Anxiety is perpetuated by distance learning, especially if that distance learning has no face-to-face interaction. Thoughts such as “I can’t get ahold of the lecturer; they can’t expect us to study the whole book!” are just one of the things that can run through the mind of someone struggling with anxiety while trying to get their degree. To give you a better idea of what it looks like, imagine thinking of 100 million things all at once and not being able to decide what needs to be done first, or being unable to respond to someone because you forgot what they asked you in the large whirlwind bashing around your mind. Imagine what attempting to study looks like.

The responsibility of learning falls directly on your ear-high shoulders. Most of the time the reason behind not working is that you will do it when you feel better and you will feel better when you do it – a classic anxiety ‘calm down’ line. With that being said, once the panic passes, because it does, and assignments have made their way out of the anxiety storm, a clear sky slowly becomes visible and there is an opportunity to make a change to the panic-struck cycle.

Here are a few tips in calming the anxiety storm to the benefit of learning:

1. Clean your house/room/desk

Having a pile of papers on your desk, which you say you don’t mind, can cause anxiety and avoidance of the assignments that desperately need preparation. This results in the symptoms of anxiety being heightened and harder to control. Knowing where to find everything and having it in a safe place will make working easier and more manageable when the anxiety storm comes. Do what works for you – if going digital means less physical clutter, and creates a better place for you to work, maintain a neat and clean desktop. A messy desk can easily result in a messy mind!

2. Read through assignments and all online content

Reading through your content will help to familiarise yourself with what’s to come. You probably won’t remember it all at once but things you have an interest in and enjoy will pop up in your mind when they’re needed. This helps to lower the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the assignments and tasks and helps you to start mentally preparing for the work.

3. Set up a realistic schedule that will cater for bad days, or busy days or just life in general

By doing this you won’t beat yourself up with guilt about not being able to study, or having a sick day. Factor in an admin hour where you see fit. If you keep up with emails and phone calls you will feel more grounded and aware of what is happening in your distance learning bubble.

4. Self-care

Anxiety sometimes has the company of low self-esteem, which is dangerous when you don’t meet your goals for the day. Positive inner dialogue is key in this, speaking to yourself kindly and appreciating the time off will make the next day more manageable. Less guilt and more grace results in productivity soaring, even in the clouds of anxiety.

5. Sleep and exercise

Lack of sleep has been attributed to intensifying the symptoms of mental illness and this is the case for people with anxiety. Sleep helps to recharge the body while exercise alleviates the symptoms of anxiety and boosts confidence. This is useful when spending all day at your desk.

6. Email and phone your lecturers

Sometimes you may find that there are areas of your studies that you don’t understand, and which largely relate to your assignments. Get ahead of the crowd and send personalised emails to your lecturers where you introduce yourself and mention your concerns and problem areas. Allow ample time for your lecturers to reply, eliminating the stress of constantly checking your emails with approaching deadlines.

You create your own coping mechanisms and routines that determine your own level of productivity. However, when you feel low and need some help, it’s always beneficial to try new ways of coping with the anxiety of your distance learning.