How to deal with being a digital marketing student during the pandemic

One of the many aspects Covid-19 has impacted is education. We are all adjusting to many changes, especially students attending University! Here at Girls in Marketing, we want to inform you about some of the changes in Uni life, so you know what to expect when returning. Some are even beneficial to your learning environment! Here’s how to deal with being a digital marketing student during the pandemic.

Online learning

Being surrounded by your peers in a virtual format rather than in person can feel a bit strange at first, but online lectures do have many benefits. The main one is you don’t have to get up and travel. This allows students to study at home, save travel costs and have extra time after their alarm goes off! Online lectures will vary depending on what University you attend and which subject you study. Some may have live lectures and seminars, pre-recorded or a mix of the two. Live lectures allow you to keep on top of your work and get that extra support, as you can usually ask questions right then and there. Pre-recorded lectures can be valuable and allow you to take in information at your pace so key information is not missed. You can complete them in your own time, just remember to stay on top of them. With studying online, ensure you take regular breaks when you can and step away from your screen. Keep hydrated too, as this will help you focus. This will help to ensure you look after your mental health first.

University is a lot quieter than usual

Before and after lockdown, it’s a strange experience adapting to social distancing and wearing masks, but on top of that, we still need to focus on our University work. Classes will reduce in size, but hey, you get a desk all to yourself and get more of a personal teaching experience. All Universities have different restrictions but if you can visit campus make sure to take advantage of the resources you need.

Having to be more alert

Having more online work to complete requires you to be more organised than ever. If not, it’s easy to fall behind and lose track of what you’re supposed to be doing. You’ll also have to be more vocal through emails if you’re feeling a bit stuck. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or book a zoom call with a lecturer as they are there to help you even if you’re not seeing them face to face.

Be social with your bubble

It’s a difficult time at the moment which makes it very important to talk to those around you. You shouldn’t write off your flatmates straight away and it’s important to make an effort with them. With social activity being limited and disrupted this year, the time you’ll be spending with your flatmates will be even higher. You could arrange film nights or meals inside your home. Restrictions are constantly changing and hindering our social lives. There are online events that you can get yourself immersed in allowing you to network and meet new people. Joining the Girls in Marketing Facebook group is a great start in meeting likeminded, empowering people and making new friends virtually. This all may sound daunting, but you’ve got this! The main challenge is adapting to this new lifestyle, creating a routine, being self-motivated and looking after yourself. Not all of the changes are bad and some you may find better than before. Remember that you’re capable of so much and that you’re not studying digital marketing during the pandemic by yourself. Written by Sally Nicholson