Don’t skip the morning shower, it will help wake up your still-slumbering senses. Besides, even if your classmates can’t smell you through the camera, it feels good to know you smell good anyway. Prepare your clothes beforehand, dab a little makeup on your face to liven up your features, style your hair, and put on some nice accessories while you’re at it. (Of course, this is only if you want to — really, showering and getting into decent clothes will do.) The important thing is you’re dressed as you would for a class so you can separate studying from being at home.
Create your own work space and stay organized
To study better at home, you have to dedicate a corner of your house where you can work in peace. Your desk should preferably be facing a window or it should be in a room where lots of natural light can get in so you avoid eye strain from staring at a monitor. Make sure your desk is free from clutter and distractions such as that Nintendo Switch or your phone opened to a Netflix episode. If your house isn’t spacious enough for a desk, that’s fine. You can just find your own corner or floor space, or you can even study on your bed. Just make sure everything around you is tidy.
Manage your time by installing apps to help you focus
Scrolling through social media is everyone’s kryptonite. We’ll tell you right now that the world won’t fall apart if you stay away from your phone for more than an hour. Since teachers aren’t physically there to remind you to focus, you’ve got to help yourself. Manage your study time with the help of productivity apps such as Forest, Focus Keeper, Rescue Time, and more.
Make sure you take notes and you review it
Every student would need to exert a bit more effort with online studying. For one, there won’t be time to corner teachers after class to clarify something so you would really need to pay attention during lectures. Review lessons with a classmate or a friend afterward and go through the materials provided by your lecturer. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you should be lax about studying. If there are still parts you can’t understand, make sure to message your professor or teacher about it, they would be delighted to know their students are thoroughly studying.
Invest in helpful items
Since it looks like there is no end in sight for this health crisis yet, it’s better to prepare for studying and working at home in the long run. Laptop risers, ergonomic chairs, portable desks, and other equipment are just some of the few things you can purchase to make your student life easier.
Make sure to take enough breaks
And because these are stressful times, you must remember to not be too hard on yourself. Everyone is transitioning – teachers, students, employees, and even the government – and no one is an expert on remote working or learning yet. Breaktimes are beneficial for your mental health but you should learn to determine when your time off has become procrastination.
Got more tips for online studying?
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