How To Continue Effectively Studying During COVID-19

by | Jun 15, 2020 | Students

Studying throughout the pandemic can be extremely difficult. As you miss loved ones, have constant worries about meeting deadlines and struggle to understand some of the course materials without lecturers on hand to help, it’s a stressful period for all students.

We wanted to take some of that stress off you, by providing you with a guide on how to continue effectively studying until we are back to some form of normality. Here’s just a few tips on how to improve your chances of maximising your grades during this unprecedented time.

Create A Morning Routine

One of the best pieces of advice we can give you is to maintain a morning routine throughout the next few months. It can be easy to sleep in till the afternoon, with no real purpose or reason to wake up early at the moment, but we would definitely advise against it.

Having a set morning routine each day will help you get ready for the day much earlier, allowing you to be significantly more productive throughout the day. Here’s an overview of what we would recommend doing in a morning to set yourself up for the day in the right way:

  • Set your alarm for the same time each day, we’d recommend between 7.30am – 8.30am, just as if you were getting up for a 9am lecture.
  • Have a shower, and get changed into clothes, don’t stay in your lounging outfit all day!
  • Get some breakfast and a coffee to get you energised for the day.
  • Get outside for some fresh air before starting any work, even a 15-30-minute walk will get you off to a great start to the day.


Have A Dedicated Workspace

A major complaint from many students at this time is that they’re struggling to separate home life from working life, as inevitably you’re stuck in the same room all the time!

Separating work from home life is extremely difficult to do when you don’t have access to the university library, so it’s essential that you do what you can to have a space that is solely dedicated to working. Whilst it is difficult for students, as you only have a limited space to call your ‘own’, simply setting up your desk as a designated work area and only using it for study time can help you to switch off once you have finished your studying for the day.

Get Rid Of Any Distractions

With everyone struggling to find things to do, phones and social media are a real distraction at present. All of your friends and family will inevitably want to stay in touch throughout the day, but it’s important to get rid f any distractions when you’re settling down to some dedicated study time.

We’d recommend either turning your phone off, or putting it on do not disturb for an hour whilst you study, as we all understand just how easy it is to get distracted when your friends are messaging in the group chat!

Also put yourself on a social media ban on your PC or laptop too; whilst it’s tempting to nip onto Facebook to have a quick scroll through the latest updates from your loved ones, it will inevitably put you off your work. It is a real test of your dedication and resolve, but you can always reward yourself with a catch up on social media at the end of your study session.

Take Regular Breaks

After an hour or so of studying, it’s important to take a break so that you can fully concentrate on the materials you are reading. You’ll know when you need a break, as your mind will start wandering; the amount of time you can concentrate on the task at hand will vary, so just take breaks at intervals that feel right to you.

Try and keep your breaks to 15 minutes, as you can easily let a break turn into a day of not studying! Use those 15 minutes to catch up with friends and family, grab a cup of tea and a snack, and have a trawl through social media. Once those 15 minutes are up, it’s time to remove all distractions again and get your mind back on studying for your degree.

Get Outside After Studying

Once you’ve finished studying for the day, it’s important to get out of your house and switch off from your work. It’s extremely difficult to keep work and home life separate if you don’t leave the house, so make a point of getting out with your housemates, or on your own straight after studying.

There are plenty of outdoor spaces to clear your head around your student accommodation in Lancaster following a day of studying, so be sure to get out of your house for a while. You could take a walk up to Williamsons Park and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area, or if you’re feeling energetic, you might want to enjoy a run down the River Lune towards Halton.

No matter what you’re feeling up to, it’s essential that you do get out and about following a study session as it will help you to clear your mind and energise yourself ready for more study in the coming days.

We hope that you found this article helpful! We understand just how stressful these last few months have been, especially when you’re trying to stay on top of your course materials! If you would like any further help or guidance when it comes to any aspect of university life, or would simply like to enquire about your accommodation for next year, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

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