For me, like many of my classmates, I was beginning my Junior year away from Cambridge in my childhood bedroom.

Throughout the past several months, we have all been forced to confront the chaos of the world in own unique ways. From a global pandemic to a polarizing national election and everything in between, I was ready to return to anything that would provide me a sense of normalcy. But with a return to school came a return to classes, assignments, projects and deadlines. Even with my desire to go back to academic routine, I realized that I would need to set new expectations and goals in this exceedingly unexpected world we are living in.

Below are some of the tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way this semester!

1. Celebrate ALL the wins (no matter how small).

No matter how much we want it to be, this school year is not normal (to say the least). And with that, it's not realistic of us to hold ourselves to the same wild standards we held ourselves to before. Whether it be finishing that homework set or finally sending that email that you have been dreading for weeks, treat yourself! For me, that sometimes looks like a bowl of cookies n’ cream ice cream and an episode of New Girl; other times it looks like taking the time to play a chess game with my younger brother. The basic principle remains true, take time to celebrate the wins as they come!

2. Taking a tech break is always the answer.

I don’t know about you, but I have never spent this much time in front of a screen in my life. My screen times have skyrocketed, everything from classes to homework to hanging out with friends is mediated by my computer screen. Most of my go-to forms of relaxation (tv, facetiming, ebooks etc..) are on an electronic of sorts. This semester, I’ve realized that taking time to just shut my computer screen can do wonders for my productivity and concentration later on. No one has ever done something revolutionary (or productive for that matter) with a migraine, so anything to prevent yourself from getting in that situation is key. Zoom fatigue and being ‘zoomed out’ are popular sayings now for good reason. Especially with the sun setting obscenely early now, taking the time between classes to go outside for a few minutes or stretching does wonders. 

3. Recreate your productive spaces.

My investment in a desk chair this semester was the most powerful move I’ve made this semester. With many libraries and coffee shops closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve had to reimagine my traditional places of productivity at home. Although it looks a little different, recreating some of my favorite study spaces on campus has helped me get in the zone when deadlines are rapidly approaching. For me, that looks like brewing a cup of Earl Grey tea and lighting my Honey Pumpkin candle, putting my phone in another room, and blasting my "you NEED (seriously, Nadya) to get work done" (I kid you not, that is the title) Spotify playlist in my earphones. For a few blissful hours, I can pretend I am back at my corner table at Capital One Peet’s in the Square, and it gets the job done.

And with that…

This school year is shaping up to be very different from anything that we’ve experienced before, whether you are just starting your college search, applying to universities, or are actively enrolled. But out identity as students remains the same, and I hope these tips and tricks help you as you think about what keeps you surviving and thriving through these wild times!