Now that many of us have to embrace online classes, it can be difficult to figure out the best way to do so. Unless you signed up for online classes originally, this was never part of your plan, and because of that you may be struggling to stay focused and get things done. Here’s a few ideas to help you succeed:
- Change your scenery. It might be tempting to attend live/recorded lectures and do your homework all in the privacy of your room, but, speaking as someone who has tried that, it will not end well. You will quickly feel stir crazy and uncomfortable, no matter how you arrange your desk or your bed. Instead, switch it up a bit. Listen to lectures in your room and try somewhere else for your homework.
- Start a routine. If your lectures are live at a set time, attend them and then take a break—eat a snack, play a game, talk to a friend, exercise, etc. Once you are ready to get back to work, put all your attention into the task so you can complete it. Make sure to set breaks for yourself because you cannot expect to work nonstop. In these crazy times, rewards are necessary to keep us motivated.
- Dress to impress. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea—I totally understand, pajama days are the best days—but you really can be much more productive when you dress to do so. Even if it’s just sweatpants and a tank top, you will feel better and more accomplished than sitting in the same pair of pajamas for three days in a row.
Whatever you decide to do, go easy on yourself. None of us expected this to happen, so you cannot expect yourself to be an expert right away. There is a learning curve, but with a little perseverance, we can all succeed.