The majority of students now have to accept the new reality dictated by the norms and rules of the covid pandemic. It’s not only about the need to wear masks and wash your hands, though. We are talking about social distancing, online learning, and all the differences that a new online format brings into our lives. It’s not that easy to adjust to this new system and routine that we have to live in every day. This article will tell you how you can adjust to online learning and maintain a healthy way of life and thinking.
Why Is It So Hard?
We never expected this pandemic to come and change our lives so drastically. Each one on our planet was somehow influenced by this situation. Some people lost their jobs; others were made to cancel their plans. But when it comes to education, this system was affected just as much as other niches that were never fully prepared for distance functioning. And we never thought that it should be. But now it’s the time when we have to adjust and be flexible while being right in the middle of this change itself.
A lot of students are concerned with the format that they should handle and the quality of education. That’s why it’s not a surprise that the number of people who decided to take a gap year in 2020 is so high compared to previous years. Students want to know that the money that they pay for tuition are not spent in vain.
If you are one of those students who really struggle with your online courses, don’t panic – we are all in the same boat. Some people are adjusting quicker than others, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about this. Lots of assignments, tight deadlines, and lack of social interaction is hard for everyone – you just need to find what works for you and create a routine that will suit you personally.
The main difficulty that you need to overcome is a lack of self-discipline. It’s a problem that students face and many people who now work from their homes, self-employed people, and even your professors. Here are a few things that might help you adjust to the online learning format as soon as possible.
Be Kind to Yourself and Others
Time is mostly the only cure when it comes to changes that you have to adjust to. Once you understand that you don’t need to rush and just focus on what you do, it will be easier for you to get used to the changes. Just take your time and be patient.
While time goes by, be calm and kind. We are talking about being kind not only to yourself (though this is the most important part) but to the people around you too. Your professors or teachers, your mates, friends, family, and peers – they all are having tough times just as you are. So, try to understand this and be patient when someone is not fully aware of the technology that they need to work with or if you need to ask them about something twice.
When talking about kindness to yourself, we mean, first of all, self-care. What you really need this time is a well-organized workspace, enough sleep, and healthy meals. Spend some time on things you love, like your hobbies, evening walks, workouts, and socializing. Modern technology allows us to communicate with people through messages and video calls – this is what makes our social distancing at least somehow manageable. Just imagine being quarantined in the 1950s, for example, with no internet or Netflix! Ouch!
Communicate
As it was said, socializing is a part of self-care when it comes to the environment that we are living in now. Of course, it’s not the same as walking into the class in the morning and have a face to face communication with the rest of your group. But talking online or texting is always an option.
Don’t underestimate the importance of communication with your learning group. They are the people who have the same struggles as you do, and you have a lot to speak about. They can help you with your homework if you ever need it and can make your learning less boring and depressing.
What you also should do is to communicate with your professors or teachers. Don’t be shy to ask questions if you have any and clarify the material that they give you during your classes. You can also suggest your help if you see that your professors struggle with technology and schedule – they will appreciate a lot. We all know that sometimes these small things can really help you when you are facing difficulties with your studies. Remember, building a good relationship with the people around you is always for the best.
Organize
Managing chaos is not the easiest path; we all can agree. But what if everything around you seems to be just off and chaotic? You need to boost your organizational skills!
Start with organizing your workspace
Organizing is not only about the space around you. However, it’s also very important. For example, you need to create a workspace that will suit your lifestyle and your educational needs and keep it clean and ready for a new learning session at any time.
Organize your learning schedule
Planning your day is one of the best things that you can do to improve your productivity. Create a study schedule with all the deadlines and exams dates to track. Plan your week by putting all the classes in your schedules and hours for studying. Don’t forget about short breaks every hour or so and at least 8-hour sleep each day. Such a study schedule will make it easier for you to meet the deadlines and get ready for another test.
Time management is an essential skill that every student should improve throughout their academic career. You will definitely need it when you start working, as well. Planning all the things that you should do and all the tasks that you need to complete will require self-discipline, of course. Start your day by creating a to-do list for the day, starting with the most important and urgent things to do first. Even having lunch with your friends requires time, so be sure to put it into your list and plan your day according to it.
Organize your thoughts
Positive thinking is not a myth, though this term is sometimes speculated. Whenever things occur on our way, stopping us from reaching our goals and messing up our daily routine, we tend to have negative thoughts that make us even more scared and depressed.
We all need a little bit of optimism while living in a world with the current pandemic. Once you learn how to plan your day and manage various tasks (that might seem a huge struggle), you will see that everything becomes less messy. This is the right time to start working on your mood and attitude. Some yoga practices and meditation will help you fight stress and organize your thoughts.
Reframe
You might be surprised, but there are multiple great things that you can find in a situation like the current one. Yes, a pandemic makes you stay home, but finding a positive side to it is the way to adjust to the situation as quickly as possible.
For example, you can find a new hobby that will really make your days brighter and funnier. Or you can start learning something new like painting or dancing right at home via online courses. You should do anything that will help you fight boredom. Read that book that you planned, find new friends in another country, saw a dress like from the Victorian era – there are so many things that you can dedicate your time to with all the help of the Internet and shopping delivery.
Finding something to do instead of pointlessly scrolling through your social media is the way to fight boredom and negative thoughts, especially if you feel like you are wasting your time staying at home. Stop checking the news that makes you feel sad and anxious but try to find that brings you joy instead.
Wrapping Up
We all need to be flexible in order to adjust to the changing world. Even if now it seems like an impossible task – you only need some time and a positive mindset to make the situation change for the best for you.
The current pandemic might be the most valuable lesson for us so far. We can see how many imperfections we need to take care of and how lucky we are that nowadays, there are so many various technologies that make our lives easier. Online classes are hard, but they also let us keep going with self-improvement and learning. Stay positive and focus on your goals – this is the way to make sure you do the best.
Karen Palmer
