Students

Back to School in the Era of COVID-19: What’s Old, What’s New, and How to Prepare

Every year, the return to school or college is one of the most anticipated events. This is the precise moment where you get to meet your friends and enjoy some time out of the household. 

Of course, this is also the time to learn something new and start planning for the future – but mostly what we love is the social aspect of returning to the classroom. However, this year, thighs are likely to be a little different from the past. 

You might have to get used to taking up some online classes, study at your own pace, and manage additional stress that comes from the need to catch up. And, all this, while not being able to do all the things you used to do with your friends in the past year. 

While all this can be challenging, a little preparation for the months ahead can get you ready to face this experience with peace of mind and serenity. 

Read on to find some precise, practical tips that you can implement today (and don’t miss out on some extra help to manage stress too!)

 

School Clothes

School clothes are the most important purchase many students and families face before the start of the school or college year. While you might want to look good in front of all of your friends, it is essential to keep in mind that you will need to wash your clothes every day after having stayed in the classroom.

So, when shopping for school clothes, make sure you have enough outfits to get you through the week. If in your school you are required to wear uniforms, you should enquire to get at least an extra couple of items before the start of school. While this might not always be possible, it is essential for students to understand what are the risks involved and where the risk of contagion comes from in their situation.

 

Physical Distancing

Another aspect to consider when going back to school is the fact that you might not be able to get as close to your friends as you wish to. Indeed, even if you have always spent a lot of time during summer enjoying the whole days on a beach or at the park together, this year things might be different. 

While the spread of coronavirus is something that all students and parents are concerned with, there are simple measures to implement to ensure that you – and the rest of your classmates – are safe.

Ultimately, regardless of where you are and what you are doing, you will always need masks or face coverings. Even if your school has arranged for pupils to wear masks only in certain locations or when you are not sat in the classroom, you should be responsible regarding the way you interact with the others around you!

 

Look After Your Health

Looking after your health is essential during these times. Even if you are not one of the individuals in a vulnerable portion of the population, it is essential to keep in mind that strengthening your immune system is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of complications due to COVID-19.

So, while it can be tempting to spend the rest of your holiday indulging in bad habits, remember that these might be dangerous when back to school or in places where the risk of contagion is higher. If you are not sure about what are the best rules to follow to ensure that your diet is nutritious and balanced, it could be an optimal idea to speak to a nutritionist.

These experts and professionals will be able to help you find out more about the way what we eat can sustain our cognitive functions, focus, and stress levels. And of course, following a nutritious diet will show excellent results on the look of your skin, hair, nails, and general figure. 

With so many positive aspects of this choice, you should definitely find out what is the best nutritional plan for your taste and routine! Moreover, even if you have decided not to speak to a nutritionist, you should consider exercising at least five times a week. Even a 30 minutes walk counts!

 

Virtual Study Groups

Virtual study groups are likely to be the way forward when it comes down to designing and presenting a project. Such group projects have always been the backbone of some college courses, and in some cases, it would be impossible for a student to take on such a task unless in a group of other students. 

Study and project groups can teach you how to work in a team, which is among the most valuable lessons you can learn while at school. Luckily, the pandemic has only halted the traditional way of getting together with your classmates. Indeed, you can complete most of the tasks virtually!

Of course, picking the right conferencing platform and video call app for these projects is essential. Indeed, these are the means that will allow you to complete a project without hiccups and improve the quality of your presentation. While picking the right one can be intimidating, technology – at least in this occasion – is on our side. Indeed, there is an increasing number of choices and apps for you to pick from.

Speaking to your schoolmates and family members can also point you in the right direction. If not, at least decide to split the cost of the subscription with the others in your group!

If you or your family are not sure about the best one for you, check out the video conferencing solution comparison table and find out what is the best one for your study group or for your academic goals.

 

Hand Washing and Other Good Habits

When you are finally back to school, you will need to get comfortable with the new security and safety measures that have been implemented in your area.while these can change, hand washings and social distancing measures are staples. 

If you are not sure about how to act or the correct way to behave to maintain the environment safe and comfortable for you and everybody else around you, it is important to ask or follow the guidelines indicated by the school. Hopefully they will have laid down clear rules regarding everything from distancing to staff masks, and you can adopt your own additional measures on top of these. It’s worth seeing the rules as a base minimum, and acknowledging that a little extra safety won’t hurt.

While it can be difficult to follow such indications at all times, it is essential to follow these measures to ensure that others feel comfortable. After all, you should not forget that you are at school!

Such an environment can be extremely stressful and intimidating even when you are not wearing a mask and keeping enough distance from others! Now you have this added factor to consider, which you cannot ignore. 

However, since none of these implementations are likely to go away in the near future, it could be recommendable to find a way to find comfort while following them (extra tip – find a comfortable face mask!)

 

Online Learning

One of the aspects of school that has changed the most during the pandemic is the fact that now we can learn from home. While there could have been difficulties in the past and seeing your flatmates and professors in person was the preferred way of interacting, today you can do everything you need to without any risk of contagion. 

Indeed, the school and the way people learn has drastically changed during the past few months! Of course, some schools are reopening, and you have all the rights to look forward to the big return to school.

However, you should also keep in mind that there are alternatives that can help you stay in a safe environment while learning. And this is essential – especially if you are part of that part of the population that could be more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

When deciding to follow some of your courses online, picking the right platform is essential. While there are many auxiliary platforms that can encourage you to follow a brief course, picking the best one to implement your knowledge is not easy. 

Especially in the beginning, always opt for self-paced options – these are the ones that give you all the time to learn at your own pace and allow you to take time to get used to the new way of learning. 

 

Tips to Keep Stress At Bay!

As we have promised, here are some tips that you can implement today to keep the stress involved with going back to school in the middle of a pandemic at bay!

  • Follow all the social distancing measures required by your school.
  • Wear a face mask
  • If you fear contagion, speak to your teacher or headmaster. They might allow you to follow some of the lessons from home or online. 
  • Eat well and always opt for fresh, nutritious foods over packaged and processed ingredients and meals.
  • Take up mindful practices such as yoga and meditation. While they can require a little longer to get into, they can be beneficial if you are dealing with stress levels much higher than you are used to.
  • Make the most of the love and support the ones around you are offering you. 
  • Speak to your teachers and instructors to find solutions that work best for you
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