Let’s be honest, when we heard that university would be online this year, we were all thrilled by the idea of waking up five minutes before a lecture starts and attending it while still in our pyjamas.
The reality of the situation is that a lot of us wake up just in time for our classes and struggle to focus on what we’re being told. It is so easy to find your mind wandering when you aren’t in a physical lecture hall. With this in mind, I have accumulated some tips that I find useful to keep work and leisure separate as well as to help maintain focus on what I am supposed to be doing.
The most important thing to do is to avoid sitting on your bed during a lecture as that is the place where you relax at the end of the day. Try sitting at your kitchen table or on the couch in your living room if you are able to use other rooms in your house. If you happen to find yourself confined to your bedroom, then I would recommend sitting at a desk if you have one – or even sitting on the floor if that will help you to focus more than if you were sitting on your bed.
When keeping work and relaxation separate, another important thing to take into account is what you wear. I am by no means telling you to put on jeans (god forbid) for your lectures. Instead I prefer the idea of being dressed up from the waist up. Wear something comfy on the bottom half of your body along with whatever top you want. The most important rule for this is to not wear pyjama bottoms; wear comfy trousers, leggings or shorts. This way you will actually feel like you are dressed and ready for a productive day rather than a day of relaxation and getting no work done at all.
Overall, the most important thing that we all need to remember is to not be so hard on ourselves. This is a hard time for everyone, and a lot of people’s mental health is at an all time low. Therefore, it is important to remember that we are all in the same boat. If you find yourself struggling to focus and keep up with work, reach out to your lecturers and friends – they will be able to help you get back on track and catch up with everything you are struggling with. This is a new situation for all of us, and I can guarantee that everyone wants you to succeed.
[Carol McCahon – she/her – @carol_gracexx]
[Photo credit: Tatiana Syrikova]
qmunicatemagazine.com 