● Get out your planners and write down what assignments you have and when they are due. Then make a priority list on which ones you will work on first, second, etc. Your list will be customized to you- Do you like to do the shortest ones first? Some like to take the longest or hardest one and chunk it into smaller bits to work on each day. Make sure you set a specific time to be doing your work, but don't forget to also set aside some time to just chill and relax.

● You may be tempted to stay in your pjs all day. However, staying in your pjs tells your brain that it can relax and get ready for bed and sleep. Keep your routine, get up, eat, and get dressed. Tell your brain and your body that you are ready to work and learn and be productive.

● Make sure you are checking due dates and turning in your work.

Communication

● Your school accounts have been enabled with lots of new communication features. You should use those features to stay in touch with each other, but make sure you’re being respectful and appropriate. If you’re in a chat or hangout and someone is being inappropriate, ask them to stop. If they don’t stop, remove them from the chat or leave the chat yourself.

● Make sure you are communicating clearly and honestly with your teachers. If you feel like they are assigning too much work, tell them. If their communication isn’t clear, ask them for clarification. Teachers may think that your silence means everything is going well.

Mental Health

● Create and maintain a schedule. Because you're not coming to school everyday or doing the things you typically do during the week, the days can begin to blend together. Establish a schedule for your schoolwork, exercise, and relaxation. This will help you develop a sense of normalcy and control over certain aspects of your life.

● Be aware of how much time you’re spending on your phone.

● Don’t spend 6-8 hours a day doing school work. Take some time to watch a movie, take a walk, play a game, reconnect with your family, clean and organize your room, watch some youtube tutorials and learn a new skill.

● Keep in mind that with so much in our world currently out of our control, these are things you CAN control! And don’t forget, if it all starts to feel like too much, talk to those people who care about you whether it’s family, friends or your counselor.

Physical Health

● The American Heart Association recommends getting at least two and a half hours per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity. Here are 6 tips recommended by fitness expert Anna Goldfarb

● Start bringing movement into tiny moments such as squats during commercials or heel raises during dished and side lunges while you do laundry. Plank every hour for 30 seconds

● Improvise for tools. Use cans as weights, crawl, skip and jump

● Get your heart rate up. Go up and down the stairs several times. March in place do jumping jacks or jog in place.

● Get outside and walk around, even for just 15 minutes

● Stretch it out for at least 30 seconds

● Work on your breathing because anxiety is real. Take moments to just breathe deeply.

ADD/ADHD

Having ADHD and doing schoolwork at home can have it’s challenges. Here are a few tips from Sharon Saline, PSY.D.

● Carve Out Chunks of Time.

● Break your day into chunks including learning, chores, activities, personal breaks and work activities.

● Focus on Big Goals and Forget the Small Stuff

● Consider what you have to get done with school first ● Don’t Fudge Wake Up and Bed Times

● Pick specific times for waking up, getting started on studying and going to bed.

● Set New Screen Time Limits

● Set alarms, turn off notifications, schedule chats with friends

● Collaborate with others

● Communicate with your parents on your daily goals and schedule, do homework with others through chats

● Put your schedule in writing and place it where you can see it