Finding a Healthy Balance While Distance Learning This Fall

Are you taking your schooling online this fall? Maybe it wasn't your decision, but distance learning is a good idea right now, as many traditional institutions remain in limbo with health and safety concerns.

Either way, you need to develop a plan to tackle your responsibilities. Here are nine tips for online learning and creating a manageable lifestyle that still gives you room to breathe.

Keeping On Pace and Organized

Your skin grows clammy and sweaty, your heart pounds and your mind races — did you have an assignment due today? Your first tip for fall’s distance learning is to mastermind an organizational system to keep you on top of your game.

Use a Planner

Did you accidentally miss the memo in your frantic rush to enroll in classes? 2020 offers some of the most adorable planners ever to keep you on point with your studies. Paper models give you ample space to explain your assignments in as much detail as you need. However, you can also find apps that sync between various devices if you prefer the techie route.

Create an Exclusive Learning Space

A dedicated study space switches your mind to a more alert state the moment you enter. If you share a dorm, your study space may consist of your desk — you can use a folding divider for the illusion of separation.

If you are studying from home, see if you can share the office space if you haven’t already claimed it. If not, build a cozy nook in the corner of your bedroom or the living room — as long as it's only for studying, it will work.

Design an Accountability System

Online learning demands that you maintain accountability for posting to discussions, attending live lessons and submitting assignments. Find a study buddy to check in with once a week to discuss your progress and keep each other on track.

Caring for Your Physical Needs

You can’t learn at your peak if you feel under the weather. Here’s how to tend to your physical needs while tackling a demanding study schedule.

Find a Work/Life/School Balance

When you plan your week on Sunday evening, schedule at least 30 minutes for self-care daily. This suggestion doesn’t necessarily mean a massage or a pedi. Taking a bath, practicing yoga or losing yourself in a non-school-related novel all qualify and help you maintain a sense of healthy balance.

Eat Healthy Meals

Get your nutrition game on point by prepping healthy grab-and-go freezer meals on your slow days. That way, you aren’t tempted to hit the drive-thru when life gets hectic. Your body needs vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients like magnesium and omega fatty acids to fuel your neurons.

Prioritize Exercise

It may seem like the last thing you have the energy to do, but working out will boost your pep. You don’t have to schedule 30 uninterrupted minutes. If you find yourself stuck on an essay, take a 10-minute walk around the block.

Taking Care of Your Mind

Your brain takes a beating when you acquire new knowledge. Here are three tips for avoiding burnout while learning online.

Plan Study Breaks

According to experts, you should study for 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. However, if you are more of a sprinter, you might want a 25-minute to 5-minute ratio. The critical factor is to give yourself a break — a 9-hour uninterrupted cramming session won’t help you retain knowledge.

Practice Mindfulness

When life gets hectic, it’s natural to go on autopilot. However, you risk burnout if all you perceive you do is work, study, sleep and repeat. Use mindfulness techniques to get more enjoyment from your downtime — savor that meal. Enjoy the brisk air on your skin when you go for a walk. Sit down once a day to meditate or get in some soothing yoga stretches.

Get Adequate Rest

Sleep fuels creativity and helps you synthesize new ideas, and you can’t perform at your academic best with an exhausted mind. Try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly, depending on your individual needs.

Tips for Online Learning While Creating Life Balance

These tips for distance learning can help you achieve work-life-study balance. Make this fall your best semester yet — even if it's online — by caring for your physical and mental health as well as your studies.