Productive in Pjs!
Celeste Strinka shares her thoughts on how to handle school from home.
Feeling bogged down online?
We’ve all been there. Dragging ourselves out of bed earlier than you had wanted and heading to your makeshift workspot. Feeling the urge to distract your bored mind with the alluring instagram and time-eating tiktok. Then, you’re reminded that you actually have to sit in front of a computer for hours on end listening to your mono-tone, and unenthused, teachers talk about algebraic equations or read tedious textbook articles.
Currently, I am an online student in the Patriot Online Academy and I have been online for about half a year now since Covid-19 broke out. There was many a time when I felt down and drowned with school and being home basically 24/7 with no reason to go out. However, that was during the first month or two of taking online classes. Since then, I have learned how to enjoy being at home, stay organized and focused for school, and stay healthy and happy at home. In this article, I’ll tell you what my days typically look like and good tips I recommend to other online high schoolers!
Mornings Matter!
How you start your day is crucial to having a productive day overall. Mornings are different for everybody, but doing these simple things every morning will get you into a routine that will point you to success. Here’s what I do every morning to get myself in the mood to get stuff done:
Make your bed!
Sounds cheesy right? Well, actually if you make your bed first thing after you get out of it, your mind will already be set in a productive mood, therefore encouraging you to carry productivity throughout your entire day. Try it!
Do something you enjoy or find relaxing
For me, this is enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and watching the sunrise through my backdoor. Sometimes I open a window for a brisk breeze to wake me up even more, or I sit under the pergola and watch the birds. You could do anything from cooking and having a good breakfast, to doing some sort of workout/yoga, or reading. But please! Try your best not to lay in bed until last minute and scroll through social media, that will make you feel lousy and lazy and that does not lead you into a productive day.
Positive Affirmations or Prayer
Keep in mind a positive affirmation such as, “I am fully capable of getting everything I planned to do today finished and in good time!” or “I will make today an even better day than yesterday!” Staying positive will keep you in a good mood and will encourage you to fulfill what you had promised to yourself. Praying is also very important when you want strength and guidance through your day. Tell God how you want to be productive today and show him throughout your day that you are loyal to your word.
Have a good workspace
Beds Bad, Desks Good
I talk from experience, do NOT do school work in bed or on the couch! Studies show that if you do your school work in bed you will have a harder time sleeping because your mind is programmed to being focused and productive. Having a good-sized desk or table to have all your school supplies and books at is very important if you are doing online classes, you need space to work. Also, keep all your school supplies and materials in ONE AREA. If your textbook is downstairs and your workspace is in your room, what do you suppose will happen when your teacher says to pull out your textbook? You will have to run downstairs to get it and then you miss what page your teacher says to go to! How embarrassing right?
Bum support
In addition to having a good workspace, you need a good seat for your tush. We are sitting there for about 2 hours each class 2-4 times a day! If you’re sitting on a hard stool with absolutely no back support, can you imagine how much pain you’ll be in by the end of the day? Get ready to get spikes in your back for your scoliosis!
Use an Agenda or a Calendar
C’mon it’s not that hard
I don’t know about anyone else, but what annoys me most in school is when people say, “Oh my goodness! I’m sorry! I forgot all about my 3-4 slides I had to complete by Monday for the presentation today!” or “I had no idea we had a test today, even though the teacher had said it about 10 times this past week!” Well maybe if you wrote down your upcoming due dates and assignments you wouldn’t be in this predicament! Use. an. agenda! Pick an assigned day each week (preferably before the school week starts, like Sunday or on Monday morning) and go through each class and write down what you need to do throughout the week. You can even write times for assignments or projects you need to work on during the day/week so you have that saved time to work on those assignments, uninterrupted. Phone calendars and reminders are also good to use.
Procrastination leads to Tribulation
Procrastination does not lead you to your destination
Whatever you do, DO NOT procrastinate! If you have leisure time you don’t need during the day, use it wisely and get that assignment or two done! If a teacher gives you time during class to finish up an assignment, don’t just use that time to sit on your phone and stare off into space, actually use it to get your work done! Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
Done for the Day!
If you don’t clean up, you didn’t go to preschool; click here for some inspo 😉
When you are all done for the day, clean your workspace. Put your books back where you usually have them. Throw away those crumpled up papers. Dust off those eraser shavings. And wipe down your workspace. Having your workspace clean and ready for the next time you use it will help you feel motivated for next time. Keep it clean and organized!
Hope that Helps!
All of you, (and everyone on campus) are in my hearts and I will keep you all in prayer.
Well, there you go! Tips and advise that will set you up for success. If you ever feel frustrated about online school or you need help on getting motivated, always feel free to shoot me an email (strinka.celeste@odcs.org) or talk to your teachers or close friends! Check back with Open Door’s press (odcspress.org) often and stay safe during these unknown times! Check ya later!
