It’s hard to argue that the Covid-19 pandemic has made a huge difference in the way students live. In the spring of 2024, all educational institutions switched to distance learning. It wasn’t easy because neither teachers nor students were ready for the online format. Therefore, everyone breathed a sigh of relief with the arrival of summer vacation.
There were high hopes for the fall, even despite rather pessimistic predictions of the second wave of illnesses. The new school year began, students went to lectures. Unfortunately, more and more often we see in the news headlines about another university, which is forced to switch to a distance form of education due to the detection of the virus among teachers and students. Young future professionals not only have to deal with problems related to adapting to the online format but also with mental health issues.
Also, don’t forget the challenges of the learning process itself. Because of the forced transition to an online format, many educators believe that students now have more free time. Accordingly, they can and should be given more material. In reality, this approach is capable of lowering the level of motivation many times over. If there are so many assignments that it is unclear what to grasp, then one does not want to get down to work at all. In this regard, there is the growing popularity of online services for writing student papers, such as StudyEssay, and the most common request in search engines – cheap essay writing services. These companies allow you to cope with writing assignments faster and turn them in on time.
The new limitations of universities to socially distance students and allow them to interact freely without worrying about the potential impact of the coronavirus are detrimental to the psyche. Students feel isolated and lonely because they cannot receive visitors in their dorms. Relationships between roommates can become strained because students attend unsafe activities and put each other in danger. Some may acutely experience the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19, unable to get the support they need.
Distance learning is stressful for most students. First of all, it is worth creating a calm environment and setting up psychologically to study. You can also introduce a schedule. Students should be able to organize their study day, that is, it is necessary to develop their time management.
What Has Changed?
No matter what professors in higher education say, the primary goal of the applicant remains socialization, not gaining new knowledge. After all, the university is a model of all those processes that take place in the real big world. This is where young people learn to get what they want, to negotiate, to look for compromises, and to give in. Interaction with others is an integral part of the process of learning about the world. Distance learning, on the other hand, organizes many obstacles to this.
Yes, we live in the 21st century, where the first action after waking up is to check the alerts on the cell phone. The Internet and globalization allow us to communicate with anyone, anytime, anywhere. But we should not forget about the quality of this kind of interaction. Seeing someone on a screen and feeling that person’s physical presence nearby are different things. Not surprisingly, more and more community organizations are reporting an increase in the number of students who turn to them for help and emotional support.
Plus, of course, the quality of the online lecture leaves a lot to be desired. Not everyone has access to a quality Internet connection. And the constant hanging and interruption of the lecturer bring nothing but annoyance. And it became much more difficult to get answers to your questions. Now you can’t just walk up to the lecturer you met in the corridor and ask him to explain incomprehensible points.
What to do?
So far, it is impossible to predict how long-distance learning will sometimes be the only way out of this situation. Therefore, it is worth thinking about how students can most painlessly survive this period and adapt to the new realities.
1. Act on schedule
Distance learning has had a major impact on the daily routine. The hour that used to be spent commuting to university can now be used in some other way. Some choose to sleep longer, some want to cook themselves a delicious breakfast, and some spend it watching a new video. It is important to follow a certain routine in order to counteract the chaos that occurs in the outside world. Try to wake up at the same time and eat healthy foods. Set aside a certain amount of time for activities and homework, remembering to take breaks to rest. It is important to understand that you are now responsible for how you spend your time. Streamlining your processes will create a sense of control and reduce feelings of anxiety inside.
2. Use supportive resources
If certain tasks are causing you too much stress, turn to online services for help. One of the most popular queries on Western search engines is to buy essays because it helps you save time and stop worrying about an unfulfilled assignment. When it comes to psychological balance, look for support from qualified professionals. Many psychologists and psychotherapists work with clients online. The main thing is to make sure that the chosen specialist has the proper education.
3. Do not isolate yourself completely
Total self-isolation can negatively affect the psyche. Don’t go entirely online. If possible, don’t avoid interactions with peers, while taking all protective measures – masks, gloves, etc. Sometimes even an hour spent with friends over a cup of coffee will have a greater effect than an entire day of watching therapy videos.
4. Exhale and take a break
Some students conclude that the best way out for them is to take a sabbatical. After all, sooner or later, it will go back to the standard format of attending lectures in classrooms. If you have the opportunity to follow their example and distance learning takes too much effort, choose that option. Nothing is more important than your comfort.
