University life is hard, no matter the circumstance. We’re broke, we’re tired, and now we’re online fatigued. Whether you’re living on campus or you spend hours on the road getting to class, whether you love going to school or absolutely dread it, I see you, I hear you, I get you.
If you’re looking for some tips to succeed as a student during a pandemic – You’re in the right place. Keep reading for advice on surviving university life during a pandemic, whether you are a first-year student or an undergraduate student.
Honestly, the last few years have just been hard. We’ve been living through what feels like a never-ending pandemic. Over here in my corner of the world, we’ve also seen extreme weather that has brought heat waves, massive wildfires, and floods, which have had massive personal and collective implications for our communities.
All this is to say that the weight of the world right now can be downright crippling, making it hard to get through the day’s most basic of tasks. How, then, are students expected to perform at their academic best when some of us are barely hanging in there.
These are the things I try to do (or know I should) as I try to maintain my mental health and well-being during remote learning.
Do your best
You’ve been hearing this since childhood, I know. But seriously, now more than ever – We need to be gentle with ourselves, accepting of what we are currently capable of and forgiving with our mental health and physical wellbeing.
I used to be so proud of the obscene amounts of things I could get done in a day/week/year. I would study, work, volunteer, be active outdoors, and still maintain my hobbies and social life. This year? I’m lucky if I can complete my assignments on time or if I get to the gym more than once every few weeks. And that is okay.
Push yourself when you can, but be understanding when you can’t. Things will get better, but only if we give ourselves the space and time to heal from the hardships we’ve faced.
Value your mental health
Ever heard the saying “you cannot pour from an empty cup”? Well, it’s true.
Mental health is something we should always be mindful of, but this rings especially true for many of us this year. When there’s so much ugly and bad in the world, it can be hard to care for ourselves in the way we deserve.
As much as we want to, we also can’t show up for those in our lives without having first cared for ourselves.
So please, set time each day to do something that brings you joy and reduces anxiety. Go for a walk, read your favorite book, sing at the top of your lungs while dancing in the living room – Whatever your thing is, do it! Nourish your body with the good stuff, too. Fruits, veggies, and yummy meals.
Most importantly, though, know when it is time to ask for help. Your campus will have resources for students – Take a look at your university’s home page or reach out to your student union so they can connect you. If you are in distress, call emergency services.
There are also lots of free or low-cost supports, like those listed on our provincial page here. Reach out to your public health center for support in your area.
Online fatigue is real: Take a break
Seriously, take a break. Even if it’s just between one online class and another. With much of our lives being online now, you’re likely to feel online burnout if you haven’t already.
On that note, be mindful of your social media time. During times of social distancing, I noticed my online time going way up. I also noticed an increase in anxiety and a decline in my mental health.
Even just a 5-minute break can be refreshing. I find that it helps to schedule screen breaks into my day. Physically and mentally separate from the screen for a few minutes – You’ve earned a mini mental reset! You’ll likely be more productive after a break, too.
Make a routine
On the note of scheduling things like screen breaks, I’m going to suggest something wild for a university student: Make a Routine, and stick to it. You don’t have to plan your day out minute by minute (unless you want to!), but having at least a little routine will make it easier to get through the days where you feel completely burnt out.
Here’s how I do this:
- Get up at the same time every day (and get dressed, too!)
- It can be easy to fall into a rut when your commute is as short as the time it takes you to turn your laptop on and nobody will see if you wear your PJ’s all day. Getting dressed and ready for the day is a part of self-care, though, and you owe yourself this now more than ever!
- Schedule your days and highlight your deadlines: Organization is your friend.
- I’m the student who starts assignments a week early, has created deadline/grade trackers, and always asks for professor feedback when it is offered. You don’t have to do all of these things, but find what works and stick with it!
- SLEEP. Sorry to virtually yell. But seriously. Give your body the gift of a good night’s sleep. Your mind and body need it. I wish I could go back and tell my first-year self that 4 hours a night was insufficient. I burned out, hard, and I don’t want that for you. It sucks.
- Again, do something every day that brings you joy. Even if it’s for five minutes between classes – Schedule it if you have to!
Organize
I feel like the main theme of most of this post is staying organized? It just felt weird not giving it space on the page.
But, find what works for you and practice this all year! Get some cute colored pens, a different notebook for each subject, whatever helps you stay organized.
Consistency is key and if you don’t maintain whatever organization you start with, things will feel pretty chaotic by the time exams roll around.
If you’re like me, you’ve also been struggling with the unpredictability of the world lately. I’m a planner, a scheduler, and a classic Type A perfectionist. For me, coping with the ever-changing world around me has meant learning to let go of the things I thought I “needed” to accomplish the last few years and maintaining rigid organization over the rest.
