This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Jefferson chapter.
Zoom classes. We all have them at this point. Some of us, like myself, absolutely love them. On the other hand, some of us find them dreadful and the end of our very existence. I’m here to examine the good, the bad, and the ugly of these classes.
Good
- Test Anxiety
I’ve had terrible test anxiety in the past. But now, I’ve found ways to tackle it.
- SLEEP First, I make sure I have an adequate sleep the night before. However, I know many students who take a quick power nap (ranging from 25 minutes to 4 hours) to ensure their alert during the test.
- ORGANIZATION I set up my desk and study area so it’s clean and there are no distractions. I lock my door and sign on it so my family members know that I am taking a test. If there are materials that I am allowed to have on the test, think periodic tables, calculators, formula sheets, notes, then I place them on the wall or around me in a way that they are most accessible.
- SENSES If I’m super anxious, I fill up one cup with cold water to keep me alert, one with warm to calm me down. I sometimes smell orange peels, light a candle, or turn on some essential oils. Although I stay away from playing music during tests, I’ve found that white noise can be helpful, especially if your family or roommates are incredibly loud. I would also suggest a snack or gum if it’s a test longer than an hour. This would keep you energized for the remaining duration of the test. I also wear clothing appropriate to my room temperature; sometimes, I even have a blanket around me since it gives a sense of comfort.
- MINDSET Similarly, there’s no longer overthinking as a result of observing your classmates around you. For example, pressure, “Oh this person finished the test in 15 minutes, is it that easy? Am I dumb? I should hurry up. oh no, I’m the last person here.” Moreover, I allow myself time to listen to motivating music, talk to people who calm me down, power poses, or journal my anxieties. By having the time and space to do so, I can further calm down my anxiety.
- Public Speaking Anxiety
- I’ve found that talking in the class discussion has become much more manageable for me in Zoom settings, here’s why:
- No one really knows you, so it doesn’t matter what they think of you.
- You can plan out what you are going to say if you’re super nervous.
- It’s okay to make mistakes because this is a platform we are all equally unfamiliar and uncomfortable with.
3. Saving Time
- No long commutes to campus, walking to classes, waiting for things. You just log into class exactly when it starts!
- No need to get dressed up; just pop on that trusty zoom filter and your favorite hoody, and you’re all set.
Bad
- It’s difficult to build up enough motivation when you’re at home. Especially if you live alone or in an environment where it’s hard to focus. It takes a lot of discipline to get out of your pajamas and create a routine. Moreover, some of us can find it challenging to balance work, study, and personal lives when you are kind of isolated in managing it right now. If you feel this way make sure to reach out to your advisors, counselors, or therapists on or off campus so they can help you to manage this journey.
- It is easy to get distracted while doing your homework and attending class. Something you guys can try are:
- Place your phone in a different room
- Set aside specific study times with allotted breaks throughout the day
- Write down a to-do list the night before.
- We have taken on multitasking on be it with cooking, taking care of family members, Tiktok, Netflix, games, and Youtube. As someone who is constantly multitasking, I encourage it as long as it does not detract from the quality of your work. If you’re doing a coloring assignment for class, feel free to listen to a podcast but if you’re solving thermochemistry equations it’s best to eliminate multitasking and focus solely on the task at hand so you can be more efficient.
- Not having access to a quiet space to study and attend class. Although the solution to this issue varies for everyone, something I would recommend is listening to white noise so you can tune out any loud noises and focus.
Ugly
- Not paying attention in class
- Not doing your work
- Lack of motivation since you longer have active pressure by peers and professors
- Having to sit in front of a screen all day which strains your eyes and posture
All of these problems have afflicted all of us at least once, I would recommend looking at the good and bad sections and taking the advice written there or creating solutions that work for you. Just remember that this lifestyle is not permanent and one day we will stand closer than six feet to each other.