5 Tips for a Successful Online Semester

Now that high schools are starting classes again and with colleges in close pursuit to begin their semester, the questions and challenges surrounding the implementation of a socially distanced education will fizzle and come to head. With online classes and more quarantining appearing to be the norm for the upcoming semester, I have compiled a list of tips to keep in mind while trying to navigate a healthy and successful in unfamiliar circumstances and an isolated environment.

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Create a Schedule that Works for You

With many students facing the reality of a mostly online class schedule for the semester, the importance of establishing a routine seems like a slippery slope that could be easily disrupted, as we navigate through an uncertain and polarizing line between freedom and isolation. With your commutes to classes and time spent on campus effectively being erased from your daily schedule, it is vital to use your extra time effectively to get your work done, while not allowing the distractions or monotony of your home to slow down your productivity. Creating a schedule that evenly distributes your time spent in classes, doing homework, and studying should be spread out as much as possible and put in between events or tasks that allow a total diversion of focus away from the work you have to do relating to classes. Whether it is leisure, entertainment, sustenance, or chores, taking the time to plan your day, your week, or even your month out beforehand can do wonders in getting over bad habits like sleeping in and staying productive and feeling good throughout the day.

Build a Quiet and Organized Work Space

Even if you are not spending your entire day at home taking online classes, having a nice comfortable and quiet work space can be a great tool for getting your work done efficiently and staying organized. Keeping all your materials for your classes in one location makes finding anything breezy and much more accessible, while having a nice hard surface away from others allows a total absolution from distraction and a meteoric boost in concentration. Having every tool you could possibly need to take notes or succeed in class will be an arms reach away, and having a space separate from where you live (even if that means moving from your bed to a desk) places distinct boundaries between your environments of labor and relaxation. Essentially, your work space will have to serve as your classroom for the semester, so design it to your liking and comfort.

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Study in the Park

Studying at your local library or coffee shop may not be the safest option for the semester, if those locations are even open near you at this point in time. But that does not mean that there are not other safe locations nearby, like a local park that you can visit and study at with the weather and your own comfort permitting. Depending on the time of the day and the location, staying isolated and socially distant should not be too much of a challenge, with park benches and tables under shade offering premium protection and solace within the elements. It is important to keep in mind that you will need to prepare all of your study materials to bring offline unless you are able to find a park with wifi, perhaps even on campus if it is safe, or if you can’t bring your own. Giving yourself breaks in between study sessions to walk around and take in the nature can also be a rewarding experience, as you take a step back from your work and let your mind escape the heavy pressures of cramming and learning large loads of information. Revisiting the materials after a walk can give you a fresh perspective and may also allow you to gauge what information is sticking with you, and which topics may need more attention in your studies for the semester.

Cook Your Own Meals

Eating healthily and enough is already a common problem for many college students, and with many living off campus and without meal plans for the first time ever this semester, it is vital for them to adapt to responsible schedule of cooking your own meals. Not only beneficial to your bank account by saving money on not eating out, cooking serves as a nice leisure activity with a delicious reward to taste and enjoy at the end. The internet has an endless archive of cooking tutorials with detailed instructions, so the options are endless and can cater to any craving or specification that you might be looking for or need. Starting your morning off right with a nice and hearty breakfast can make major changes to the vitality you experience throughout the day, and eating a nice crisp dinner before 8 pm, allows the stomach to digest the meal at a regular and healthy pace.

Socially Distant Virtual Game Night

You may have a roommate or even be living with your family, but with classes beginning again and the spirit of the social being removed from the university setting, it can be easy to get down in regards to the grim outlook of circumstances that seem to pale in comparison to just a short year before now when the Fall 2019 semester was starting and social distancing was something that no one was worried about. While you will still be able to log onto zoom an be able and to see some friends or familiar faces in your online classes, many of the social circumstances of a typical in person education are being lost, and opportunities to communicate pre- and post class are much more stringent and impersonal because of the required online format. You can’t go out and get coffee after class anymore, you can’t plan to go out on Friday nights anymore, even studying together seems like an unnecessary risk, and all of them spell trouble for having an enjoyable and socially satisfying semester. While an online or virtual hangout setting may not seem like the most ideal alternative to replace these situations, they can serve as a nice medium to check in with a varying sized group of people and have a little fun together. Virtual escape rooms, Truth or Dare, or even Charades, are all fun things to do together as a group to aid in the desire for some social interactions.

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No matter what your semester or circumstances look like or appear to be, it’s important not to get bogged down by elements that are out of your control and that encourage a breakdown of your already established schedule and routine. Ultimately, consistency is the key to a sustained level of success in an online and socially distanced semester, keeping in mind what work habits, tools, and strategies you need to be the most successful and confident student. No matter what, there are always people and resources out there to assist in whatever challenges you might be facing, and there is never any shame in reaching out for help in any sort of capacity.