27 Jul 2021

With online learning becoming more of a norm than a novelty, it’s important to check in with yourself and see how you are going. 

Prior to lockdown, I loved the flexibility of online classes! Waking up right before your class, eating breakfast at any time of the day with no judgment... but with lockdown well and truly restricting us, we’re in a totally different mindset. 

You may be feeling anxious, stressed and unmotivated but hey - that’s completely normal and okay.

We asked you guys if you are enjoying online learning and 78% of you said no. Personally, I was someone that complained about going to school and uni. But as soon as it’s taken away, we realise that we took it for granted. Talking smack with your mates, lugging everything in one backpack from one classroom to the next, the canteen (the food sucks but also slaps at the same time), practical assessments - you’re probably missing it all.

We also wanted to see whether you focus more online vs. face-to-face and 84% prefer face-to-face. With the announcement of getting Greater Sydney Year 12 students back to school in a couple of weeks with rapid antigen testing and vaccines being provided - what are you school seniors thinking?

Is it fair for your ATAR to be weighed up against others when other states didn’t have any online learning? Is it too late to be going back face-to-face? How do you get back into a routine again?

79% of you said you’re feeling unmotivated in your studies right now and with the uncertainty of it all, I don’t blame you at all. The pressure and expectation of studying alone can be a stressful time but in all honesty, taking care of yourself is the main priority. 

No matter how many breaks you take throughout the day - if you’re getting through work at a slower pace than your friends, if you’re staying in your pyjamas from nine in the morning ‘til three in the afternoon to be comfy - do whatever it takes to put you in a good headspace. 

We asked what has been your biggest distraction with learning online and these were answered the most:

  • My phone 📲
  • Netflix 📺
  • Video games 🎮
  • My dog 🐶
  • Siblings/family in the house 🏠
  • Having no attention span 🥵
  • Procrastination 🤪
  • Reading 📚
  • Technical difficulty 🔌

There are pros and cons to every situation though. We found out some things you do enjoy about online learning:

  • Doing things at my own pace 🧘‍♀️
  • Flexibility ⏱
  • Having my own schedule and time management 📔
  • Eating healthier 🍌
  • Availability for resources 📑
  • Working in a comfortable environment 🛋
  • Rolling out of bed and tuning into a tutorial 🛌

It is a tough gig if you're affected by all of this but it's out of your control, so roll with the punches and put yourself first! 💛