The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced uncertainty into major aspects of national and global society, including for schools. For example, there is uncertainty about how school closures will impact student achievement, as well as how the rapid conversion of teaching to an online platform this academic year will continue to affect achievement. Without data on how the virus impacts student learning, making informed decisions about whether and when to return to in-person instruction remains difficult. Even now, education leaders must grapple with seemingly impossible choices that balance health risks associated with in-person learning against the educational needs of children, which may be better served when kids are in their physical schools.
Staying Motivated and focused on studies is very critical in such times. Some basic strategies that can be used by students to stay focused on their studies are –
1. Waking up early- Our mind is so fresh in the morning, and these days even the weather is great! I can get so much work and studies are done, just by starting early in the morning!! Taking small naps, every 3 hours or so. We are home, and the comfort of our beds and food does make us drowsy. Taking small 15 minute naps helps us function for long hours throughout the day.
2. Set small daily goals- It is important to recognize that these aren’t normal times, and your productivity is likely not at its peak right now. That’s okay. Setting daily goals can help you to make your day as productive as possible, but be realistic with the goals you set. Big goals may seem insurmountable right now; instead, focus on small goals for each day that you can cross off your list. Get through the assigned articles for your upcoming class. Finish the first draft of a paper. Make progress on your data cleaning. Setting smaller goals that can feasibly be tackled in a day can help you stay on track. Try to make a shortlist of manageable tasks to get through every day.
3. Carve out time in your day for work and for relaxation- Scheduling when you will study and when you will relax can help you to manage a healthy work-life balance at home. If you’re most productive in the early hours of the morning, get up early and study during the first half of the day. If you’re someone who works best at night, then spend time relaxing in the morning before jumping into studies later on. The most important thing is that you can dedicate a chunk of your day to studies and then keep your work out of your relaxation time. Plan out a schedule of studies and play, and try to stick to this schedule Monday through Saturday, like a regular week.
4. Exercising- This is perhaps the most underrated activity to build discipline. Exercising not only helps with your concentration but also makes you feel good — and hence allows you to work more efficiently; get more work done than you usually would. For the same reason, you should try to incorporate my day with at least 30–45 minutes of physical exercise to keep me going for the day!
5. Prioritize your mental health- Staying motivated can be near impossible when your mind is filled with anxieties. No work technique is going to keep you motivated when stress is unmanageable, and there is a lot to be stressed about right now. Taking care of yourself can help you to better manage your mental health during this time, so make sure you aren’t letting the basics fall through the cracks. Take time to eat balanced meals, and try not to work through lunch – step away from your laptop and take a lunch break. Don’t stay up until two in the morning. Maintain a normal sleep schedule, and aim to get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Allow yourself time to enjoy TV and social media, but try to reduce how much time you spend listening to pandemic news. Limit yourself to reading pandemic-related news for only a short amount of time in the morning, and then leave it alone. Stay informed from reputable sources, but avoid getting wrapped up in constant news coverage that will only heighten anxiety.
6. Spending enough time with family- It’s important for us to understand, that the pandemic has actually been a blessing in disguise — bringing us closer to our families. A time well spent with our families is enough to boost up our mood by 50%. Well, wouldn’t that help you out with your studies as well? Thus, you should prioritize spending time with your family and try to inculcate the knowledge and values thus received.
We at Delhi Public Elementary School are guiding and motivating students using various strategies in order to keep them in touch with their academics in order to produce the best possible results.
Ansh Tiwari
Nice