I know there are probably a million posts out there already on how to survive online school because miss rona just won’t quit, but I always found those lists to be quite sparse and repetitive after a while. So here I am, with a whole new list of tips & tricks to help y’all out after not doing so hot last quarter but still scraping by.
I think one of the most important aspects to succeeding in online school/coursework is to have the correct study space/setup. Obviously, this is a very personal experience for everyone, but I’ve listed a couple of general tips that y’all can use and refine to suit your own tastes/aesthetics. Here they are:
1. TROUBLESHOOT TECH
This is one of the more important points, since school is online, making sure all your technology is up and running is paramount.
Most courses release syllabi before the course starts, read this THOROUGHLY and take note of any technical specifications they may have (e.x. requiring webcams, certain browser extensions, software, etc.)
Troubleshoot any wifi/bandwidth issues (ESPECIALLY if your professor requires you to have your camera on during class, that’ll eat up your internet speed)
Check your internet speed if you anticipate any issues will arise – just Google “Internet Speed Test”
Low-cost internet for students:
Guide to Internet Service During Covid-19
XFINITY Student Deals
Comcast Internet Essentials
2. CURATE YOUR STUDY SPACE
Find someplace quiet to study
If you’re someone who needs music to focus this is your time to SHINE – make any playlists, etc. in advance so you don’t waste 90% of your time trying to decide what song to play next
Again, read the syllabi so you know what you should have in terms of course materials (txtbooks, etc.) beforehand
3. CREATE A SCHEDULE, BUT REMAIN FLEXIBLE
Now is a good time to focus on developing your time-management skills- start by creating a schedule and trying to stick to it. Try out whatever planning/time-management apps you’d like to your hearts content, and be sure to set time aside for self-care (this is an overused term, but I mean it, digital fatigue is real)
Planning/time management tools:
Toggl - time management app
Pomodoro Timer - stay focused on 25 min. cycles
Forest, Stay Focused - app that forces you to stop checking your phone
Bullet Journals - planning tool
Planners - planning tool
Asana - project management software
Etc.
4. KEEP YOUR COMFORT IN MIND
My classes are usually 3-4 hours long per day, with 2-3 hours of homework and staring at my screen/lecture recordings/online textbook on top of that. Meaning, I sit in the same spot for hours on end, in the same position. It’s super uncomfortable after a while, gets monotonous, and also makes me want to procrastinate because of the amount of discomfort I now associate w/studying.
Here’s a list of tools/products that I’ve invested in this past quarter to make my workspace much more comfortable, inviting, and productive to both my mental and physical health.
Blue light blocking glasses - to reduce eyestrain while using devices
Adjustable bamboo book/laptop stand - (pictured below!) helps with neck/back posture, so you aren’t looking down at your screen and straining your neck all of the time
Tools/products (cont.):
Universal stylus - I have a touchscreen laptop so I sometimes use this to annotate pdfs/draw in OneNote to show my work during university office hours
Soy candle - Life is stressful, having a candle makes me feel better for some reason
Gratitude journal - It’s easy to feel helpless when you’re stuck inside, watching the world go through riots, protests, violence, all while facing a pandemic
That’s all I have for now! I hope everyone reading this has a good day, and take it easy!!
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