I’m here to talk about distance learning. These days, we are doing stuff and learning things that we’ve never heard of before the pandemic. One thing we’ve never done before is distance learning for school. Because of the global pandemic, some students in Valley Middle School are taking their classes online and if it’s anything like last spring it can be pretty daunting. However, I am here to talk about some tips to help you through the school year. Here are ten tips to help any student survive distance learning.

1. Stick to a sleep schedule.

It can be hard to get through the day when you’re constantly thinking about your comfy warm bed. So I propose this: for a week, write down the time you wake up and when you go to bed. At the end of the week, you can look at what you wrote and figure out, for yourself, what times work best for you.

2. Write down your tasks/goals for the day.

When I sit down to start my homework, I personally like to have a list of what I need to do for the day, so I’m more likely to complete my homework. You can use a planner or anything else you like. Amazon has some pretty good ones that are affordable!

3. Take breaks.

When I’m stuck on a hard math problem or other assignment, I try to step away and take a break. This recharges you, so you can come back with a new perspective on your problem.

4. Have some snacks.

It has been scientifically proven that snacks can generate brain power. Just try and make sure it is something healthy or it undermines the point.

5. Have everything you need in front of you.

Have you ever had to get up to get a notebook or calculator? Well a way to avoid this, and stay focused is to keep everything you need on hand so you don’t have to constantly get up. I like to have my backpack right next to me when I’m working so if I need any supplies, it is right there!

6. Drink water.

Staying hydrated is key when you work/study. It helps you keep cool. Drinking water keeps your joints working well.

7. Reward yourself.

To keep yourself motivated throughout the day when you’re working on your schoolwork, it’s helpful to have some sort of reward to keep yourself working, even when you don’t feel like it.

8. Manage your time.

When you’re doing anything, especially your schoolwork, you need to manage your time wisely. This may look different from person to person, since everyone is different. I suggest putting things that require a lot of brain power earlier in the morning like math, and things like reading in the afternoon.

9. Eliminate distractions.

It can be pretty distracting to have your phone out while you try and finish your homework. I suggest to keep anything distracting FAR away from you.

10. Set goals.

This last tip can help you in your long-term academic career. When you set goals, it should be something you can do everyday or weekly. For example, instead of saying “I will get all A’s this year” you should say, “ I will study 15-20 minutes everyday for my math test this week.” By doing this, you build good work habits and improve your grades. Those are my ten tips for surviving distance learning.  These tips can help you throughout your life, and applying them can really make a difference. Please be consistent. I hope these tips work for you, please comment down your results.  I hope you enjoyed reading this article!