Across the UK, schools have thankfully reopened this week as part of the roadmap out of lockdown. Our children’s education is so important, so it is very pleasing that pupils are back learning. Last September, we published a blog providing useful tips for children starting a new academic year. There are some suggestions that following the recent school closures the spring and summer terms may last longer, whilst school days may also be extended to help pupils catch up on work.
Pupils may be facing increased pressure with their education, which could lead to them experiencing more stress in an already difficult time. With this in mind, we want to provide some useful tips, both on how to be more productive and efficient with work, and on how best to deal with any anxiety that you may be feeling due to these demands.
How to be more productive
Returning to school after a long time away is always tricky. Adjusting yourself back into attending classes, combined with completing many assignments is never simple and often takes time. Add in the fact that many children haven’t seen their friends for a few months, being productive will be more challenging. Firstly, despite how much work needs to be done it is important not to overwhelm yourself. Attempting hours on end, seven days a week is never a good idea and will only result in anxiety and more stress. Taking regular study breaks will result in you being more efficient with your work, whilst also preventing you from becoming more stressed. You will know how many study breaks you need to take in order to be more efficient, which is why it is essential that you know your work capacity. Some children may take longer than others with their studies, others need less time, but knowing how long you can work for in a day will hugely help with both your academic and mental well-being. Something that will significantly improve your productivity is to make a daily schedule. If you start your day with a clear idea of what you need to achieve, working through daily schedules will lead to greater productivity and efficiency.
How to study effectively
Being organised is the most useful tip for any pupil to know. As schools have been disrupted regularly for the past year, it can be challenging to stay motivated consistently. It will also be difficult to manage the work that needs to be done, combined with socialising or other aspects of life. Taking your time and setting out a clear plan on what needs to be achieved, with your education or career will make your life a lot simpler, as you will feel more comfortable and relaxed about your day-to-day routine. Moreover, getting into the routine of being organised will massively benefit you later on in life, particularly with your career. Regularly interacting with your teachers is essential, particularly after being away from school for so long. You should certainly make the most of the time you spend in the classroom. The uncertainty around life in general during these times means that you should appreciate their help more so than ever. I’m sure teachers will enjoy the interaction, so feeling comfortable enough to go to them for help will aid your studies.
How to deal with stress
We’ve discussed in previous blogs the impact Covid-19 is having on our children’s mental health and what our aims are to help combat this major issue. As stated, it is hugely important that schools are open again and this will definitely assist many children with their mental well-being. However, with the amount of work to come, including catching up on missed work, added with the ambiguity of children’s futures in terms of universities and careers, it is natural for them to feel increased pressure and stress. There are a number of useful ways that help in avoiding these feelings, most often starting with simple life-habits such as healthy eating and exercise. Our New Year’s resolutions blog addressed how healthy eating and exercise can lead you into feeling a lot less anxious as you start to feel more positive about yourself. As lockdown restrictions will gradually start to ease, the more opportunities you will have to connect with people. It cannot be understated how useful it is to talk with your friends and family about how you truly feel. We are encouraging many school children to come and connect with us as part of our ‘Someone To Talk To’ project. Feeling like you can connect with those around you will help you feel more at ease and manage your stress through both your education and personal life. Lastly, try and stay as positive as you can. We’re edging closer to normal life and summer is around the corner. There is more to be optimistic about than you may think and trying to stay positive is vital in coping with stress.
Little Lives UK are thrilled to see children back in school and learning again. We cannot wait to reopen ourselves and are very excited to welcome you all back into our stores. We have to wait a little longer however until we can, but in the meantime, if you’d like to donate any funds or electronic items to help us out, then please feel free to. There are a number of exciting projects we are planning for when we can reopen which will require your support, so please, if you can, support Little Lives UK.
