Try These Tips To Reduce The Stress Caused By Increased Screen Time And Online Classes

Many schools have opted to turn to online learning in place of in person. Though this keeps us safe, it in turn gives many students a great amount of stress due to the increased screen time.

Sawyer Inserra

lifestyle · 5 min

Online school has become a new source of stress for students. On top of the usual stress that comes with school and homework, online learning brings in a new factor: time. Many teachers think that since you are not physically going to school for eight hours a day, you have more time to do schoolwork. This, however, is not true at all. Students are still taking the same course load they would've taken in person, but just because it's now all online doesn't mean that it's any less work.d

Another thing that plays a role in the stress of online school is activity or movement. Sitting in front of a computer for up to six hours at a time can be extremely draining. In physical school, you would find yourself walking from class to class and paying attention to a physical person teaching you, but with an online course, it is hard to stay in the same spot for however long your classes take.

Here are a few ways that students can use to relieve the stress of online schooling.

1. Stay social even though you are inside

Because you are not physically going to school, that means you are staying at home, which in turn means you are not seeing your friends that you'd typically see at school. Even to introverts like myself, this becomes a real stressor as time goes on; not seeing almost anyone except for my three roommates for months at a time is extremely taxing on my mental health.

To help relieve the stress of staying at home all day and not seeing your friends, you need to keep social. Make sure that you take quality safety measures when you go out, but going out nonetheless is necessary for everyone. Seeing others can help you focus on something other than school for a while.

2. Exercise regularly

Exercise is a great way to relieve any kind of stress, but it will significantly help with the stress of online classes. Sitting in front of a computer for hours at a time can make you tired, anxious, and of course, very stressed. Taking time to exercise will help your body to remain alert and active.

You don't have to go to the gym for three hours or do anything that drastic by any means, but any simple exercise will help. Going on a short walk, just getting out of the house, will help.

3. Manage your time wisely

With online school, time management is a must. Since you are now all on your own and have the entire day to do your schoolwork, it's very easy to forget your responsibilities and procrastinate.

Managing your time wisely will help reduce your stress by making you less overwhelmed. Looking at a sheet of paper with all the things you have yet to do can be very stressful, but if you can break that down into certain time slots for each task, you may find that you are no longer overwhelmed.

4. Take Breaks in between your busy schedule

Taking breaks is an essential thing to do when taking online classes. It can be easy to get in the groove of homework or simply get caught up in the millions of things you need to do that you end up going for hours on end. This, however, is not healthy for your mental or physical health.

Taking a break from your schoolwork while taking classes at home can be very beneficial in multiple ways. A short break can help you regain your energy, your attentiveness, and even your motivation.

5. Do Something You Enjoy

This goes along with taking breaks. Take a break from your schoolwork to do something that you enjoy doing, a hobby, or anything that makes you happy.

I often take breaks from schoolwork to either write (for fun, yes), watch a tv show that I like, or maybe get outside for a little bit if the weather allows.

6. Get Outside to relieve stress

spend some time outside — Image source: pexels.com

Going outside is a great way to relieve stress. Sitting inside all day in front of a computer is draining, but sitting out in the sun will definitely help you feel a little bit better at least. You don't have to do anything active if you don't want to, you can simply sit outside and read or just rest for a while.

7. Bring Your Schoolwork Outside

If short breaks of outdoor time aren't enough for you, try bringing your schoolwork outside. Doing schoolwork outside in the nice weather can be very stress-relieving. With a nice breeze and the warm sun, you can relax while also getting work done.

I often find that taking breaks stresses me out even more because all I can think about is all the homework I have yet to do so, for me, going outside to do homework is a great way to relieve my stress. If it's a nice day, I'll almost always find myself sitting outside in the sun doing my homework. Sure, it's harder to see my computer screen, but that's a small sacrifice.

Another benefit of going outside to do your schoolwork is a change of scenery. I used to love going to a coffee shop to do my homework because it was a nice change of scenery from my desk at home. Of course, coffee shops these days aren't really open to seating so going outside is the best option for me.

