2020 has been crazy, to say the least. And one aspect which has changed immensely for everyone involved is university. The “uni experience” is not what it used to be and can be very overwhelming for new and returning students. It’s definitely been a shock for me. I never considered myself a “traditional” student. I don’t really enjoy a night out and would much rather stay and have a cosy night with friends - often involving cooking or ordering take-away. However, even these things aren’t possible anymore. Just the simple act of going to class or to the library isn’t as easy anymore.
I am about 5 weeks into my course now so I think that I’ve started to get a hang of online and remote learning. It’s not been easy but I have found that sticking together and helping each other out has been most valuable. If you’ve got any tips of your own, please comment them down below or send them to me on my Instagram! I would love to hear from you. Now, please enjoy my top 10 tips for uni in 2020.
Online classes and seminars
We have all experienced a video call in our life - usually with family or friends, especially if they live further away. 2020 has definitely made video calls the prime method for staying in touch. It wasn’t just used for friends and family anymore but became huge for companies and educational facilities too. If you are currently in college or university, chances are that many, if not all, of your classes and seminars are being held online.
Staring at a screen for an hour or more as well as dealing with technical issues often makes attending online classes exhausting. People forget to mute their microphones, don’t turn on their cameras so you only see a black screen emitting a voice, there might issues logging onto the system, slides don’t load properly or people have a bad connection which makes them break up and impossible to understand. It’s truly a struggle and can get annoying when it happens often.
The best tips I can give you for surviving online classes and seminars is to make sure you have a functioning device which will allow you to turn on your camera and use your mic. Trust me when I say that participating will save your sanity. Every Wednesday morning, I have a Business Law seminar which goes from 12 pm to 1.30 pm and it honestly flies by. Raising your hand (virtually), giving your answer or asking a question - basically, any way you can engage with the class which make it a lot more interesting, worth-while and enriching. It will help make this weird situation feel more like a normal class.
Recorded lectures
In my uni, while we have live seminars, all of your lectures are recorded. This has been the hardest and most time-consuming part for me. Watching slide after slide while your professor explains certain points is hard enough to do in person. Add to that the fact that there are so many distractions around you and that you have the ability to pause them and it creates a much harder task. I have definitely found myself trying to speed through a lecture shortly before a live seminar. It’s not a great feeling.
The key to getting the most out of your recorded lectures is to take notes as you go and schedule in time in your week to sit down and watch them - as if they were timetabled. Creating this routine will definitely make it easier for you to get into “learning mode”. Also, use the fact that you can pause and rewind your lectures. Especially for more complicated and full-on lectures, being able to pause and take notes or rewind the recording to be able to grasp the exact meaning that your professor was trying to bring across is a blessing. I cannot even begin to explain how often I rewind and pause my lectures - specifically Business Law!
Attending uni in person
Some universities might still facilitate face-to-face sessions. These are often limited in time and regulated to adhere to social distancing rules. At my uni, we’ve got a three-hour seminar once a week with a limited number of students allowed in one room at a time. These sessions haven’t been the most useful if I’m being honest. It’s important to remember that schools, colleges and universities and still trying to come to grips with this situation; this means that some things might not be helpful or working properly.
I think it’s important for you to weigh the pros and cons of certain activities. If, for example, you are able to attend these face-to-face classes virtually and you think it would be better for you, then do so. We are all trying to figure out how to create the best conditions for us to work in. And if you are really struggling with something, please contact your university. Someone will help you or at least point you towards someone who can. Remember that we are all human, including professors and university staff. It’s a challenging time for everyone so remember to be kind and patient.
Group work and projects
I have never been a fan of group work at school or university. And I think a lot of people aren’t. Unfortunately, it is an essential part of learning to deal with (difficult) people, deadlines and splitting tasks equally. On top of all the struggles that group work brings, meeting up and having group discussions has become almost impossible. So we rely on software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or any other video call provider. And I can confidently say that this has made me despise group projects even more.
Communicating through screens can be difficult, but if it is used for group discussions, especially when there is an argument or disagreement, can make it a nightmare. To make your group calls more productive, there are a few simple rules that everyone can follow which will have a huge positive impact on the quality of your online discussions:
turn on your cameras so you can see each other
mute your microphone when you aren’t speaking to avoid feedback and background noise interrupting someone who is talking
avoid loud, crowded spaces or at least wear headphones so your group can hear you better without being deafened by the noise around you
Follow these rules anytime you have an online seminar or group call and it will make the whole experience a lot nicer for everyone involved.
Socialising
I think most of us can relate to having less of a social life than before the pandemic. What used to be considered a basic outing, such as going to the cinema, to a restaurant or to someone’s house, has now become illegal. The rules are constantly changing and depend on your location. If you aren’t sure what rules apply for where you are (in the UK), you can click this link. If you live elsewhere in the world, be sure to check your local government websites.
At the beginning of the pandemic, virtual events and gatherings were very popular: how many people do you know that have taken part in at least one Zoom quiz? Now that it has been a few months and certain places have reopened, people aren’t using those tools anymore. With the rising restrictions, however, I think now is the time to have fun with your friends virtually. So cook with your best friend on video call, watch a movie while on the phone together so you can chat about what’s happening or have study sessions together. Just having someone on video call while you both do normal, everyday things can help you feel less lonely.
