A Healthy Environment for Remote Learning: Dorm & Housing Must-Haves For A Virtual-Ish Semester

No Mom like I need the Kylie Jenner poster it’s for my mental health.

by CHLOE HECHTER ★ JULY 29, 2020

If this summer were a movie, it would be a lot less Wet Hot American Summer and a lot more Groundhog Day, honestly probably starring Dixie D’Amelio as the love interest. As we anxiously wait to get the f*ck out of our childhood homes and go back to school, it’s hard to feel productive with everything still very much up in the air. A large majority of college courses are taking place online this semester, and although we’re psyched to be back in ‘Cuse, settling into a new routine can give us that out-of-control feeling that we wish was only reserved for Saturday nights. In order to create the most positive and productive lifestyle for the “new normal,” let’s focus on some of the things we CAN control—namely our personal classrooms, A.K.A. our dorm rooms.

Decoration & Capturing Your *Vibe*

Attempting to do 19 credits worth of online classes from a dimly lit, blank-walled prison space won’t do us any good. Since we’re going to be spending WAY more time in our living spaces than usual, we want to curate a space that we love—trust me, the extra $16.00 on neon pink LED lights will be worth your A in WRT 205, and I swear by that. But seriously, decorations don’t have to break the bank and can completely brighten your generic university dorm room. Finding the right wall art and bedding completely sets the tone for your working environment, so look for the colors and designs that make you feel the most like yourself; this will put you in the best possible headspace, which will ultimately lead to an overall more successful first semester.

My roommates and I are currently obsessed with PosterFi; whether you’re looking for a soft pink aesthetic, channeling your inner baddie, or you just really love Harry Styles, their wide variety of posters that cost only $6.00 apiece will have your room looking straight out of a Dormify ad. Cozy throw blankets are everything, in my opinion; not only are they great for (obviously masked) snuggles and the #1 accessory for *class in bed*, but they’re an adorable accent piece for any bedding.

Organization & Planning

If you know me, you know I love a good planner. Keeping all of your assignments and tasks in one place not only keeps you more organized, but it will help you with time management and balancing even the most chaotic of schedules. Having a planner that you love will motivate you to keep tabs on any important dates, from due dates to birthdays to actual (socially distant) dates. And let’s be real: is there anything in this WORLD more satisfying than crossing a task off of your list? Name a better feeling, I dare you.

Keeping your desk organized is also a huge factor in your productivity, so make sure to wipe up those Taki crumbs, throw away that piece of paper that you were definitely saving for some reason but now it’s kinda just there, and get to work. Keeping your writing utensils, computer charger, and make-up in an orderly fashion will not only alleviate distraction, but it will provide an almost office-like space for your classes. Feeling *professional* also might cushion the blow of doing work alone in your dorm; taking intro to psych and taking names, of course.

Food & Nourishment

I definitely sound like the “make sure you’re eating healthy” text that you get from your mother on the regular, but having a proper diet is a major factor in your productivity. Since dining is a bit up in the air and we may have woken up five minutes before our online 8AMs, having snacks and our go-to dorm meals on hand is a must. There are so many healthy, protein packed recipes that you can make with only your *microfridge* and a dream, so here are some things you can definitely add to your grocery list:

Oats are non-perishable, and you can find so many amazing overnight oat recipes using your fave dairy free milk substitute and a small container.
Nut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fat, and can go on your oats, bread, or literally just a spoon (come on, we’ve all done it).
Frozen fruit is the perfect healthy snack, desert, or *oats topping* to keep in your freezer. Bonus: freezer storage means it will last longer!
Hummus (A.K.A. God’s GIFT to humankind) is an easy grab & go snack to keep in your fridge, and you can use it as a dip with veggies or chips or use it to add a little SPICE to a frozen dinner.
Trader Joe’s frozen meals whether you’re craving pizza, burritos, or Chinese food, Trader Joe’s frozen section has a delicious variety of frozen, microwavable meals in every cuisine.
Frozen veggie burgers because if you haven’t hopped on the veggie burger train yet, you absolutely MUST. Vegetarian or not, this easy-to-make, super yummy source of plant-based protein goes with anything.

Exercise & Movement

For those of us telling ourselves that this was the year we were going to start going to the gym on the reg (RIP), there are still ways to raise your endorphins in close quarters. Exercising might seem like your own personal circle of hell at first, but it’s been scientifically proven that—*sigh*—the release of endorphins that exercise gives actually makes you feel incredible. With the time in between classes spent in your room, I would suggest getting a yoga mat for your favorite online workout classes, turning on your go-to playlist, and getting your move on; all you really need is a mat’s worth of space! Cheap yoga mats can be found at Target and Wal-mart, but if you’re looking for something more advanced and eco-friendly, you should check out sites like ecowarriorprincess and ourgoodbrands!

If your dorm is spacious enough, some online workouts also encourage the use of little hand-held weights. Being mostly indoors doesn’t mean we have to be lazy!

At this point, hearing the phrase “new normal” is enough to make us straight up barf, but instead of ignoring it, let’s own it by owning our space. Although we’ll miss our usual weekend routines of anything but social distancing, we’ll learn to appreciate staying in and watching a movie—with our overnight oats to snack on, obviously. With these small tweaks, your personal space will feel less like a quarantine and more like a home.

Cover photo credit: Pinterest (@dormify)

UGirlJuly 29, 2020