There are a lot of givens during university, including all-night cram sessions, using an essay writing service in a jam, and eating something highly questionable in the wee hours of the morning. These are almost rites of passage for university students.
COVID-19, however, has changed all of that. But this COVID controlled world doesn’t have to completely change college life. There are a few things that university students can do to enjoy their time despite restrictions and quarantines.
- Create a “Quaranteam”
Complete isolation is unrealistic. Even those of us holed up, looking for a fast online essay writing service, need human contact once in a while. Despite the restrictions, people are still going to interact with one another.
By creating a small group of friends who follow the same consistent set of social tolerances and risk exposure, the dangers of exposure can be mitigated. The benefits mean having actual human contact even during times of quarantine.
It is a little extra protocol, but it means staying safe while still being able to hang out with friends during these uncertain times.
- Put a Focus on Routine
Despite all of the changes created by COVID-19, one simple truth remains: students are still trying to get the best grades that they can. Though the circumstances have changed, that goal remains priority for first-years all the way through final year.
By creating a routine, students can recreate the normalcy and structure that existed prior to restrictions and quarantine. That can be something as simple as getting up at the same time or creating specific times for reading and studying.
Whatever helps to regulate the differences should be welcome. Too much time secluded can mean getting away from the important things such as studying or remaining active.
- Don’t Let Relationships Slip
COVID-19 has put a strain on a lot of things, relationships included. Not being able to partake in social gatherings can mean not interacting with someone for longer periods of time than ever before.
Maintaining those relationships doesn’t have to be hard, though. Zoom meetings have made it easier to connect with someone than ever before. Set up virtual study groups. Organize group chat sessions. Whatever it takes to normalize the abnormal, do it.
It may not be the same as getting together for a raging party, but it is human contact all the same. That will help make things feel as normal as they can.
- Pace Yourself
One of the biggest mistakes that university students make is pushing things off to the last minute. We have all seen it before: students have a term paper due, a massive test in the morning, and a bunch of homework that all has to be addressed in the same 12-hour span.
Pace yourself. Give yourself the proper amount of time to handle each of those tasks. It will mitigate the stress involved and will ensure that the work being done is of the quality needed to get the best of grades.
- Down Time Is a Good Thing
Contrary to popular belief, university students do not need to be studying or doing homework at all hours of the day. As a matter of fact, that is the quickest way to burnout and will likely hurt grades and performance more than anything.
Give yourself breaks. Allow for planned down time. It will take some of the stress out of studying and doing homework. It will also help to decompress from even the busiest of schedules. So long as it doesn’t become all downtime, a little time off never hurt anyone.
- Use A Workspace
Find a space in your home that is away from distractions and use that space solely for lessons, studying, and homework. Try not to mix this space with your usual space of leisure. The human mind tends to associate workspaces with the type of activity they are for. If you mix leisure and work together, it can affect each other negatively. Your body might not feel relaxed at your leisure space if you consistently use it for work. Having a dedicated workspace that is distraction free allows you to prevent this and can help you focus on school.
- Create A Schedule And Stick To It
Most students understand that their schoolwork is their full-time job. And full-time work requires an organized schedule. Go through each of your course outlines and create a calendar with all your assignment due dates, exam dates, and other important dates. Then create a plan on how to tackle each exam and assignment. Give yourself plenty of time for breaks but more importantly give yourself a lot of time to complete the work. One of the simplest things a student can do to succeed is to create a schedule for studying and assignments and more importantly, to stick to it.
- Hold Yourself Accountable
Without the physical presence of school, many students will find that their motivations for a successful school term is not the same as before. It can be hard to be motivated to do schoolwork and study in a home environment, yet this is something that students now need to copy with. One advice experts have is to hold yourself accountable for putting in the necessary effort. This means reminding yourself what happens if you don’t do your work, give yourself a penalty for not following a work schedule, and even sell off distractions.