8. Take a Breath

take a breath and don't stress — Image source: pexels.com

Simply taking a breath may help with your stress. Sitting back and taking a deep breath, realize that you do indeed have the time to finish your work and that you will indeed finish it because you are very capable. Simply believing in yourself can help you go a long way.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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MinimalistHappiness 3 years ago

The article should address the challenges of staying motivated without peer interaction.

Jasmine_Love 3 years ago

Setting boundaries between school and personal time is crucial for mental health.

MarthaX 3 years ago

The lack of direct interaction with professors makes learning more difficult.

HolisticHarmony 3 years ago

I actually prefer the flexibility of online classes for managing my schedule.

Sacred-Serenity_2024 3 years ago

The transition to online learning has been harder than I expected.

James-Michael 3 years ago

Having a study routine has become more important than ever.

Sylvia_Murray 3 years ago

The article makes good points but oversimplifies some of the challenges.

EsmeR 3 years ago

I've found that regular video calls with friends help combat isolation.

BrodyRodriguez 3 years ago

The mental exhaustion from online learning is different from regular school fatigue.

AmeliaJoy_88 3 years ago

Setting small daily goals helps me feel less overwhelmed.

SavannahJenkins 3 years ago

I miss the structure that came with physical school.

SelenaB 3 years ago

The article should mention how important it is to maintain regular eating habits.

DreamHorizon 3 years ago

I appreciate being able to learn at my own pace with recorded lectures.

CoralineX 3 years ago

Finding motivation without the usual classroom environment is challenging.

LunarEcho 3 years ago

The lack of hands-on learning experiences is a major downside of online classes.

Hadley_Starlit 3 years ago

I've started using blue light glasses and they help reduce eye strain.

GracePerez 3 years ago

The physical strain from increased screen time is seriously underestimated.

Tori_Glow 3 years ago

Creating a dedicated study space has helped me separate school from relaxation time.

Aurora_C 3 years ago

I actually feel less stressed without the social pressures of physical school.

ClairePeterson 3 years ago

The article should address how to handle distractions at home during class time.

Liam 3 years ago

I've found that keeping a regular sleep schedule helps manage stress better.

Ella_Blossom 3 years ago

The suggestion about breaks is good but hard to implement with back-to-back classes.

Genesis 3 years ago

I miss the energy of a physical classroom environment.

Kelsey-Fleming 3 years ago

The stress relief tips are helpful but don't address the root cause of overwhelming workload.

NicholasBailey 3 years ago

Setting up a proper desk space made a huge difference in my focus and productivity.

YogaFlowDaily 3 years ago

I find it harder to participate in class discussions online.

Margo_Light 3 years ago

The article should mention the importance of having a backup plan for tech failures.

InnerLight_Shining_555 3 years ago

I've actually improved my time management skills because of online learning.

AndrewHall 3 years ago

The social aspect is important but we shouldn't feel pressured to maintain the same level of interaction.

BrandonS 3 years ago

Taking notes by hand instead of typing helps me stay focused during online lectures.

CodeBreak3r 3 years ago

I appreciate how the article acknowledges that online learning isn't easier just because we're home.

ChloeWalker 3 years ago

Group projects are even more challenging online than they were in person.

DelilahL 3 years ago

The stress of poor internet connection during important lectures is real.

Brianna-Price 3 years ago

I've found that changing my study location within my house helps prevent boredom.

SecretSpecter 3 years ago

The suggestion about believing in yourself sounds nice but doesn't help with actual workload.

Paisley_Luxe 3 years ago

Creating a morning routine has helped me transition better into online learning mode.

NyxH 3 years ago

I miss the casual conversations with classmates before and after lectures.

Christina_Star 3 years ago

The article should address the financial stress of needing better tech equipment.

XantheM 3 years ago

Setting boundaries with family members during class time has been challenging.

Lauer_Live 3 years ago

I've noticed my anxiety has increased significantly with online learning.

Juliana 3 years ago

The tip about doing something enjoyable is crucial. We need those mental breaks.

