Welcome to the fourth in a series of tips, tricks, and techniques for success through eLearning – online classes. These ideas come from a wide variety of eLearning resources and best practices. The blog’s goal is to help you stay physically and mentally fit so you can spend the right amount of time doing well in your online classes.
Here the links for previous blogs in this series:
Tip 1 – Get Set Up for Success
Tip 2 – Ready, Tech, Go
Tip 3 – Actions You Can Take
Finding Time for Physical Fitness
Some students taking online classes – especially if they’re squeezing them in while also employed – might sacrifice what used to be a regularly scheduled exercise time. Sure, getting good grades is important, but so is staying fit. So, how to get maximum exercise out of minimum time or get workouts in when your favorite fitness center isn’t open?
A closed sign at the gym or fitness center does tend to activate the “Let’s skip it” gene. When that’s the case, try recapturing your motivation with online videos or apps that bring the exercise experience into your workout space at home. A quick search for “at-home workouts” will give you plenty of options.
Here are a few recommended apps to get you going:
Also, remember there are many workout options on YouTube. And if you still want a basic, all-in-one workout routine you can do at home with no equipment, check this one out:
Another easy way to stay fit and alert is to walk. Add more exertion by walking briskly or by finding sets of stairs. The recommendation for steps per day is 10,000 to 15,000 – and approximately 4,000 steps equals one mile. Measure your progress using one of many free apps, such as Pacer.
Bonus Section: 5 Tips for Staying Mentally, Emotionally Strong
1. Prioritize your self-care. Self-neglect has a cumulative effect, experts say. Be wary of peer pressure to skip your best study or test-taking strategies. Pay attention to your self-rhythms. If you need a dose of music, a 15-minute run, talk to a friend, or quiet time for a mindfulness exercise, do that. According to the Mayo Clinic, a few minutes every day meditating helps prevent depression, fatigue, and insomnia.
2. Don’t worry; take action. You’re human, so you’re pre-wired to worry – just don’t let it become an obsession. Sure, that upcoming test is 25% of your grade. Don’t concentrate on a bad outcome. Write down a list of actions you can take to ensure your best-possible success.
3. Stop aiming for perfect. Social research shows a 33% increase in perfectionism over the past decade. Guard against that by figuring out what your best “you” looks like and keep making progress to your goals.
4. Embrace turmoil. Anything worth doing will be hard, and anyone who tells you differently is sugar-coating the truth. Unforeseen events can derail careful planning. An online class you desperately need can be canceled. There might not be a clear-cut answer right away, but work the problem until the right solution presents itself.
5. Community is your friend. Few people are full-on extroverts or introverts, so look for the right amount of community interaction that satisfies you. For even the smartest of students, self-isolation can disrupt emotional well-being.
Online Classes at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been on a mission to create a healthier world. It’s a mission where we’re seeking to deliver everything we do at a higher level.
CUKC offers chiropractic and health science degrees:
Many prerequisite classes for CUKC degrees are available as online classes.
Discover the right CUKC academic degree program for you today by visiting us at cleveland.edu or by contacting one of our academic advisors.