Having to switch from in-person education to online education back in March was abrupt. It’s now about to be September, and we’re all still learning how to make online education work for our individual needs. Some people definitely adapted to the change better than others, but others, like myself, have continually struggled to keep up with the workload. Luckily, most teachers, employers, and admin have been super understanding about all the new arising issues.
But we want to start off on the right foot this time right? Right. So let’s go over how “to do” online school, how to not feel so overwhelmed, and what to do if you do feel overwhelmed.
The How-To’s of Online School
- Know the expectations. This goes for school and work. Read the syllabus or read all the details of your assignments. Be overly thorough when looking for information. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask right away. Don’t wait till the week it’s due.
- Create an environment that works for you. If you get distracted doing work from bed–don’t. If sitting on the couch and doing your work with the TV on in the background makes your fall asleep–don’t. Find a space that keeps your up, focused, and engaged.
- Stay organized. The most helpful tip I have for this is to have a to-do list or calendar where you can write deadlines for the entire semester. This way you can always look ahead and plan to start work in advance. This way, you (hopefully) won’t feel as overwhelmed. You can buy a physical agenda or use a digital one. There are also great platforms like google calendar or apple calendar that will sync to all of your devices.
- Routine is important. Even though our days have lost a lot of structure, it’s important to have some kind of routine in place. Morning and nighttime routines can be helpful to keep you feeling normal and on track.
- Sleep routines are just as important. You don’t want to fall asleep at 10 one night, 2 AM the next, and nap in between classes. This is a sure way to hold you back when it comes to productivity and the quality of your work.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
First of all, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed becomes a problem when you don’t communicate how it’s affecting you to others. Like I mentioned earlier, everyone has been really understanding and supportive of the situation at hand. So talking about what’s going on is a good place to start.
Talk to your boss or admin first. Most of the time they’re able to work something out with you; whether that be an extension on work, some time off, or more resources in general. Then talk to your friends and family if you feel comfortable. Odds are, your friends and family will have different ideas or approaches and those ideas might actually work for you. It’s worth trying everything till you figure out what works best for you.
If you feel like you need further assistance, mental health resources are blowing up everywhere. Since everything switched to online, I’ve seen new apps, online therapy, and counseling services for a reduced price. There’s really something out there for everybody at this point. But it’s always a good idea to see what your school or employer offers when it comes to mental health resources. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance and to put your mental health first.
We’re all in the same boat here, so as long as we’re there for each other, we’ll all make it through.
Written by GUADS staff member Toni
I just CAN’T today!