A reminder to keep mental health in mind when choosing classes
Throughout July, during our last weeks of freedom, we spent at least a few hours
Throughout July, during our last weeks of freedom, we spent at least a few hours strategically planning a schedule that would define the months to come. We met with counselors, visited Berkeleytime and Rate My Professors far too many times and consulted with friends to make the ideal schedule that would get us as far as we could go in three short months. However, a few weeks into the semester, we all simultaneously realized something: “Zoom University” is very different from the lectures in Wheeler Hall, and there is no Doe Library nestled between our living room and kitchen. Instead, we found ourselves diagnosed with Zoom fatigue and a small case of procrastination, or, for the lucky, a newfound sense of productivity.
The announcement of the spring semester being primarily online presents a pressing need for adjustment in our lives, including our work lives, social lives and, most importantly, in our upcoming schedules. This semester has given us a taste of regular virtual learning and how we react to it, which should be the most important factor in planning our spring schedules. Have you found that morning classes were a bit hard to wake up to this semester? Or have night classes conflicted too much with your quarantine wind-down routine? If you have found yourself in a constant state of distress, then be sure to spend the next semester fulfilling easier requirements or taking classes you are passionate about. If you found that Zoom University unlocks your inner Albert Einstein, then build your schedule around your newfound confidence.
Overall, online classes have been a challenge for many of us, and the most important thing we should learn from them is how crucial maintaining our mental health is, especially in the upcoming semester. Zoom fatigue is a very real issue, and staying focused or simply staying happy in the virtual world has a direct correlation with our performance in our classes. So, it’s important to really think about and reflect on the classes you enroll in, not just for the requirements they fulfill, but how much of a burden they will be on your mental health. Don’t be scared if you don’t want to enroll in that calculus class for next semester; there is nothing wrong with fulfilling your American Cultures requirement first. This year has been full of constant change, so there is nothing wrong with changing a bit for the sake of your mental health.
Contact Isabella Carreno at [email protected].