D3:
I have found online learning to be a harder adjustment than I thought with the mundane look of zoom and the never-ending hours of electronic light. The only way to make it easier, was with a little bit of online shopping and researching for tips for surviving online learning. My recommendations range from items you can buy on Amazon to apps you can download on your laptop.

#1) Blue Light Glasses
The first thing that has saved my life during online school are blue light glasses. Before purchasing blue light glasses, I would finish classes every day with my eyes hurting from the endless beams of electronic light. After seeing multiple people on TikTok wearing them, I bought my first pair of blue light glasses. The one downfall is I did not realize that whoever is in your Zoom call can see what you are looking at when you wear your blue light glasses. I figured this out after a teacher pointed out my Instagram break I took while the rest of the class was discussing how to build business ideas.

#2) Laptop Stand
The next item on my list is a laptop stand. With online school, I find myself slouching over my laptop for at least five hours a day, more if I have a lot of homework or meetings. A laptop stand props up your laptop so you can keep your back straight while in class. The stand props your laptop up straight, forcing you to be level with it, preventing the urge to slouch. Your back will thank you.

#3) Trello App
I am definitely the type of person who does not like to spend a lot of money on myself so finding free ways to get organized was very exciting for me. One of the first apps I discovered is called Trello. Since there is no Marlborough planner for this year, I found it very difficult to have the freedom of buying my own planner. Trello allows you to see multiple to-do lists at once and lets you organize them any way you want. All your to-do lists together are called a “board” and you can have one for school and/or a personal one too. You can also move around your to-do list tasks if you want to move an assignment to another box. I love this app especially if you are a very visual person (like me) and I love being able to see all my tasks for every class (or non-school-related) that is all in one place.

#4) Stickies App
Another lifesaver is Stickies which comes preinstalled on your Apple computers. With school being online, it is extremely difficult to keep track of all my tests, meetings, homework, and after school activities. Stickies are like Post-It notes but on your computer. They are on your desktop and are easily accessible? I usually like to give any app my own personal touch, but Stickies has very limited ways to show my personal style. The only ways that I know of to style your Sticky note are by changing the color or the size of the font. I know it’s not nearly enough personalization for my liking, but it does help you stay motivated and organized.

These items have been my absolute lifesavers during this uncertain time. I highly recommend you try each one out to make your online school experience just a bit more bearable.