Hey everyone! I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Right now is a difficult time for everyone; things have change so drastically from what it was just 1 month ago. For me personally, all 5 of my classes are online ( how fun).
Just in case you aren’t aware I am currently in my last semester of grad school attaining degrees in school counseling and psychological counseling. I intern at a elementary and middle school as a school counseling intern.
I know that a lot of you all are going through similar changes of classes being online. So, I decided to share some advice and study tips that have been helpful for me. I believe giving tangible advice that you all can use is important. Of course we need motivational talks as well, but we also need to learn how to navigate this strange time!
Please check out the video below if you would prefer to hear me speak instead of reading. I know we all are tired lol If you feel up to it, I would recommend going through the written tips as well because they are pretty detailed.
Also, be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this page for valuable resources on mindfulness, the Pomodoro method, etc. which will all help you in acing you online classes.
1. Set a Routine
The first thing I recommend you do is to set a routine. Be sure to try to wake up at the same time everyday. This will keep your body on a schedule that you are use to.
If you moved from you college campus it may be hard to keep the same routine now that you are near family, but try your best to mimic your regular routine. If this is the case the first step would be to let your body get used to the change and slowly try to work your way back to your typical routine.
You’ll go from this:
To this:
In no time!
I know during this time there is a lot of freedom, and it can be tempting to stay in bed until the late afternoon and then start your online work. But, when you think about it, your whole day is basically gone this way and then you’ll have to do it all again tomorrow. Instead, we should plan our days just as if we were going to leave the house and go to class. This will help us be more productive.
Some activities I recommend to do in the morning:
- Get dressed. Be sure to change out of you pajamas and wear something that you do not associate with sleep. Think about it this way, when you put you workout clothes on, what does your brain think you are getting ready to do?
I’ll give you a second.
Precisely. So when you keep on your pajamas, your brain is thinking that it is time to sleep or relax in bed. However, when you get up and get dressed (could be something causal or business causal, it’s all up to you) your brain is like “I’m ready to work!”
- Eat breakfast. If you are a breakfast person, plan your breakfast the night before so you have something to look forward to in the morning and you can be energized for the day. I have been loving fruit smoothies with sea moss in the mornings. Sometimes I will have some waffles, eggs, or even cereal. Something that is quick to make usually works best for me. Here’s some examples of two quick meals to make. The over night oats can be prepared the night before and you can just grab it from the fridge the next morning and it will be ready to go.
- Put on makeup if you want to. It can be as little or as much as you would like. Do your thing! Being cooped up in the house probably has us all feeling less creative, so you can use this as your time to experiment with new looks! I would love to see the looks you come up with! Be sure to tag me on instagram and I’ll be sure to repost! (@NabilaRaine)
- Have a work space. If you can, NOT your bed please. Your bed should be designated for sleep only. This will help your body and mind associate this idea and give you better nights of sleep and more productive days with your classes.
- Plan out your day so you know what to expect. In the morning before getting started with work, be sure to plan out your day. This can look like creating a to do list with all the things you wish to accomplish during the day. This can also look like scheduling each hour out of the day. (Be sure to schedule your breaks in there too! More on this later.)
This brings us to our next topic of scheduling!
2. SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE!!
I cannot stress this point enough. This is what will ultimately get you through these online classes. It is very important to pace yourself and know when everything is due for each class.
-
Know when everything is due and when classes are synchronous and asynchronous. Some teachers make classes synchronous, which means you will be take class at the same time as everyone in your class and your profession will be teaching a lesson. While, asynchronous is when you can log on at anytime and complete the activities on your own with a certain due date in mind. If you classes are asynchronous, this means that you really have to be on top of your stuff!
- Write class times down in your calendar and in your notes! Refer back to these to be sure you are on track and do not forget any assignments.
- Write down your assignments and their due dates. Split them up into manageable chucks that you can do during your study sessions. Be sure to plan it all out so you are done by the due date.
This is a stressful time for everyone. If you feel like you need more time on an assignment, please advocate for yourself and ask you teachers or professors for more time. They will be more than understanding during this unusual and hard time for everyone. They know that everyone’s home situation is different and should take this into consideration. If they are not being considerate during this time, I recommend going up higher to advocate for yourself (because I know some professors are sometimes unwavering.)
This is how some professors are 😂 Who agrees? lol
3. Study Tips
Try using the Pomodoro method.
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- Study for 25 minutes and then take a 3-5 minute break.
- Your break should not be longer than this time period! The reason is because if you take a 15 minute break you will start to get consumed by what you are doing and forget all about your assignment.
- This brings me to the next point. Do not get on social media, the internet, or do anything that will take too much thinking. You will get distracted and tire yourself out and most likely not go back to finish your assignment.
- Instead, you should take some time to get a snack or a drink, go to the bathroom, do some quick stretches, etc. Do something that is low energy and not taxing on the mind, but still gives you a break.
- Be sure to set a time span of how long you want to study for. For example, I will study for 2 hours and 30 minutes. So I will take four 25 minute “focus sessions” and four 5 minute breaks.
- With time this method can even help improve your attention span and concentration.
- Study for 25 minutes and then take a 3-5 minute break.
Minimize Distractions
- I often get distracted when I am working or studying. Things pop into my mind at the most random times. So, what I have recently began to do is to quickly jot down what I am thinking about. This tells my brain that I will not forget and will get back to it. It has been super helpful in staying on task and getting my work done. I usually just write it in a google doc because I can minimize the tab and get back to work.
4. Practice Mindfulness
Being mindful means to be present and as google puts it mindfulness is: “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”
Mindfulness calms your body down when you feel overwhelmed. My favorite thing to do is the 5,4,3,2,1 senses meditation or the grounding method. This method just helps you become aware of what it happening in your body and consequently quiets your mind because you are focused on naming things you feel, hear, see, smell, and taste. This can be done with your eyes open or closed, this is all up to you.
Mindfulness Apps
- Calm
- Headspace
- OAK
Check those out and see which you like the best. I personally like Headspace and a colleague of mine loves to use OAK. So once again it is all up to you!
Be sure to take time for yourself (schedule it into your day 😉). This can look like watching a bit of Netflix, doing some yoga or exercise, sleeping, reading (all the books we all said we would read but never have the time to lol), and anything else that genuinely makes you happy and feel relaxed.
I will try do a post on some possible self care activities we can be doing during this time. Stay tuned ☀️
Glad you made it to the end my friend! Thank you for taking the time out to read this article and/or watch the video above. You are awesome and will conquer these online classes! Good luck and all the best QUEENS & KINGS!
XOXO – Sali ♡
Resources:
- Columbia Health has lots of great tips available for us. If you are a student you will have access to many resources. If you are not, you will still be able to view articles.
- Click here for the full explanation of the Pomodoro method.
