Studying at home comes with a cost

Studying at home can take a toll on students’ mental health and productivity levels. (Bongkarn Thanyakij, pexels)

Many university students have mixed feelings for the university’s decision to transition online amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all post-secondary educational institutions in Canada to transition online to continue teaching till the end of the academic year.

Rawan Hedefa, a University of Toronto international student, studying psychology in her third year, has some difficulties with studying from home.

“Despite loving being home, I miss my normal routine… going to class made me productive,” she said.

Online classes are not the best as what people thought. With all the advancements in technology, it still has its downsides. Many students prefer to have classes conducted in-person rather than online.

There are mixed reviews on remote working and working outside of the house, but it all comes down to having a dedicated space for work and studying. However, according to a news article, there is a difference between voluntarily working from home and a necessity to working from home.

Psychologically, if one must work from home, as the current situation, it can take a toll on their mental health. It is easy to get distracted by your surroundings, which is why there are still many people who prefer to stay out of the house. Our brains have committed the house to be the ‘relaxing spot.’

Hedefa’s tweet sharing her struggles with studying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Supplied by Hedefa)

“Studying at home is nice, saves me time with getting ready and commuting, but I am not as productive as I am when I study in the library,” she said.

Not only did universities transition online but they requested all students to move out of their dorms and empty their lockers.

Many universities have released statements, like Concordia, to inform students to move out of their dorms, with a short notice. For domestic students, it is solvable, however with international students who have limited to no support network, and with the international borders closed, it is difficult.

“I was given a 2 days’ notice to move out of the dorm…I had to pack everything but also find a space to stay within two days…I was very anxious,” a Concordia university student said.

The Concordia University student is an international student from Dubai, UAE and is studying business in Canada. This year was his first year at university and to be alone.

“I have online classes to attend and final exams to study for… It was a lot to take in for my first year,” he said.

He is now staying at his friend’s relative’s house until the borders open, for him to travel back home.

Many bloggers and lifestyle influencers have incorporated tips for working from home into their work. Whether they are new to the digital industry or not, they have used social media platforms like YouTube to help others and to show they are not alone in this.

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Written by
Mennatullah Shawky

A journalist in training.
Aspiring blog writer.
A coffee addict that loves to talk and try new things.

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