With all of that being said, it is still important for you to have human interactions with others. Why not go for a walk or to the shop with your friend? If you want to be extra safe, you can wear a mask the whole time. Just remember to not get too close (sadly, this means no hugging). Be creative, be safe and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones.
Resources for assignments
When it comes to preparing assignments for university, you will be asked to do some research and provide academic references. I know a lot of people do this by going to the library and picking out physical books. With restrictions placed on many libraries across the world, you might not be able to access all the books that you need or at least be able to access the library as often as you’d like and need. As if assignments and hand-ins weren’t stressful enough.
Thankfully, most universities have online systems where you can access thousands of e-books and online journals/articles. If you do not know how to access these resources, get in touch with your library staff. They will be best suited to give you a hand. You can also ask your classmates how they have been finding their resources. But remember not the use the exact same sources as your friend or your work might flaf up as being plagiarism.
If you would like more tips on uni assignments, check out my top 10 tips for exams and hand-ins!
Working from home
If you struggle to stay focused and be productive when working from home, please know you are not alone. I have been finding it difficult to find the motivation to sit myself down and get to work - more on that later. The biggest problem for me is being surrounded by endless amounts of distractions. There’s always some housework to be done or a snack to be eaten or an episode to be watched or a game to be played… The list is truly endless.
The first step to being more productive when working from home is getting rid of these distractions. Make a to-do list of what chores need to be done so you don’t think about them while doing your work and make sometime later on to do them. Use an app like Forest which stops you from going on your phone for a set amount of time. Prepare yourself a snack and a cup of tea or coffee before you sit down to work - that way you won’t be getting up every 2 minutes to make yourself a warm beverage.
Also, make sure you have a clear workspace. Mine is half of my dining table which I only use for work. I’ve set it up as my home office and only do work there. I sit on the couch or at another seat to eat and chill. That will help your brain associate work with sitting in that seat. Make sure that place is also clear of distraction and clutter but still has everything you need for your work. You don’t want to be getting up to grab something from the other room every few minutes. For more tips on being productive at home in general, you can read this post.
Managing your time
When you find yourself mostly at home, routines tend to go down the drain and the days blend together. Many of us end up going to bed late and waking up late which can make us think that the whole day is wasted so we might as well be unproductive. At least that’s often my thought process. When you are working or studying from home, it is crucial for you to manage your time well.
Ways you can do this is by creating solid morning and bedtime routines. This will help your body get ready for the day or shut off and relax - which in turn will help you fall asleep. Making up a schedule can also be very helpful as it will help you hold yourself accountable and avoid falling into the “I’ll just do it tomorrow” trap. You can create yourself a work or a study planner, as well as have a weekly plan to help you see what needs to get done when.
A useful way to channel your productivity is by using the Pomodoro technique where you work and focus on a task for 25 minutes (or slightly longer) and then take a short 5-minute break before repeating the process. There are apps to help you with this or you can just use a timer on your phone. I would often write down the times when I would do a task, the time of my break, and so on, for the whole afternoon and set alarm clocks so that I wouldn’t end up taking a long break and being unproductive. It doesn’t have to take that much effort, but this technique will really work wonders. Keep in mind that our minds can only focus for 40-45 minutes at once, so be sure to take plenty of breaks.
(Brain) food and snacks
I don’t need to tell you that feeding your body and drinking loads of water is important. That being said, I don’t think I’m the only one that has used this pandemic as an excuse to eat more unhealthy food or get takeaway more often. You know I’m all about treating yourself and every once in a while having something that isn’t “healthy” (by that, I really mean nutritious). These times have been very stressful for all of us, whether we have felt it or not.
Some people tend to eat more (junk food) when they are stressed - like me - or others shy away from food altogether because the thought of food just makes their stomachs turn. But now, more than ever, it is so important for you to take care of your body. You need to eat nutritious meals, stay hydrated and do some exercise. Although it might seem like you just need comfort food and a day on the couch watching Netflix, your body will thank you so much for taking good care of it. A healthy body equals a healthy mind after all.
Try to work your way up to cooking healthy meals for yourself. Start off with simple recipes requiring few ingredients and as you get more confident, try out more adventurous dishes. Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or taste gross. Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables as they will taste better. Set yourself a goal of drinking an extra glass of water a day until you reach the recommended amount (which is 8 I believe) and don’t drink too many fizzy drinks or cups of coffee. Finally, if you are able to do so without eating the whole pan, you can meal prep in advance to make your life a little easier. You are of course allowed to treat yourself to a pizza or your favourite takeaway, just make sure you’ve got a good balance in your life.
Motivation and mental health
Finally, I have kept the most important matter for last. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s mental health has greatly suffered these past couple of months. I think it’s safe to say that 2020 has been a shit year. This is why it is even more important for you to take care of your mental health. This could honestly be a post of its own and because this is already quite long, I will link different posts of mine which can help you with your mental health in 2020. Please feel free to reach out if you’re struggling and would like to chat. My DMs on Instagram are also open.
I hope that this post has been helpful and if it has, please share it with others who might benefit from it. Please take care of yourself and of each other. We will get through this together. Also, it feels good to be back after not having posted in weeks! I look forward to writing many more posts so thank you for all your support. See you next Sunday.
Yours truly,