Mental Health Tips For Online Learning

Mental Health Tips for Online Learning  

With the global COVID pandemic, more people than ever are communicating, working, and learning from home through the use of virtual and remote platforms. Even if you enjoy online learning, it can take its toll on your mental health if you're not careful. Using a few tips, you can take care of your mental and emotional health as you readjust to a new way of learning and living.

Create a Routine

Routines are extremely beneficial, regardless of your age and the activity you’re participating in. From making your bed to having time to shower and implement a routine of self-care, routines make a difference.

When you are learning online or working from home, your days might begin to blur together, especially as you are required to leave your house and socialize with others much less frequently than in the past.

Implement a routine that includes preparing and making meals, showering, getting dressed, exercising, and even completing household chores. Maintaining a steady routine in-house, even when you are working or learning remotely, can help you to feel more at peace with your current situation and isolation.

Sleep Matters

Ensure you are getting adequate rest each night, with 7 to 9 hours of REM sleep. A lack of sleep is a major cause of increased anxiety, depression, and irritability, especially for those who are self-isolated or working and studying remotely. Avoid drinking alcohol and eating foods that are high in sugars and starches before bedtime to help improve the quality of sleep you get.

You can also turn to natural remedies such as melatonin to help get yourself into a proper and more natural sleeping pattern according to your circadian rhythm.

Set Goals for Yourself

Another way to remain motivated when you are enrolled in an online learning program is to set goals for yourself, both short and long-term. Achieving goals and providing yourself with earned rewards can keep you disciplined and on track to meet any academic goals and deadlines you already have.

Each evening (or morning, depending on your preferred schedule), create a list of goals for the following day. Use this list as a reference guide to help create a schedule and routine for your day. Because learning from home can quickly cause your days to mesh together, using a list and creating your own individualized schedule can help.

Practice Mindfulness

One of the most beneficial tools that you can use when you’re working on improving your mental health is mindfulness. It doesn’t require decades of training to become a monk or spiritual guide. All you have to do is sit in one place as you empty your mind for an extended period of time.

Familiarize yourself with what mindfulness truly means, and what it can do for you. Are you looking for a way to clear your mind and head from unstoppable thoughts and worries? Are you tired of feeling anxious every day before you begin your online courses? Do you want to learn how to better respond to intense and high-stress situations?

Learn to let go by practicing basic meditations each day. You can also use guided meditation to help get more familiar with the process of tuning in to your mind and letting go of your traditional state of mind and thinking. Meditating daily can help with alleviating stress and anxiety that are most commonly associated with online and remote learning or extended periods of isolation.

Seek Out Proper Resources

If you’re struggling with your mental health and online learning, there’s no shame in seeking help and outside resources. From considering a rehabilitation program to enrolling in a local therapy program, the proper resources can help you to remain stable and mentally healthy at all times.

Having the right resources at your disposal can make all of the difference, especially if you’re new to online learning and remote work. When you feel comfortable with the resources you have available, you’re less likely to find yourself lost in your head and the anxieties you’re experiencing.

Get Out and Socialize

Even if you’re introverted naturally, you still require socializing in order to truly provide your body with the natural endorphins and dopamine it craves and needs. When you spend time socializing with others, you’re less likely to feel anxious, isolated, and alone. If you’re working or learning from home, it can quickly become difficult without a proper support system or the ability to socialize with friends and loved ones.

Make a commitment to spending one or two days a week with friends, family members, and coworkers outside of work or school. It’ll help you alleviate stress and worry that may be building up.

It’s also important to build a support circle that you can trust and rely on. When you’re feeling stressed, frustrated, anxious, or depressed, talking to people who understand can alleviate some of the pressure you feel.

Sources

wvu.edu - Mental Health Tips for Online Learning

indwes.edu - Mental Health Tips for Online Students

arizona.edu - 10 Mental Health Tips for Online Students

sunshinebehavioralhealth.com -  Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Huntington Beach, California