Ten Ways to Ease Yourself Back into Virtual University
We all hoped that this semester would be in-person. However, universities are still operating online for the most part. So here are 10 ways to help you ease back into “Zoom University.”
Keep in touch with your professors and peers
Although you might feel isolated in this online environment, that should not discourage or prevent you from having meaningful interactions with your professors and peers. Attend your professors’ office hours or organize online meetings with them (check if they’re willing to meet in-person as well). Manage your anxiety by talking to your peers: they relate to you, they’re going through the same things, so keep in touch with them.
Create a physical and mental workplace
Before starting with anything, make sure you find a place where you can focus, whether during online lectures or while doing your work. Tidy up your space before starting, it will help you feel like you’re starting fresh. Before starting, make sure you have access to the required books and software. As part of your workplace environment, invest in noise-canceling headphones, it will help you focus and avoid distractions.
Get enough sleep
Spending too much time in front of a screen can come with levels of screen fatigue, especially after a recent break. To ensure your well-being and that your engagement remains consistent throughout the semester, a good night’s sleep is critical. Try to sleep at least 7 hours per day. For better sleep, do not consume caffeine late, try to keep your sleep timings consistent, and create a restful environment by dimming the lights and trying to relax.
Exercise
Exercising does not have to take too much of your time. You can easily fit 10 minutes of exercise into your daily schedule. Take a breather between your online classes, walk, stretch, jump, get your blood flowing. Taking a few minutes to focus on your physical health will definitely improve your mood.
Minimize distractions
You can easily get distracted while you’re listening to lectures at home. So, turn your phone off, close your internet browser tabs, turn off your chat notifications and focus on your instructors.
Hold yourself accountable
It can be a bit difficult to remember what you need to do with all the courses you are taking and the assignments you have. So set goals for yourself at the beginning of the week and keep a planner or a to-do list. This will allow you to feel in control of your day or week.
Participate
Participating in online classes is vital to ensuring you understand class content, and it is a good way to ease yourself into the online environment again. Ask questions, engage, and try to be present while in the class. That way you’ll be more able to register information and it will make the class more enjoyable.
Join a study team
Create a small study group with 2 or 3 friends and meet once a week. You can use this group to discuss the lectures, assignments, or just to unwind, offload stress, and bounce ideas.
Make studying fun
Listen to music while you are studying to increase your energy and mood. If you cannot focus with music on, just reward yourself with a short break of listening after every small task. This will motivate you into finishing your assignments faster.
Finally, go easy on yourself
Do not stress about your productivity levels all the time as we all have our off days. Everyone is going through a similar experience when it comes to online learning. Avoid overthinking and accumulating stress and take it one step at a time.
