Q: Ever since the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus began, I’ve been bombarded with a lot of online homework. I’m assigned more work to do at home than I am usually assigned at school. How can I manage to stay on top of all my class assignments and not fall behind?
X replies: All those Google Classroom notifications coming right after the other and the only thing I do when I see them is swipe up on my phone. It’s very overwhelming, I totally get it. We suddenly shifted to Remote Learning when we’re all so used to waking up early in the morning, getting to school, and sitting through our teachers’ PowerPoints. But I figured out some ways on how to reduce the stress of the abundance of virtual work.
- Keep a planner with you. Write out all the homework you have to complete, and their due dates. Keep track of what upcoming tests or quizzes you will have.
- Have alarms set on your phone for your class schedule. This really helped me with attendance. I could be totally immersed in watching music videos on my laptop and then my phone would buzz with “Sign in for AP Calculus.” A true lifesaver.
- Set times for study breaks. You’re going to be in the house for the entirety of the day and you’ll be tempted to just lay in your bed and not do anything for the rest of the day. To not fall behind, devote some time every day (maybe about 30 minutes) to study for your challenging courses. Those AP exams are no joke. I’M SO SERIOUS.
- Email your teachers. Email teachers to notify them if you’re going through a tough time. They’ll periodically be checking their emails. If you have any concerns about the class material, teachers are always just an email away—and you can also ask your friends.
I hope these tips come in handy throughout your lockdown. Stay safe. YOU GOT THIS! 🙂
Q: This lockdown has made me sit in front of my laptop for more than four hours. It hurts my back and especially my eyes. What can I do to ease my back pain and to not stay on my laptop for too long?
Y says: My days consist of me slouching on my bed while my eyes are glued onto my laptop screen watching BTS. Yes, I feel the back pain, but I usually shrug it off until I remember that I’m probably going to have a hunchback by the time I’m in my twenties. The same thing applies for virtual learning. Here are some tips on how to ease your back pain:
- Good posture. Poor posture can make your back pain worse, especially if you sit for long periods. Don’t slump over your keyboard. Sit upright, with your shoulders relaxed and your body supported against the back of your chair.
- Take a break. If you start to feel sore, it’s time to walk around your house and do some warm ups (just like you do in gym class!)
- Ice and heat packs. Regular applications of ice to the painful areas on your back may help reduce pain and inflammation from an injury. Apply a heating pad or warm pack to help relax your muscles and increase blood flowing to the affected area. You also can try warm baths to help with relaxation.
- Take a moment to just close your eyes and rinse your face with water (as simple as it is, it helps A LOT). Staring at a screen can change our bodies and possibly our brains. Excess screen time often leads to blurred vision, eye strain, and long-term vision problems like nearsightedness.
Q: The only things I’ve been doing in my free time is binging Netflix shows and taking long naps. What are some new skills I can acquire during the lockdown?
Z responds: My friend, I know exactly how you feel. I spend countless hours on my laptop watching Korean dramas and crying about how beautiful the acting is. But I realized that I can’t spend the rest of my days like this. I feel at our age, we’re able to accomplish many things, but we choose not to because our laziness overpowers us at times.
Although we are strongly advised to stay home during this unfortunate time, there are still plenty of skills you can obtain that can even potentially help you in the future.
- Learn a new language. Learning a foreign language provides a competitive edge in career choices. It enhances listening and memory skills. You’ll have to work hard and put in dedicated time [on free programs, like Duo Lingo] every day, but you can come out speaking fluently in about half a year.
- Practice how to meditate. If you’re going to be stuck at home, you might as well learn how to meditate. There are plenty of meditation apps out there to help you concentrate on something or nothing, and others that provide great guidance if you’re a beginner.
- Learn how to code. It’s like learning a language, but with more problem solving and logic. It’s a great way to pass the time while picking up a new skill and gaining insight into the processes that are behind pretty much everything in today’s technological world. You might just find a new hobby in developing games and websites.
- Learn how to do CPR and general first aid. Everybody should know CPR. Practicing CPR or First Aid training at home will by no means certify you, but it will definitely prepare you if a crisis moment arises.
- Learn how to draw. Drawing helps you improve your hand-eye coordination. Drawing helps enhance the development of your brain by putting all parts of the brain to work. It is also both fun and relaxing.