The Ultimate Teenager Guide for Curing the Online-School Struggle

Let’s be real, teenagers out there...or parents who decide to read this. We have been stuck in our homes for a while doing probably the following: trying to family bond, staring at screens all day, trying to resist extra snacking and spending even more time on screens refreshing social media posts or letting Netflix run episode to episode. Well, for me, obviously, it’s most of the above but what is most concerning is that I am writing this at 2 a.m. and I don’t “feel” tired (though my body is probably craving sleep!). 

So, cutting straight to the point, I despise the amount of notifications I have been getting from my teachers, which are constantly telling us students to join all of these apps and websites via codes to keep in touch of class updates. Yes, I understand we still have school and we have to find a schedule back to everything...but my home does not make me feel back at school and Bellaire came back from Spring Break, so I still feel as if I’m on vacation.    

Online school is a big change. Something that just isn’t for everyone. Like me, so maybe these tips will help you get back into school-like or productive schedule:

• Get into the mindset! Tough love but we are just going to have to deal with the way that things are going. Maybe think of it this way...try your hardest in meeting deadlines because there is still the end goal of graduating!
• Clean up your working space/ room...get rid of all the snack packaging and water bottles. Wipe down some surfaces...and maybe even make a walking space on your floor. Create a homey and refreshed feeling to be productive. 
• Set a schedule! Yeah, when I hear this, especially from my parents, I just stop listening. But here, let me put it into more teenagery words…You don’t have to wake up or go to bed early. You don’t have to limit screen time. This is only a suggestive article to say prioritize. If the teacher needs a phone call at a certain time, participate. Meet your deadlines at your own pace. 

That being said, I received almost 00 different notifications all informing me about classes and registering or signing up here and there. I made calendar reminders for certain days of the week for which class meetings are held. Other than that being said, I plan to take many breaks like all of us teenagers want. 

Anyways, this is a wrap up for me. I’m actually planning to sleep tonight…see I’m getting into the mindset already! So please be cooperative and try to stay motivated. 

Stay safe and healthy.