About a year and a half ago everyone was talking about the challenges of switching to online classes. Now that we’re on campus again, no one is talking about the challenges of transitioning BACK to in-person classes. I’ll admit, it was extremely convenient to wake up 5 minutes before my morning lecture, hop onto Zoom, and listen with my camera off. This was a “new normal” that became very comfortable for me after a short period of time. With that said, I love being on campus and feeling the constant energy of nearly 30,000 people.
Strangely, transitioning back to in-person classes feels more difficult than the initial transition to online classes. Maybe that’s because in-person classes require a lot more attention and drain your social battery faster. If you’re struggling to make the transition like myself and many others, here are my best tips for overcoming the initial hump:
Create a loose schedule. It doesn’t have to be hour by hour, but creating a day-to-day schedule may help you stay focused, prioritize your work, and minimize stress about turning things in on time. Ideally, you’ll create a routine that you can stick to, but won’t feel badly if you don’t follow it 100% of the time.
Put yourself out there during classes. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask questions, and talk to the people around you. Online classes made it feel awkward to answer questions over Zoom or difficult to strike up a conversation with a classmate. Talking to someone in class every day is a great way to start feeling more comfortable with being back in person.
In person classes create a very social environment. This usually means a lot of stimuli happening at once, especially in those 470 person Mahar lectures. I have found it extremely challenging to focus during large lectures, and recommend having something that can stop you from fixating on those distracting stimuli. Even just having a pen in my hand to play with helps me focus so much more.
Be patient. So many opportunities and responsibilities were thrown onto us in the matter of a few weeks and it can feel overbearing. We must remember that we just came out of a global pandemic, and are arguably still in it. We’ve all had different experiences this past year and a half so remember to be patient with yourself, peers, and professors. At the end of the day, we’re all doing the same things in life, why not be kind and helpful to each other.
In person exams. Realistically, online exams are way different than in person ones. Maybe you didn’t even bother to study or always kept notes out. With in person exams, that doesn’t fly. Give yourself ample time to prepare for in person exams, your brain isn’t used to cramming like it used to be!
Switch up your studying locations to avoid burnout and feeling like you’re living the same day over and over again. During remote learning, I found myself either studying in my bedroom, or on my kitchen counter. Having not been on campus before, I have pushed myself to explore new studying locations each week. The library is a great go-to, and the student union is another convenient place. Even your dorm’s common room is a small, yet significant change to feel refreshed.