Isaac 3 years ago

Having a study buddy on video chat helps me stay accountable.

Macy-Woods 3 years ago

I find it harder to ask questions in online classes. The whole raise hand feature is awkward.

Lowry_Ledger 3 years ago

The article should mention how important it is to have a good chair for back support.

GenesisOwens 3 years ago

I started doing yoga between classes and it helps with both physical and mental stress.

HappyGut_HappyLife 3 years ago

My sleep schedule has been completely thrown off by online classes.

HolisticHappiness 3 years ago

Taking breaks seems counterproductive when I have so much work, but I know they're necessary.

MilesBennett 3 years ago

The point about movement is crucial. I feel so sluggish sitting all day.

HackerVision 3 years ago

I actually love being able to record lectures and review them later. That's one advantage of online learning.

Tess_Rose 3 years ago

These tips would be more helpful if teachers were more understanding about workload.

WholeBody_Health_2024 3 years ago

The lack of separation between school and home life is what stresses me out most.

MarinaX 3 years ago

Anyone tried studying outside? I want to but worry about WiFi connection.

Brooklyn 3 years ago

I've found that regular meditation helps me handle the stress of online classes better.

Molly_Brooks 3 years ago

The article understates how hard it is to focus during online lectures. My mind wanders constantly.

Martha_Breezy 3 years ago

Exercise is great but finding motivation to work out alone at home is tough.

SkylarJane 3 years ago

My productivity improved when I started treating online school like regular school - getting dressed and having a dedicated study space.

MonicaH 3 years ago

I disagree that we need to stay social. Some of us are thriving with less social interaction.

Claire_72 3 years ago

The part about time management is spot on. I had to create a strict schedule to stay on track.

InnerPeaceInMotion 3 years ago

I've actually found online learning less stressful because I can work at my own pace.

Olbermann_Observations 4 years ago

These tips are good but they don't address the tech issues that make online learning so frustrating.

DelilahCole 4 years ago

I miss the structure of physical school. Online learning requires so much more self-discipline.

NatalieJ_98 4 years ago

The suggestion about staying social is important but hard to implement with current restrictions.

SerotoninSeeker 4 years ago

Sometimes I feel guilty taking breaks, but I've learned they're absolutely necessary for staying productive.

NeonFuturist 4 years ago

I've found that maintaining a regular exercise routine helps me stay energized for online classes.

TranquilityVibes 4 years ago

The tip about bringing schoolwork outside is great but my laptop screen glare makes it almost impossible.

AlondraH 4 years ago

Anyone else notice they're more exhausted after a day of Zoom classes than regular school? It's weird how draining screen time can be.

Positivity-Path_777 4 years ago

Getting outside has been crucial for my mental health during online learning. Even just a 10-minute walk makes a difference.

SelfWorthMatters 4 years ago

I started using the Pomodoro technique mentioned in the time management section and it's helped me stay focused.

CamillaM 4 years ago

My neck and shoulders are killing me from hunching over my laptop. Anyone else having this problem?

Fritz_Focus 4 years ago

I actually prefer online classes. No commute time and I can study in my pajamas!

CyberWave 4 years ago

The part about teachers thinking we have more time really hits home. If anything, online work takes longer than in-person assignments.

GenevieveHawkins 4 years ago

Managing time is my biggest challenge. I keep thinking I have all day to do work but end up procrastinating until late at night.

Mandy_Twilight 4 years ago

The social isolation has been the hardest part for me. Video calls just aren't the same as seeing friends in person.

SierraH 4 years ago

I've found that doing 5-minute stretching breaks between classes makes a huge difference in my energy levels.

Ruby-Fisher 4 years ago

These tips are helpful but let's be real - online learning is still way more stressful than in-person classes ever were.

Tessa-Gibson 4 years ago

Taking my work outside has been a game changer for me. I set up a little study space on my patio and the fresh air helps me focus so much better.

SerenityHoward 4 years ago

I really relate to the struggle of sitting in front of a computer all day. My eyes are so tired by the end of classes!