Online Learning Must Haves

Starting the school year with the right supplies is always a must - and online learning is no exception! Finding a space that works well with your study schedule is my number one tip to succeed, along with supplies to keep you on task and focused while learning. So, here are my top online learning must haves to help you succeed this school year!

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BLUE LIGHT GLASSES

If you don’t own some already, blue light glasses are an essential item for successful online learning. Let’s be real - we already spend entirely too much time with our eyes on a screen outside of our normal day-to-day, and adding another 7 hours to the mix is far from ideal. 

Blue light, the type of light that is emitted from your screen, can strain and cause negative effects on your eyes. As someone who has worn prescription glasses since the second grade, I am not trying to damage these fragile little things if I can avoid it. 

While blue light glasses do not perfectly block all of the blue light coming from a screen, they are a physical reminder to keep your distance from your screen. Be sure to keep your distance from your screen whenever you can, and get into the healthy habit looking away from your screen about every 20 minutes. Looking at objects farther away actually relaxes your eyes, while focusing on things up close for long periods of time do the opposite.

Plus - to all your girls who styled plastic frames in elementary school for fashion reasons, you can find really cute and stylish pairs for a reasonable price. Total win!

PLANNER

Organization in college is everything. Finding a planner or agenda to keep you on track is my number one college tip. Find what works best for you! Whether it’s an online calendar or a physical book, get into a routine of organizing your life to meet your personal needs. 

Because of the number of classes, assignments, meetings, and appointments there are to keep track of during the school year, I typically use both a physical and online planner to keep organized. It’s excessive, I know, but I am always adjusting how I keep track of the many different tasks I have at hand. 

For school, Google Calendars is extremely organized and super convenient. You can pull up your schedule at any moment on any device - which is ideal. You have the option to color code events, receive notifications, and view per month, week, or day. My biggest piece of advice is to keep your calendars specific to what works for you, in order to keep down your stress level. 

I keep two calendars, one for class times, meetings, and appointments, and the other for due dates and assignments. That way, the amount of events per day is manageable and easy to comprehend.

For assignments and tasks outside of school, I use a physical planner. There is definitely some crossover in my organization, but a physical planner is great to see what you need to get done by the end of the day. For me, this ranges from calling my dentist to sending an email to turning in a finished assignment. 

HEADPHONES

Whether you are listening to a lecture or your favorite study playlist, headphones are the best way to reduce distractions around you and keep you from disturbing others. Regardless of the brand, reliable headphones can help keep you focused on your task at hand.