Anna Pan 

With everything being online now, it is so easy to lose motivation and fall off track. I’ve found the best method to keep me in a routine is to wake up and sleep at the same time every day. Yes, even on the weekends. I have an alarm set for every day of the week at 8 am and 12 am, which serve as reminders. At first, it will be hard, but after a while, your body adapts, and you will feel tired and naturally awake at those times. It’s honestly been the best thing for my productivity and health! 

Loes Streppel 

Dress for success! At the start of last semester, I often began my school work in the same clothes I’d worn the day before or whatever looked clean on my ‘clothes chair’. I’d keep my video off during zoom classes and felt overall tired of my studies. In an attempt to fight the winter blues, I’d begun experimenting more with makeup and fashion and soon discovered that, by putting effort into my appearance, I put more effort into my school work! Additionally, I was more open to turning my video on during class (because I looked hot), which in turn encouraged me to participate more. Maybe someone in the psychology department can explain that magic. So give it a try! When it comes to staying motivated during online school, it’s amazing how far a fresh outfit or nice hairstyle can go.  

Linda Chen 

Keep a physical agenda. Unlike an online planner or a checklist that you write in your notes app, a physical agenda doesn’t allow me to move tasks around as easily, as I’d have to scratch out and rewrite my tasks. Thus, it makes me more motivated to get things done on the days I’ve set out to do them, avoiding the less than ideal messy looking weekly layout. The physical act of crossing something out as you’ve completed it also makes me feel more accomplished, even if it was only one simple task. As well, as all our classes are online, it’s nice to write by hand for once.  

Jasmine Kara 

After a long day of attending virtual school and work, take some time to decompress. Self-care is a priority of mine, especially during quarantine. Whether it’s painting my nails, putting on a face mask, or taking a deep breath with a yoga session, I’ve been having a little me-time to relieve stress. Sometimes, I’ll go outside for some sunshine, and feed squirrels nuts in the park — I find it’s a great distraction. Another hobby of mine — arts and crafts. I’ve been hand-making cards and it’s been so therapeutic. Another activity I’ve been loving lately is cooking and baking — it’s a great way to connect with the people you’re quarantining with. In these stressful times, it may be hard to cope due to a lack of interaction, but these little distractions can make all the difference. 

Olivia Fraser 

Because my school and personal spaces are the same things now, the routines associated with each bleed into each other. I find it helpful to set specific times for starting and finishing schoolwork. Obviously there are times when this tip can be compromised, such as exam season or essay deadlines, but on a low-stress, average school day, structuring my day allows me to get enough studying done while ensuring the time will come for me to close my laptop for the day, and simply relax. Also, allotting distinct schoolwork times guarantees that I won’t randomly start vacuuming in the midst of writing a paper (as I said, routines start to converge in the same space). Most importantly, take care of yourself! We’re all experiencing similar difficulties with online learning (and obviously the pandemic takes its unique toll on us all), so be gentle with yourself, listen to your body, and reach out for help or support if you’re ever in need.