The 5 Easy Ways to Home-School During Lockdown
William Shakespeare wrote "King Lear" when a plague-ravaged England. It should give you comfort, as the thought of staying at home would make you stir crazy. Keep in mind what Isaac Newton discovered while under quarantine, and it had nothing to do with how to come up with a new routine in an hour or less. It would be better to be open-minded, if not flexible, about your new schedule. You must enjoy it as much as you can, as this is the only way to keep your spirits - and enthusiasm.
You might not live under the rock when you found out, a bit too late, that the lockdown turned California into an eerily-quiet place. The same thing goes to New York while your cousin, a resident of Seattle, gets jittery whenever someone remarks that Washington's biggest metropolis might be the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. It should make you realize that you're living in a bubble, and there's a silver lining behind these happenings. If there's one important lesson that you could learn from Shakespeare and Newton, adversity would bring the best out of anyone. Edgar Allan Poe's own spin on a plague would be another thing, though.
Whether you live near one of the states that have a high number of coronavirus patients or not, you must prepare for one likely scenario. You might be studying at home, chatting with your course mates and exchanging emails with your professors. You would get some words of encouragement from your tutor especially if it's your final year. The subject of refund may come to mind but think again. It might be a good thing to invest your time (and possibly emotions) in your studies. The Easter holiday is coming, and you need to recharge your batteries. In other words, let go of the breath that you've been holding for some time. Don't worry about the time you would spend on loafing. And think about the consequences of overindulging when your holiday is almost over.
Plan Ahead and Minimize Stress: How to Replicate Formal Education
Prepare a timetable. Schedule Twitter and Instagram at 9 AM and then pizza at 12 NN. Netflix must be scheduled at 2:30 PM and a chapter or two on a book that you should have read (at 4 PM). You might be alarmed that all of these have nothing to do with the coursework, but it would consume an hour or two (if you sum it up). It's up to you to decide how to make the most of your day, as the aim is to make it as fruitful as possible. What happens if you want to throw the towel?
Do anything you like, but don't let it consume you. There will be instances when you realize that you should have arranged your stuff in this (or that) way. You could try it for about an hour, but don't go beyond the period of time. You might have a deadline to beat, if not some reading to catch up. And you need to correspond with your instructor(s) and almost forgetting it. This scenario happens to the obsessive-compulsive types and those who insist on order. How about giving up? There aren't any earth-shaking reasons behind it. This could be an urge after spending too many hours, if not lost track of the days, on the coursework. Recalling your (favorite) inspirational quotes won't be enough. You could watch another episode of your favorite Netflix show, though.
What amuse your mind? You might have forgotten your playful moments, which your parents enjoy looking at. If you could remember those vague feelings, then well and good. It should help you deal with this new set-up in studying. There's some truth about learning in a formal environment, where you spend hours on lecture rooms and study groups. It's a stimulating environment. The imminent lockdown, if you happen to live far from states that are possible epicenters of the outbreak, should make you consider about a new routine that would keep you eager to learn more. You could ask for some tips from your tutor (or professors), if not learn a thing or two from professional athletes who must avoid competing and traveling for many months. It doesn't mean that you must write your paper sans your clothing, which Victor Hugo was notoriously known for. Your parents may be around (and see it). Video games? Adventure fiction? Music? Make up your mind. And it might be better than it's related to the coursework.
Learn where to let off steam. Here's a truth about learning: It would take a village to help you understand your lesson(s). When there's no one else around, it's up to you to deal with it constructively. You can't shout in frustration, not even post a rant on your social media accounts. And your parent won't understand your lesson(s). It's not a cue to go out, even if warmer weather seems encouraging. Recall those moments when you're satisfied, if not rewarded, with what you learned during the lecture (or your brief interaction with your course mates). It should motivate you.
Don't take it too seriously. The news could discourage you, yet don't make your deadlines and examinations for granted. You may have more free time, but time goes fast. You didn't notice it a few months ago.
Just Live With It
You forgotten how your life was during those colder months. It was like a marathon done in a sprint, but you were too stressed and exhausted. Just learn to live with this new routine. And don't be too hard on yourself all the time.
