Studying from home can be a huge change and comes with many unique challenges that you might not have faced before. It can also have a lot of positives and benefits as well! There are a lot of different ways you can prepare yourself and your environment to make it a positive learning experience.
If you are studying and learning at home, and want some ideas on how to improve your experience, here are just a couple of things to help start you off:
Working Environment
The place in which you work can have a big impact on your learning experience. Everyone’s home and learning environment will be different, so it is important to think carefully about yours and try and make it as helpful to you as possible. If you have a desk or work surface, try and keep it free from clutter and mess, as this can help reduce distractions. Using a lap desk or laptop stand is a good alternative to work on because they can help your posture when you are sitting down at your laptop for long periods of time.
Sitting by a window and getting some fresh air can also improve your online classes, as it can help to prevent the air from becoming stale, refresh you and make your brain feel clearer, as well as aiding in your digestive and immune systems, among many other benefits. Good lighting will also help your eyes, which is especially useful when looking at screens for extended periods of time.
Mentoring and Extra Support
Don’t be afraid to ask for any advice, support, or help you need. It is important to keep both your mind and body healthy at all times, and there is plenty of teen mentoring and mental health coaching available to assist you. Your school or educational institution may also have measures in place to support students in a variety of ways, so make sure you look into this too. Having regular health check-ups can also help to keep your mind and body healthy.
If you need certain devices or accessories to help you complete your studies from home, there are also many initiatives and organizations to assist you, such as helping you access laptops for free or at a discount so that you can complete your online classes.
Breaks
Taking regular breaks is very important when learning in any environment. There are numerous benefits to breaks, such as reducing stress, boosting creativity, and improving brain function. You could watch an episode of your favorite show, do some stretches or take a moment outside in the fresh air. Stretching is a really good idea, as it helps with your posture. This can really suffer when you are sitting down at a desk or screen for long periods of time, leading to pain and discomfort.
Regardless of how much space you have, taking a few minutes to stretch can make you feel a lot better! Whatever you do on your break, make sure you remember to schedule them in when you can. You will thank yourself for it in time to come.
Food
The food that you eat can also play a big part in how well you learn. Certain foods are great for your brain and boost your focus and concentration, which means you can take in more information and enjoy your study. These foods include dark leafy greens such as spinach, almonds, blueberries, fish, eggs, and avocados. It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle at all times, and eating the right foods and exercise can help you to do this.
Drinking plenty of water is also essential for the health of your whole body, so make sure you stay hydrated and keep a bottle of water with you at all times as a reminder.
Organization
One of the biggest challenges of studying at home is staying organized. There are plenty of distractions and temptations, so you will need lots of motivation and self-discipline to make sure you stay on track. Organizing your time and your workspace can assist with this.
When scheduling your week, make sure to factor in breaks and mealtimes, as these are just as important as classes and learning. There are different ways of organizing, such as lists, charts, or whiteboards, so work out how you like to display your schedule and which methods work best for you.
Furthermore, skills such as self-motivation, time management, and creative thinking are soft skills, which are transferrable people skills that help you excel in the workplace. These are very valuable, and employers often look for them on your resume. When learning from home, you can be developing these skills within yourself without even realizing it!
Useful Accessories
There are plenty of useful accessories that can improve your learning experience in a variety of ways. As well as lap desks and laptop stands, ergonomic mouse mats or desk chairs can really improve your comfort levels. Organizational products, including diaries, journals, and other kinds of stationery, can make planning your days more exciting and enjoyable, as well as making a great little treat for yourself. Noise-canceling headphones may help block out noisy neighbors or other family members, reducing distractions and letting your focus on your work and classes.
With so many different products to choose from, it may seem like you need all of them. Think carefully about how you work best and what you already have, and go from there. What are the things that would make learning more efficient, enjoyable, and comfortable for you?
Studying from home is a new challenge for everyone, and different people will approach it in different ways. Always ask for advice, tips, or help from others if you need to. There are also a lot of benefits to learning from home, such as the personal and problem-solving skills you will develop as you encounter new challenges, and there are many ways to make it work for you.
*Photos by Ivan Samkov
