The unfortunate news of Winthrop University transitioning to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester has a lot of students panicking about how this will affect classes, especially those of the visual and performing arts, and their grades.
Personally, and I know this is true for many other Winthrop students, there are many negative factors impacting success in these now online courses. For one, my sleep schedule is ruined. With the freedom of being home and not having to be physically present for class during normal class time, I’ve been going to sleep late and waking up even later. There’s also the addition of my work schedule that I didn’t have while I was at Winthrop that interferes with my study time.
Despite the negatives, some students have cracked the code and figured out how to survive and conquer this remote learning situation.
First and foremost, get out of bed. Go to a desk. The kitchen table. The front porch. Anywhere except your bed. Your mind recognizes your bed as a place of comfort and will have much difficulty switching to an active or productive mode. Transition from an environment known for sleep to an environment known for productivity. Don’t forget to make sure the area is as quiet as possible so that you can focus.
Sleep is something many of us have likely been getting a lot of since the beginning of the remote instruction. Though it’s pretty relaxing, many students have chosen to sacrifice their extra nap time to continue their regular Winthrop schedule. They find it helpful to wake up as if they were still going to class and complete their assignments as soon as they receive them. With this tip, alarms are going to be your best friend. Set an alarm to wake up, or if you’re not willing to sacrifice your extra sleep, set alarms for your assignments to make sure you’re staying on task. Keep them throughout the day to remind yourself to stay productive and so you can decrease procrastination.
Don’t forget to use your planner. Though it may be limited due to the stay at home order, all the freedom you have can cause you to completely forget about assignments. Make sure you update your planner with your professors’ revised schedules so that you turn everything in on time. Again, alarms, calendars, or special studying apps are going to be your best friends.
Though it may seem like an unfortunate situation to be away from Winthrop, use this time to best benefit you. During study breaks, get some fresh air, exercise, and/or learn a new skill or hobby. Just don’t forget to get back to work so that you can survive these online classes.