Use (and check) a calendar! I’m guilty of having to write everything down, so I always buy a big agenda at the beginning of the year. Whether using a hard copy or a virtual one, make sure you check your calendar at the start of every day! Professors aren’t going to accept late work because you “didn’t realize something was due this week.”
I could go on and on about organization, but let’s save that for a later post!
Enjoy each moment
Okay, so I can see how this may sound contradictory. I just said that higher education is one of the most trying phases of our adult lives, yet I’m over here also saying to enjoy it. I’m not telling you to take each hurdle with a smile or blissfully ignore life’s stresses.
In fact, feel your emotions, as raw, organic, and messy as they come. Have a hard day and just need to cry it out? Do it! Sometimes you need a good cry, and that is okay. Honoring your feelings is integral to your mental well-being.
What I’m saying is, that university is a tough but rewarding experience. Take advantage of the fun parts, learn and grow from the bad, and jump at all of the opportunities you can. I’ll share some of my all-time favorite moments from my undergrad to show you what I mean. Soon you’ll be entering the workforce – So enjoy student life (and online education) while you can!
Advice from a long-time student (who commuted)
This may not be totally pandemic related, but while I have your attention I may as well share.
Let’s preface this by saying that I have always had a decent commute to campus. For the first few years, it was 30 minutes (depending on traffic), but for the last few it was just over an hour each way. This meant I was fixated on maximizing my time at the university. Here’s how I did:
- Study Abroad
- Just because the borders are closed doesn’t mean you can’t make plans for next year! Go to your study abroad or “Go Global” office, plan a meeting, and see what it’s all about. I went to Mexico for a year of courses and it was incredible. The internship I did while there was life-changing and has inspired my thesis for my master’s, too. If you’re nervous to travel alone, try to convince a friend!
- Attend University Events
- Life should be a balance of work and play. And, no matter what your hobby is, you’ll likely find it on campus! I’ve tried dancing and yoga, joined clubs for my major, and even started a political club. The networking was phenomenal and the experience I got from planning and facilitating the events look great on my resume, too.
- Now, I know many of us work while studying so this is hard. I’ve always worked lots during school – So make sure to schedule events into your day!
- Conferences are also an amazing networking opportunity! Attend these when you can, but don’t give yourself more online fatigue from attending entire weekends of Zoom events.
- Connect With Your Classmates & Professors
- Classmates are the ones who will get you through the rough times. They will (hopefully) send you assignments if you miss a class, be the best coffee/study dates, and if you’re lucky they’ll even proof your work. I also always found reading the work of my peers to be inspiring – the benefits go both ways!
- Professors are so much more than just your teachers. I’ve been fortunate to get to know a few of mine quite well over coffee, and let me tell you – I could listen to their stories for hours. I am where I am today in my academic career because I’ve had some phenomenal teachers along the way, after all! Get to know them when you can, go to office hours, and take advantage of any extra opportunities to chat that they offer. If you’ve got a question about your field, they are the experts!
- Do this extra in your last two years – If you’re applying for a Masters or for scholarships , you will need multiple references.
- Consider Working On Campus
- One of the most productive, enjoyable, and fun years I had was when I worked in a little café on campus. I also held two other part-time jobs off campus for the evening and weekend hours, but the few hours spent making coffee each day made a big difference. Not only was I always caffeinated for class, but my commute was non-existent and I got to meet tons of great people from the school – faculty and students alike.
- Your university will probably have an online job board. Check this often to see what lines up with your interests, skills, and passions! If there’s nothing available on campus, I’d still encourage you to work for the university virtually.
- Find “Your” Study Spot
- I always had two. One on campus and one off. I would spend hours at the café on my way home from work studying and/or writing assignments. Just make sure to be kind to your barista – I made sure they were okay with me being there a long time and always told them that if it got busy and they needed the table, let me know! There’s something from being away from home that boosts my productivity way up, and you may be the same.
- On campus, I would try to find a quiet and cozy corner to hole up and get my work done ( or take naps…).
- BTW: My favorite way to stay on track for these long study sessions is using this Pomodoro Method Timer – It lets me stay focussed and productive for hours!
- If you can’t do this during the pandemic, don’t study in your bed.
- Let your brain associate your bed with sleep, not stress about exams and deadlines and getting assignments done. Work at a designated “study spot” in your home!
I’m going to stop myself here. I could go on for hours giving you all the things I wish I knew in my first year, but after five years of university life, my list would be unreasonably long.
Most importantly: Hang in there, friend! You will get through this weird and uncomfortable phase of student life during a pandemic.
And remember: Every day that you survive online learning you are one step closer to holding your degree!
Thank you for reading. ♡
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