Starting freshman year, I imagined myself sitting in a lecture hall filled with students, frantically writing down notes before the professor changes the PowerPoint slide and making friends with those I was crammed next to. This is my (and every other college student’s) 2020 reality: staring at an inch-by-inch box of my professor sitting in their own home, seeing my classmates as a grid of faces and typing answers to questions in the Zoom chat. I didn’t sign up for this two years ago. Frankly, staring at my laptop, hunched over at my desk makes me exhausted. Now that we’re over halfway through the semester, (thank God) I know a few tips and tricks to stay motivated and awake, even when it’s the absolute last thing I want to do.
- Take (at least) 1 day off
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Completing this virtual semester in my dorm bedroom means my bedroom doubles as a classroom. Each time I even look at my desk, I can think of something else I need to accomplish that day. It’s hard to turn off school-mode when it can all be completed by opening your laptop. That’s why I set aside at least one day per week to not do any school work. I normally pick a weekend day, when I know I want to hangout with my friends instead. But, this day off doesn’t mean you have to do nothing at all. You could simply lay in bed and binge-watch Netflix if that’s what your perfect rest day is. Whatever you do, make sure you’re taking time for yourself. It’s more than okay to take the day off. I feel recharged, de-stressed and ready to accomplish more the day after.
- Mid-day walks
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Daily walks are vital for my mental health. My roommates and I love to explore Schenley or CMU’s beautiful campus in between our classes. It’s great to catch up and have human contact. When I’m feeling anxious, I grab my airpods and call a friend from home or my mom on my walks. It’s nice to hear a familiar voice that has no clue about the stress weighing on my shoulders from the mid-semester slump. Exploring nature between Zoom classes gives me a sense of normalcy in today’s world that is anything but normal.
- Schedule breaks
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Zoom fatigue isn’t just from Zoom classes, but any virtual meeting in general. Sometimes my days are filled with classes, along with meetings upon meetings for clubs. To break the monotony, make sure you have chunks of breaks in your day. I never schedule my classes back to back. My closest classes this year are 25 minutes apart and even that’s too close for me. I need at least an hour to take a breather or do a homework assignment between virtual meetings. Now that we can start scheduling for the spring soon, make sure to have many gaps in your day to give you and your eyes a break.
- Establish a morning routine
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I don’t know what I’d do without my morning routine. I’m someone that thrives off of structure and things I can control. This semester is filled with infinitely many unknowns. But, what we can all control is how we set the tone for our days. I wake up every morning to take time for myself and my health. I wake up before sunrise, workout, make a nutritious breakfast and then get ready for my day. It makes me feel a sense of accomplishment all before 9 a.m. It’s something I can look forward to each day. No, you don’t have to have a crazy early routine to have a good day. But at least wake up at an hour before your first class and take time to do what you enjoy. That can be working out, meditating, journaling, reading – you name it, it’ll set the tone for your entire day, I promise.
- Switch up your environment
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Sitting in the same spot all day, every day is not healthy whatsoever. When you have a study break, take advantage of Pitt’s campus. I find when I change the scenery, I’m much more productive and energized. My personal favorite study spots are Schenley Park, the Pete Lawn or the Quad.
- To-do lists
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You’ve probably heard a million people preaching to make a to-do list each day. Well, here’s the millionth-and-one person: make a to-do list! It’ll keep you on track and attentive even when it feels as though it could be never ending. My hack is never making my to-do lists more than 5 tasks long. That allows me enough time so I can exert more effort on each task, but not burn myself out by the end of the day. Once I accomplish everything, I don’t tack on anything else after. Once I’m done for the day, I am done.
- Don’t multitask
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This is definitely easier said than done. We’re all guilty of online shopping, talking to your roommate or scrolling on social media during class. The professor isn’t physically in front of me, so they can’t yell at me for it, right? That’s right, but not morally right. Classes and assignments will come much easier to you if you devote your full attention to the lecture while the professor is teaching. Yes, you can watch the lecture over again after, but you and I both know that you’re not going to. Trust me, you are going to have an easier time getting the grade you want if you actually pay attention in class. Plus, you’re only going to make yourself more fatigued by constantly re-teaching yourself the material you missed while shopping a sale.
- Set a bedtime – for you & your screens
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You can probably tell from reading up until this point, I’m a regimented person. But it’s made me not over-fatigued in Zoom University. I try to fall asleep before a certain time (I won’t admit what time it is because my grandma status will be confirmed). Anyway, try to make a goal bedtime for yourself to get a full night of sleep each weekday. About a half an hour before your goal bedtime, put your screens away. The bluelight will only keep you awake. Read a book or journal before bed. Watch yourself get the best nights of sleep you’ve ever had. Your eyes are exhausted from staring at screens all day, so they’ll be thanking you when you follow this tip.
- Eat regular meals
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Just because you’re learning virtually doesn’t mean you can’t have a schedule as you would in-person. Set aside time to eat breakfast before you start your classes for the day. This will help you feel more alert and energized. As your mid-day slump hits, take a lunch break. This break has to be for you to eat and that’s it. Don’t do schoolwork or scroll through your phone during your lunch break. Give your mind time to reset. I love to take a leisurely lunch break by grabbing food with a friend and taking the time to spend time with them in the middle of the day. Also, study snacks are my best friend. I love to fuel my brain with fruits or vegetables to munch on to break the monotony.
- Be kind to yourself
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The last and most important tip: stop being so hard on yourself. Personally, I need to hear this one the most. No one has this whole Zoom learning environment figured out. It’s draining and discouraging. It’s difficult for even the most motivated people to get out of bed in the morning just to stare at faces on their laptop from 9-5. Give yourself time to de-stress without feeling lazy. I desperately want to be in a crammed classroom again and feel the exhilarating rush of challenging classes. But that’s not reality. It’s okay to be fatigued. It’s a waste of energy to beat yourself up over a bad grade or an unproductive day. At the end of the day, you only have yourself. Be your own cheerleader. We can all survive this virtual semester if we carve out times to take care of ourselves. Now, go kill the rest of this semester and be proud for what you’ve accomplished during these uncertain times.