5 Tips for Navigating the Return to In-Person Classes
1. Create a routine and stick with it.
Adding a new commute, navigating to and from all of your courses, and rebalancing your daily schedule around a return to in-person classes can be really hard, but there are some simple steps that we can all take to build an easy and reliable routine that’ll keep us on track throughout the week!
If you don’t already have one, try and stick to a calendar or other type of scheduling app to keep your day organized so that you’ll never worry about missing class or an exam again. Consider structuring intentional breaks into your school days, and try to remember that even if you aren’t perfect at following your new schedule all that matters is that you’re giving it a good shot. Here are 21 helpful tips that you can use to make the most of apps like Google Calendar!
Creating Google Maps trip shortcuts to and from campus can be an amazing way to simplify your new car, bike, or transit commutes around town. Just add the shortcut to your phone’s home screen, tap onto it when you’re headed out, and it’ll automatically load up the best route for you in a snap. Try out some other navigation apps as well and see what style works easiest for you, one that’s literally just called “Transit” is endorsed by the Edmonton Transit Service for trips around the city.
2. Access in-person advisors and supports.
Being back on campus doesn’t just mean being back in proximity of delicious, incredible Filistix, it also means being within arms reach of your Faculty of Arts advisors. It always helps to have a personal touch when dealing with complicated issues related to admissions, course registration, and more.
Remember that if you’re having trouble with specific issues like applying for convocation, grade appeals, and more, you can head on down to our Undergraduate Student Services (USS) Office conveniently located in 1–17 Humanities Centre!
If you find yourself struggling at all when it comes to your mental and physical wellness you can access UAlberta Counselling & Clinical Services or the University Health Centre at a time convenient for you. We’ve got your back, and you’re never alone during these unpredictable and stressful times.
3. Connect with your community.
We’re not the only ones who are excited to see you all back around campus, all of your friends and student groups are also here for you! Taking some time out of your busy schedule to reconnect with the people in your communities of choice will go a long way to keeping you happy and fulfilled as you go about your studies.
Consider getting in touch with Arts student groups like OASIS, your department association, or any of the other hundreds of student groups here at the University of Alberta. The connections you make based on your degree, hobbies, or desire to make an impact can last you a lifetime and there’s no better time to get involved than the present.
As we move into Edmonton’s beautiful spring and summer, consider getting together with the people that bring you joy in some of the gorgeous outdoor spaces our campus has to offer like our very own Arts/Business Quad, or some of the North Saskatchewan River Valley trails just north of our North Campus.
4. Study in a calm space.
Many students choose to make the most of their time on campus by studying in many of the University of Alberta’s common spaces, libraries, and bookable rooms to have a calm and predictable study space free from the distractions of home. Since you’ll already be here for class, why not take an hour or two and get some work done?
If you want the calmest experience possible while hitting (metaphorically) the books, head to one of our library silent or quiet zones. These zones ensure the least amount of distractions possible so that you can get your work done without any issues, and then you can head home and enjoy your evening without your school work hanging over your head!
5. Make intentional time for breaks and recharging.
We mentioned this before in the first point, but it seriously can’t be stressed enough. Just because you COULD be working all day doesn’t mean you SHOULD be working all day. Take time to watch a funny YouTube video, have a meal (and bring a friend from class!), or go for a walk to clear your mind.
You deserve to put your wellbeing first even when things seem too busy to put the brakes on, and the quality of you’ll see the improvements in your mental health reflected in the quality of your work. Taking a short and intentional break can make you more focused, improve your overall performance, lead you to unexpected creative solutions to problems, and help you feel less stressed! Next time you’re on the fence about getting up for another tea, treat yourself- you’ll thank yourself later.
It may sound counterintuitive (the key to getting more work done is to take breaks from work?), but taking breaks is an essential part of being productive. But why is scheduling time for regular breaks so beneficial to your productivity — and how can you leverage breaks throughout the day to get more done?
- Deanna deBara
