Let’s be honest, this current pandemic has taken a toll on society in various ways. Whether you like it or not, everyone has been impacted. Unfortunately, the majority of people are affected in a negative way. However, what if I tell you there’s a way to make it better? A way to maximize your efforts so you can have that so envied “productive summer”. I’ll share my experiences, and explain things you can do to keep yourself engaged. Oh, and did I mention food!
As soon as my high school decided to go remote, my friends and I all thought everything would go smoothly. Little did we know, we were not prepared whatsoever. Simply just waking up in the morning and submitting work on time was a problem for me. I had no motivation, and with questions continuing to arise, there were no helpful answers. Listed below is what you can do to maximize your learning.
- Time Management
- Motivation Incentives
- Working with people
- Watching “Future” Inspiration Videos
- Getting To Work
1. Time Management
This is the one thing that guarantees our goals to be achieved, but it is the hardest to do.
- Waking Up Early – This might be different for everybody, but I discovered when I wake up at a later time, I’m less likely to even want to get anything done. Waking up earlier gives you a “head-start in the morning” feeling. Along with that bright and early feeling we used to get in school.
- Block Studying With Breaks – Ahh the classic block schedule. Now, some of you might be used to this and hate it. However, I find it works for me. After a great start to your morning, plan how long you want to study or work on a certain task. It should range from about an hour to 2 hours. Depending on the amount of time used to work, take ¼ of that block for a break. For example, with a 90-minute block, you would have a 22.5-minute break. I usually round this up to 25 or 30 minutes. 😌
2. Motivation Incentives
A good old prize always pushes us to do most tasks. However, if your parents are like mine, they believe, your future should be your motivator. Not saying that it’s wrong but sometimes we need more short-term rewards.
On my first SAT Practice Test, I didn’t do so hot (my study schedule lacked major components, and I never was motivated to start). Despite this, little things like baking cakes, cooking food, and buying treats gave me a reason to try and work towards my goal. Even the little things like getting two hours of work done deserved some celebration. For example, after a somewhat productive day, I would de-stress by baking and cooking new things.
Here are some recipe ideas:
If you need some inspiration, here is a link to a slideshow composed of complete and easy recipes that you can make as your motivator. I’ve tried all of them, with delicious and satisfying results! All in moderation though🥰
3. Working with People
A quote from the famous song “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers sings, “Lean on me when you’re not strong, I’ll need a friend, someone, I’ll help you carry on🎶…” Working with others helps to lessen the load a little bit, especially when you have people who are willing to keep you accountable and encourage you to be productive.
4. Watching “Future” Inspiration Videos
For those of you who are future-driven, this could be familiar to you: “If we could unfold the future, our present would be our greatest care”. Simply just watching YouTube and Tik Tok or reading articles could get you motivated to learn during this pandemic. It can give you a sense of hope of how things will hopefully return to. This is the best time to put in the work so that you can reap the benefits in the future. By watching future-oriented videos such as college decisions, dorm tours, grad parties, first job experiences, and the like, you can remind yourself of what you’re striving for. It could even be a way to take a break from your work while still having your eyes on the prize. ❅
5. Getting To Work
This is the most crucial and most rewarding part of learning in a pandemic. After following all these steps above, you can start getting to work and pushing towards what you’re trying to pursue. Get seated in a comfortable area with minimal distractions and all resources needed to succeed nearby. Even if you don’t feel like it, start it at first, and ease into the groove. After 30 solid minutes, give yourself a break and see if you liked it. If not, reflect on what ways you could try again and implement that in the next practice round. If yes, continue and reach for the stars. ✶
You may also like:
- Daniella reflects on her COVID-19 learning journey.
- Caitlin shares tips on how to stay motivated and productive.