Tips for Online Studying

Tips for Online Studying

In just a few short months, the COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the way we work, live, play, and…study! With everyone’s plans getting rehashed and classes moving online, it’s highly crucial to consider how you will transition into this new and non-traditional academic experience.

Don’t panic! We’re here to help. Here are some tips that can help you succeed this year:

1. Maintain a schedule. Many online courses differ from in-person lectures in that they are self-paced. It can be difficult to keep up when you’re on your own. There’s no need to worry! Whenever you begin a new online course, try to look over the full list of topics first, and pace yourself accordingly—not too sluggish, but not too frantic either! What I like to do at the beginning of each new chapter is to “divide and conquer”: essentially cutting up the material into manageable “bite-sized chunks” for each day of the week. Also, making an agenda or using a calendar will ease a lot of stress when it comes to developing and sticking to a routine.

2. Stay engaged. Let’s be honest: online learning is just not the same. One of the inevitable trade-offs of distance education is that you’re missing the multi-dimensional experience that comes with face-to-face learning. It’s hard to replicate question-and-answer sessions, class demonstrations, and in-person participation activities when everyone’s behind a screen! That’s why it’s extra crucial to stay as engaged as possible. Discussion forums, practice activities, animated videos, emailing profs, collaborative study groups…try to do whatever it takes to make up for the rich stimulation of live, in-person engagement.

3. Find a good space. Home can be an incredibly cozy place. But let’s face it, home can also be an incredibly distracting place, since most of us live with roommates or family members. Having a dedicated, well-organized workspace is absolutely essential. An office, a bedroom, or a nook in the basement…these spaces tend to be far quieter than, say, living rooms or kitchens. Also, take the time to clear away anything you don’t immediately need. A clean desk is far more effective at encouraging focused learning than a cluttered desk. And watch out for distractions. Notifications, messages, missed calls…these pesky little “phone triggers” can wait.

4. Stay healthy! You’ll be spending a lot less time walking and a lot more time spent sitting in front of a laptop. Never, ever overlook the importance of self-care. Start by maintaining a good diet. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, limit your sugar, sodium, and fat intake, and watch out for those carbs! Stay well hydrated. And keep up the physical activity. Since COVID-19 means that many gym and fitness facilities won’t be operating, use this opportunity to go “old-school”. Biking and jogging are excellent places to start, as long as you keep physical distancing in mind!

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are many ways you can add colour to your life. Make room for friends and family. Reconnect with your hobbies whenever there’s time. Do something different each day. These past few months have taken a huge toll on us, both as a society and as individuals. I want to reassure everybody that we’re all in this together, that we’ll get through this crisis in time, and that each and every one of us is here to help!