Tips for study at home during coronavirus outbreak

With colleges across the country shut and traditional exams cancelled, students have been forced to pivot into online learning to see out the semester. This has meant lectures delivered over video and a massive overhaul of assessments so that we can move on or graduate without sitting exams in the coming months.

Our academic lives have effectively been turned upside down. Studying in the library or in accommodation is out, with many suddenly back home full-time. How we’ll be graded has changed utterly. Here are some tips to get through this stressful period without losing the run of yourself:

Stay up to date

It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle when everything’s so up in the air. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to stay on top of emails, check Blackboard or similar platforms constantly and make sure you know what you have to do to finish out the year. This is a fluid situation and things are changing constantly, so it’s vital to have the most up to the minute information.

Make a list

With exams either going online or off entirely, it could seem like there’s suddenly a mountain of work on your plate. Lots of us do better with studying for exams than slogging through continuous assessment work. It may seem simple, but making a list of everything you have to do over the next few weeks will make all the difference. It’s step one along the road, and a good start is half the work.

Find a study space

Most of us have found our usual study space, whether it’s college accommodation or the library, taken away from us. If you’re back home, make sure to find a space where you can work comfortably and peacefully. Let everyone know you need quiet while you’re working and set yourself a few hours every day. Everything’s turned a bit monotonous at the moment, so a bit of routine and consistency goes a long way.

Do a little every day

You might be worried if your exams have been swapped for assignment work. Moving from exam to CA might not be ideal, but it’s not all bad. Time you would’ve been spending studying for an exam may now be spent tipping away at an essay. The bright side is that you can work on it ahead of time, and once it’s done, it’s done. CA can be a pain in the arse, but at least the work you put in can just be submitted and there’s no exam at the end of it all.

Keep up good habit

This is a stressful time for all of us. We miss our friends, our significant others and our families. Make sure to keep doing the things that make you happy. Stay in touch with people (online!), get out for fresh air and exercise (while social distancing!) and take breaks regularly (wash your hands while you’re at it!). Being at home all the time is a test in itself. Isn’t it so tempting to just… play games for seven hours, watch four seasons of a show or eat half the fridge… maybe that’s just me.

Stay positive!

Try to not get bogged down in the news. We’re going to get through this. If we all keep following the guidelines, we’ll be back at it in no time, this isolation craic just another thing we have a laugh about over pints. Soon you’ll be giving everyone you miss a big hug, life will get back to normal and the good times will arrive. Those things make all the hardship right now worth it.