Sunspot Sunday #10 | Tips for Fall 2020

Vibe Check CNH! 

    With the fall semester/quarter just around the corner and a majority of Universities taking on remote or hybrid classes, I wanted to cover some ways that you each can make the most of your time online! Though its the, not the most ideal situation, there are certain steps that you can take to make it work no matter the type of person you are! 

Maintain A Schedule 

  This is probably one of the most important and will be the most extensive section of this little run through – simply because if you can create a schedule for yourself and break up each day, it will be easier to manage the fluidity of the situation. 

    Here are some tips:

• Block out times for different activities in your day
  • Have a (1) hour block for getting ready in the morning, (1.5) for homework, (1) for lunch and dinner, etc
  • Making sure to also give yourself various breaks throughout the day is good to ensure you don’t burn out and try to overcompensate later. Try taking 30min breaks after every 1 hour of work, or utilizing the Pomodoro Technique! (For more information regarding the Pomodoro Technique: https://youtu.be/WqBuh4HWu8U)
• Try to get to bed and wake up on a consistent schedule
  • Being at home or more freeform with schedules allows for a much more liberal schedule of sleep – though, keeping a sharp ‘bedtime’ and waking up early at the same time every day will give you a necessary check-in reality of time. 
• Try to utilize planners! 
  • Though you are at home or doing things at your leisure – getting into the habit of planning your day out, looking ahead to other days, and having a more set guide to accomplish tasks will help in grounding yourself and having a visual representation of what your days are like. 
  • You can also have fun with this! Try Bullet Journaling and creating your planner and personal journal, want a more eco-friendly option – try utilizing different apps on your phone or computer (ranging from note and reminders on Apple Ecosystem to notability, Evernote, and more on other platforms)! 

Morning/Night Routine

    Now that you’ve developed a schedule for yourself, it is also vital to have routines in the morning and night to bring a definitive beginning and end to your day. This is also very important for those who may be going to school, working, and sleeping all in the same place. 

    Here are some tips: 

• Make your ‘bed’ every day
  • The process of making your ‘bed’ is a good stimulant to wake you up in the morning, as well as preparing yourself in the space that you are in. Maintaining a clean and tidy space wherever you are will aid in clarity and focus to engage with work and school throughout the day. 
• Get out of your PJs
  • As comfortable as it may be to just stay in bed all day with your PJs while attending classes and other parts of your day – getting ready for the day (in whatever way this looks of you) and getting dressed in an everyday outfit will also help in engaging the mindset of productivity.
• Winding down and Winding up, disconnected
  • While you are preparing for bed, take the time to settle yourself down for bed by trying to disconnect from your phone, computer, etc. for 30min to an hour before bed. This can be as simple as putting your phone on the charger before you start getting ready for bed, and leaving it there until you wake up the next day. 
  • This is also helpful in the morning – when you are getting ready for the day, don’t look at your phone until you have completed your morning routine!

Random Tips 

    There are a lot of aspects to cover when we think about working, living, and vibing all in the same place – but trying to incorporate simple steps a little at a time will be more effective than trying everything all at once, which is important to remember! 

    Here are some additional tips: 

• Schedule times and things to eat
  • It is easier now, more than ever to just run into the kitchen and grab something to eat at random times of the day, though this won’t be the healthiest or most cost-effective things to do throughout the day. Meal planning is very helpful to ensure that you know what times you will be eating, portioning to help with health and cost, and prepping snacks that will be satiating long term, rather than immediately gratifying. 
  • Also, planning out meals for the week before you head out to shop will help you reduce waste and cost! 
• Don’t try to start something new
  • An overarching theme that has come up from our days in quarantine is the idea of self-improvement and project starting since there is now “so much time” in the day. This is a false notion that has been rooted in structures that value production value rather than personal ability and capacity. Now is NOT the time to try and take on a new project, hobby, or activity because as much as there is an illusion of “more time”, the consideration of mental health impacts from a global pandemic, current world events, and more is lacking. 
• Check-in with yourself
  • It can be a lot to have to maintain a schedule, try to seem as normal as possible, while going to school and various other aspects stacking on top of each other, and this is just a reminder that it is okay to not be okay. This is a crazy time full of a lot of changes that can affect you in a plethora of ways, so be sure to check in with yourself to see how you are doing, taking care of yourself, and talking to others when you may need it! 
• Get outside once in a while
  • As much as it may seem enticing to stay inside all day and just work on things, or browse the Internet for hours, it is vital to get out and try to get some sun while we are working through all of this. Try shifting some work/break time outside in the back/front yard, a park, or a wide-open area where you can continue to social distance and keep yourself safe while being able to ‘catch some rays’ and avoid vitamin D deficiencies!

    There are countless areas that we can affect to ensure that we are making the most of the current situation while taking care of ourselves during this time. This was just a small list of achievable things that we can implement to ensure that our time and experience this semester will be the best for us all! 

Yours in Passion & Service

Aaron Piña

[He/She/They/Usted]

20/21 External Relations Chair

aaronpina00@gmail.com