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There comes a time in every college student's career when the mid-semester jitters kick in. Struggling with a lack of focus and drive to accomplish any amount of work being thrown at them. Like anything in life, we require a certain amount of balance to function at our optimal performance. It’s not an “if” rather than a “when” as academic burnout affected 71% of students in 2021. Due to the pandemic, most students were forced to attend classes remotely through online lectures and assignments. Now more than ever, online learning student health matters and must be taken into account as we progress with this new way of being a remote student. 

Staying Focused

It’s no mystery that staring at a screen for hours on end can be less interactive than an in-person lecture. In addition, more likely than not, you will be attending your online classes from the comfort of your own home. This creates familiar distractions in the “classroom” as well as family members that may act as an additional hindrance. To avoid said distractions, give timely and adequate notices to everybody that may be in your house on what your upcoming schedule looks like. This will ensure that you have the necessary quiet and alone time during your classes. When your agenda is getting homework assignments done, try blocking off time for yourself. If you have a journal or planner, this can be a great place to write down your schedule. Set aside chunks of time throughout your day to take a deep dive into your assignments. Divide the time between homework and fun things that you enjoy doing. This helps give yourself the additional drive to push through the work because, at the end of your session, you have something fun that you look forward to doing. Setting yourself up for success during these trying times as a college student can be one of your best uses of effort.

Furthermore, transforming your workplace into a comfortable, stress-free environment can help secure maximum focus on your course load. Comfort is critical when you are a student. Operating in comfy conditions can be very favorable as an online student as they deter any negative notions, therefore enhancing your focus on the tasks at hand. Here are some things to try:

• Light a nice scented candle

• Clean your room/workspace 

• Grab one of your favorite snacks or drinks 

• Put on your most comfortable clothes

Staying Balanced

Focusing all of your time and attention on schoolwork can be a fast track to burnout. Creating a sustainable school/life balance for yourself can make certain that you enjoy your college years to the fullest. After getting into the college of your choice, you will find yourself taking on a handful of classes at the same time. This is seemingly overwhelming when you have multiple due dates stacking on top of each other. Having a plan to stay balanced will help you from going into a spiraling panic. 

For starters, try separating classwork into different days.  If you are taking four classes and all of them have assignments due Friday, tackle one class per day. This will isolate all of your focus on that class for the day, in return, giving you the best results. This way of working helps because you no longer have to worry about cramming four classes worth of work into a single day. You can go into your study session concentrated and balanced because your focus is only on one class at a time. 

Another alternative route you can take is switching up your study location. Getting out of the house and setting up shop at your local coffee shop or library can be the breath of fresh air you need. Bring your headphones so outside noise will not obstruct your focus. This can be a great option for you because you still get that “leaving the house and going to class” feel. It offers you the chance to still get out and enjoy the lifestyle environment while keeping up with your studies. As a bonus, grab yourself a tasty treat or drink when you leave as a reward for all your hard work.

Staying Healthy

Taking care of your health has a never-ending list of benefits. While many feel that diets are the most crucial aspect of your health to monitor, as a young and busy college student, it’s crucial to take care of everything from your eye wellness to your physical fitness. Long nights cramming in the library are almost always inevitable no matter what you're majoring in. Staring at a laptop screen or tablet for extended periods of time hinders your vision as it makes your eyes dry and feel tired. This is due to the decline of your blink rate caused by computer vision syndrome. According to the Vision Impact Institute, 3 out of 4 people wear some type of corrective lenses. If you fall into this category as a college student don't neglect your glasses during peak study sessions. If your prescription is out of date or you don’t own a pair, now might be a great time for an update. You can also order a new pair of eyeglasses online from the comfort of your own home. Wearing your glasses when studying guarantees that your eyes will perform just as well as you do. Your time to study is limited as it is with a busy schedule packed full of assignments. You don’t want your eyes holding you back when it's time to get to work.

Equally important is your physical health. Spending long hours studying means one thing. A lack of physical activity. Adding just 20 minutes of exercise every day you study can add a multiplicity of benefits to your online learning student health. Working out before a study session can improve your concentration levels as exercise causes cell growth from the increased blood flow to your brain. Some other exceptional added health benefits are better memory, improved mood, and energy. As an additional bonus, most gyms offer a student discount if your college doesn’t have a gym you can use.