Five Tips to Effectively Learn From Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we knew it. Everything seems to have come to a halt, including physical classes. In response to the COVID-19, most universities and colleges have closed up and are holding online classes. While this is a great move on the institutions' part, you may be finding it difficult to utilize the resources provided for you fully.
Why? There are so many distractions! How do you ensure that you're able to effectively learn instead of watching TV all day, browsing your social media, or playing with the pet? Here are five effective tips on how you can study at home!
Have a Designated Study Area
The transition from studying in school to learning from home is not an easy one. Find a specific area of the house where you can study with minimal distractions. It could be your bedroom or a specific area of the living area, but whichever place you pick, it should have a clear distinction from an area you would normally use for relaxing. This will prevent you from taking unnecessary breaks or from being distracted.
Your study area should ideally be quiet and have everything you would need for the study session. Make it abundantly clear to your family that you are not to be disturbed during study hours and that distractions should be minimal.
Establish a Routine
You must have a daily routine so that you can be productive. Create a study timetable based on when you are most active (at night, early mornings, during the day). Your routine should not revolve around your study time but should be all rounded. It should contain all activities you would normally do during the day.
For instance, now that you are studying at home, you are expected to do chores. Fit them in your daily schedule. Understandably, it isn't easy to adopt a new routine in a short time. So, the first days will be a bit difficult. However, once you implement the routine for a while, you will find that it becomes easier to have a productive day.
Take Regular Breaks
It is impractical to study from 9 am to 5 pm. You will probably not get much done, and your concentration will wane within the first 3 hours. If you've decided to study for 4 hours per day, schedule them at a time when you are certain that you will be receptive and take regular breaks in between the study time.
Yes, the Coronavirus pandemic probably has you spending all day in the house, but you could still schedule some social time. Thanks to technology, your friends could be thousands of miles away, and you could still video call each other. You should also set aside time when you purely relax.
Get a Good Night's Sleep
Now that you're not on campus and don't have to attend classes or meet up with friends, it's so easy to lose track of time. One minute it's 5 in the evening, and you're just beginning to watch a new series, and the next thing you know, it's already 6 in the morning, and you're done with the show.
Even if you were to sleep for three hours and then wake up at 9 to study, you wouldn't be productive. Get at least 7 hours of sleep and eat healthy foods so that you can wake up refreshed and ready to face the day's activities.
Adopt an Active Learning Approach
Passive reading is rarely effective, especially when it is not accompanied by face to face classes. You have to make your home study experience as real as possible so that you can retain most of what you read. What would you normally do in an actual class? Take notes and ask questions!
Adopt the same approach at home. If you learn something new, take notes. Ask yourself questions before, during, and after your online class and take random tests to see if you actually understood what you read. This will not only keep you focused but also help you comprehend your class notes.
Stay Productive When Studying at Home
The truth is that studying at home during the coronavirus pandemic is not easy. In addition to academic stress, you're also facing COVID-19 related stress. If you're too busy with personal and academic obligations, you can look up "write my essay for me," and you'll find so many professional services offering writing help. Learning from home requires stronger will power, and with the above tips, it will be bearable.
