How to Transition Back to In-Person Learning
Whether you’re returning to school after a relaxing winter break, or this is the first time you’ve attended school in person in months, transitioning back to in-person school is hard. Read on for five tips to make resuming in-person school easier.
Sleep Schedule
It can be quite challenging to get your sleep schedule back on track when going back to school. Attending school in person might require you to wake up even earlier than you would need to for online school because of travel time, so going to sleep on time is extra important! Practice gradually going to bed a half hour earlier each night until you are back on the appropriate sleep schedule for school. It may be difficult at first, and you don’t have to fall asleep right away, but be sure you are putting your technology away and in bed earlier each night to regulate your sleep schedule again.
Morning Routine
Come up with a morning routine if you didn’t already practice one before break. Eating a balanced breakfast every morning before school will help fuel your mind to get through a long day of classes. Try to avoid scrolling on your phone immediately after you wake up- allowing yourself a few moments of stillness in the morning can help prevent you from feeling instantly rushed and overwhelmed by all the tasks and plans in your schedule. Overall, practicing a morning routine will help boost your focus, attention span, and productivity throughout the day.
Safety
Schools that are allowing students to return to in-person learning undoubtedly have plans in place to make attending school safer during the pandemic, but there are still more precautions you can take. Bring an extra mask- if yours gets dirty or breaks, it’s important to have a backup layer of safety. Additionally, review how to safely take off a mask. Only touch your mask by the ear loops, and be sure to wash your hands immediately upon removal without touching your face. Clean your masks after school. Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after eating lunch. And most importantly, stay home if you have any symptoms at all.
Distractions
There are a lot of extra stimuli present at school that can be more distracting than during online learning. Going to school surrounded by your peers again introduces social dynamics that have been lacking during online school and can take your focus away from your studies. While socializing is important, make sure you are doing so safely and during appropriate times. It can be exciting to be back in the classroom, but don’t let that take your attention away from your studies! Take notes, focus on one thing at a time, and socialize when the time is right (not in class).
Possibility of Switching Back to Virtual Learning
Finally, while returning to in-person learning can feel like a relief, don’t get too far ahead in your thinking. We are still in the middle of a catastrophic global pandemic, and the possibility still exists of returning to remote learning. Most schools have a threshold in place of COVID cases beyond which they will return to remote learning. This prospect makes following safety precautions to protect yourself and those around you all the more important!