Thanks to 2020 being the year of complete unconventionalism, students all around the world are learning to adjust to online learning. Personally, because I am taking four college courses completely online, I find it extremely important to factor in some new routines to keep myself sane.
First and foremost, I find it really helpful to take handwritten notes during my online classes. Before the pandemic, I took most of my notes on my laptop during in-person classes. I find that having a pen and paper makes things feel just a tad more normal and tangible.
Between classes, if you can, it’s super important to get up and walk around. Stretch your legs, get your heart pumping, do anything! Even if it’s just walking up and down a flight of stairs, I feel that it gives my brain a nice break and allows me to refocus more easily for the rest of my classes throughout the day.
At least once per day, and again if you can, get outside! The fresh air makes me feel just a bit more connected to the “real world.” Being outside also reminds me that not everything I do has to be through a computer screen!
Before bed, read a book. Maybe it’s a book for class, maybe it’s your favorite thriller novel. If you can, try to stay off your phone. Blue light before bed makes it harder to sleep, and, if you’re on Zoom all day like me, the last thing you need is more screen time. I recently read Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” — you should too!
Finally, try to take your classes in different places. For me, I have been switching from the desk in my bedroom to the kitchen table, just to make things feel fresh and new. Plus, it might be fun for your classmates to see a new background :)!
With all of the changes this year has brought us, it’s really important for us to prioritize our mental health. Taking online classes might make you feel isolated, bored, frustrated, or disconnected. That’s why making little routines for yourself like the ones listed above is essential for giving this situation a glimmer of normalcy.