How To Set Yourself Up For Virtual Learning Success
by 2nd year WIT Teen Sarina
Founder of Plan for the Future
Setting Yourself Up For Success, one of the 11 Tips For Doing WIT, is something we talk a lot about at WIT because we are always striving to make our future-self proud. During our last week of Camp WIT, campers had the chance to talk to talk to NLP Master Practitioner, Jennifer Araneo. Ms. Araneo talked to us about how critical it is to take care of your mindset as students navigate distance learning. These unprecedented times have reminded us that setting ourselves up for success, even with a resounding sense of uncertainty, is most important as we prepare for one of the most difficult school years yet.
Plan Ahead of Time
Because virtual learning requires more independence, it is important for you to step into your greatness and command the reality you desire. At WIT, we take time at the end of our week to show up for each other and our coaches by completing lingering tasks, setting daily goals, writing gratitude messages to our guest speakers. In a broader sense, it is important to wake up and allot time in your day to take time for yourself off screens and maintain balance with school work. Set up zoom/facetime hours with your friends to connect and schedule time with yourself to check-in. I start my day by writing my to-do’s in a notebook, my daily gratitude, and some big overall goals I have for the week.
Organize yourself
When you study or work on a passion project, make sure you break down your study sessions to maximize your energy. The Pomodoro Technique is when you work for 25 minutes and then break for 5 minutes in order to let yourself reset between intervals. Although it may seem productive to work on multiple assignments/tasks at once, research from the Harvard Business Review concludes that multitasking can make your IQ temporarily drop 10 points (the equivalent of pulling an all-nighter). To be sure that you stay focused on your tasks, write yourself a very specific to-do list. For example, your to-do list should not say “send emails”, rather it should be more specific such as “send email to Pam”. If you need a study from home planner, I made a printable planner that you can purchase here. Lastly, make sure to schedule a reset day where you clean your space, organize your folders/binders, and tie up loose ends from the week. Make sure you reflect on what went well with your week and what you could do better.
Move Your Body
At WIT, we move our bodies everyday because we can. During virtual learning, there are not as many opportunities within school hours to go outside and be active. By releasing endorphins, you will be more equipped to tackle uncertainty and/or anxiety in your day. As teen depression and anxiety rates increase due to COVID-19, do whatever it takes to keep yourself steady and prepared. Your mental and physical health matter.
Follow your Passions
The pandemic should not be a reason to pursue your passion, it should be your motivator. Although your plans may not be up to your pre-pandemic expectations, finding creative ways to be passionate is key to mental health. In a world where there are so many people in need, there is no better time to fulfill a need than now. It can be as simple as mailing people letters to help people feel thought of and more connected during times of loneliness. Find pockets of peace in your day to do what feels good for you.
Seek Gratitude
I learned a lot about gratitude from being in the WIT College Credit program and as a Camp WIT Camper and Intern. By allowing your day to be rooted in gratitude, you can create a positive mindset and adapt better to uncertainty. Taking time out of your day to cultivate gratefulness can set you up for long term success.
As I transition back to distance learning in the fall, I am grateful for the strategies and advice I received from WIT. I can confidently say that WIT has prepared me to succeed in and out of the classroom this year.