After two whole months of summer break spent in lockdown, we are back in online school (again). As the weeks fly by, I have started to notice the tolls of online learning creeping up on me – I began waking up late for classes, skipping breakfast, and sometimes even falling asleep mid-class in an effort to make up for the time spent on homework the night before. This made me think about what actually caused these incidents to occur: my lack of motivation.
After deciding that this was not going to be a sustainable or healthy cycle for me, I started researching ways to improve my online learning experience. I reached out to my trusty friend Google and was bombarded with dozens of pieces of advice, some of which seemed pretty unrealistic. In an effort to sieve through the barrage of information, I made a checklist with over 50 different things to try, and worked through each one of them. It took quite a bit of time (a lot, actually!) for me to debunk each and every piece of advice.
But here I am, three weeks later, giving you five pieces of ultimate advice that I have narrowed down through my research and experimentation. Hear me out…
Ultimate Advice No.1 : Set your alarm (and wake up on time!)
No more waking up 5 minutes before classes start. Instead, I recommend you to wake up at least an hour prior to your first lesson. This ensures that you have adequate time for a shower and to enjoy a healthy breakfast.
Pro tip: do not set your favourite song as your alarm because that will ruin all your enjoyment of it. The more annoying your alarm sounds, the better!
Ultimate Advice No.2 : Get away from your bed
I am definitely guilty of this one… But as I said, get out of bed! Do not have classes tucked under layers of fluffy blankets as you will most likely fall asleep. What you should do is sit at a table where there is enough space for you to work efficiently. Also, consider investing in an ergonomic office chair since they are a lifesaver when it comes to preventing back pain from the hours of online learning.
If you have Zoom seminars from universities or organisations, try your best to watch them during their live broadcast. Not only does this allow you to engage and ask questions, it also takes away the possibility of conveniently forgetting to watch the recording the next day.
Ultimate Advice No.3 : Use a planner / stickies / checklists
This advice helped me so much with staying on top of my various assignments. In fact, creating checklists has become my favourite thing to do as I actually found ticking each assignment off very satisfying. Trust me, seeing a compiled list of completed tasks at the end of a tiring day feels extremely rewarding.
Ultimate Advice No.4 : Stay as active as you can. Go for a walk!
You may be wondering how exercise might be beneficial to a very tired student who is constantly on power-saving mode. Getting exercise actually boosts your energy and is an excellent mood lifter. Even if you only have time for a 15 min walk, physical activity of all forms stimulates brain chemicals that result in you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious. Plus, you can get in really good shape once you decide to start consistently exercising!
Ultimate Advice No.5 : Remember that we are in this together
Lockdown and social distancing can make you feel like you are going insane. However, it is important to remember that this is a collective experience and that it is okay to feel this way. Reach out to your friends and ask them how they are doing. Sharing thoughts, emotions and laughter with friends benefits everyone! In classes, don’t forget to turn on your cameras – your teachers and classmates are probably feeling the same loneliness as you, and this small action can create a sense of togetherness that goes a long way.
We can (and will) get through this together!
— [Writer] Pakwan Nisapakulthorn (Pim) can be reached at [2023pim.n@shrewsbury.in.th]. Follow her on Instagram [@pimpakwan] or Facebook [Pakwan Nisapakulthorn].
