While I spent most of my academic life in public schooling, the reality of an online semester hit me when the pandemic first came around. I spent my first semester in university in a virtual setting, and I could not help but draw parallels to homeschooling, something that some of my friends personally went through. I recall having asked them how homeschooling was like for them and comparing to see how it was different from public schools. I found out what worked for them and looked at my own experience learning from home. Here are three ways to make homeschooling more enjoyable.
Plan for your health
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a long-term investment to becoming even more productive and effective in your personal life. Admittedly, it is easy to lose track of your health when you spend a lot of time at home; I underestimated how much traveling from place to place contributes to your physical upkeep, especially when you don’t actively plan to exercise. My lack of fitness reared its ugly head when I joined my school’s dance club, and an uphill battle ensued to regain a semblance of stamina.
As such, I recommend segmenting your time to account for your bodily needs. Partition your day to have a balance of work, exercise, and sleep. This might include having designated parts of your day or your week specifically for working out or doing some basic exercises every few hours or so. Try to cultivate the discipline to only work for the allotted time while getting sufficient exercise and rest. Keep in mind what you are eating every day and look for a balanced diet as much as possible. A healthy body will improve your mood and your fitness, which will dramatically improve the quality of your homeschooling experience.
Switch it up
Doing the same thing over and over again is never a good thing, but one can get carried away when you’re cooped up at home, preoccupied with work or studies. Variety is the spice of life; make sure you retain your curiosity and hunger for learning by switching tasks every few hours. Try taking a break by exploring a hobby you’ve always wanted to pursue. Maybe read a book that you’ve been putting on the wayside. You could even do some chores or other physical work to shake up your routine. Even small changes to your homeschooling experience will help increase your focus and memory when you return to your initial task.
Keep in touch
Being stuck at home and cut off from most social activities deprives us of social contact, which significantly affects our mental health and productivity than we might imagine. It might not be as bad if you currently stay with family, but loneliness and isolation have a way of striking when we least expect it. Luckily, our technology can enhance our livelihoods and mitigate its shortcomings, including arranging virtual meetings. You might see videoconferencing as a work tool, but you can also use it to set up study meetings with your peers, have a casual chat with your friends, or play some games together. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family if you’re feeling down or lonely.
Are you looking for some other resources to enrich your time at home? Head over to TransCultural Group to broaden your horizons.
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