With the shift to online classes this year, a lot of us may feel like our daily routines have been completely rearranged. Spending all day at home may have left your day quite unstructured.
Here are 5 tips for keeping productive and low-stress!
1. Calendars and Lists
Using a calendar is super helpful to be able to see a big-picture look forward for the next few weeks. You can use it to keep track of due dates, quizzes, exams, meetings, interviews, etc., so you won’t miss important events.
Visually being able to see how much time you have before a deadline can also help keep you on track, and it can help you avoid last-minute cramming.
Each task in your calendar can then be broken down into smaller more doable action items, so you don’t get overwhelmed. Before bed, making a list about what you need to get done tomorrow can give you a sense of purpose, as well as satisfaction when you cross off items as you complete them!
2. Block off time for fun
With all of your time spent teaching yourself course material and reviewing notes over and over again, it’s easy to feel like you’ve never done enough studying to take a break. Try blocking off times specifically to relax and have fun.
For example, you can plan to watch a movie with your roommates every Thursday night, or you can take one hour every Sunday to call your family. This way you won’t have a nagging feeling to study while you’re relaxing, and you will also have something fun to look forward to after tough study sessions!
3. Meal Prep
Maintaining a balanced diet and regular meal schedule can be tough when you’re at home. Meal prepping can help you save time and energy throughout the week. It’s especially useful during COVID to plan out your meals ahead of time, so you won’t need to make as many shopping trips. By spending just 2 or 3 hours each week meal prepping can save you many more hours during the week deciding what to eat and then making it.
Check out these easy and healthy recipes that you can meal prep ahead of time for inspiration!
Breakfast - Chia Pudding 4 Ways (Clean and Delicious) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_W2BA1owuY&t=319s
Lunch - High Protein Meals on a Budget (Jeremy Ethier) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAmSbK81_MA
Dinner - Easy Oven Recipes (Goodful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs7ZTz0Xw0w
Quick Study Snack Ideas (Doctor Mike) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ13c3lznFM
Meal Prepping Ingredients (Downshiftology) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmdITEguAnE
4. Water!
Staying hydrated is so important! There are many health benefits such as regulating body temperature, improving sleep, increasing nutrient absorption, and ensuring proper blood and oxygen flow to your body. Although there isn’t a universally recommended amount you should drink everyday, the general rule to keep in mind is that if you feel thirsty, it’s already too late.
You should drink water consistently throughout the day, so keeping a water bottle nearby to sip on at all times is a great habit!
5. Exercise regularly
Exercising during a busy day is the best way to take a mental break and also give your body some much-needed movement. It’s easy for us to forget to take care of our physical health when we’re swarmed with assignments and tests for class, but squeezing in a 30-60 minute workout everyday is totally doable if you try! There are numerous benefits of exercise, most importantly, it helps blood and oxygen flow within your body to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels and keeps your muscles and joints strong. The improved blood flow will also help your brain function better and help you sleep at night. An extra bonus is that you’ll feel accomplished afterwards that will give you a mood boost for the rest of the day!
