My fellow international students, how are we faring? Given that we’re already ending the second term, I hope that most of us have adjusted well, adapted your schedules, and developed productive study habits that will help you with your studies! But, if you’re currently not doing well or struggling to keep up with the workload and time zone difference, here are my tips on how to deal with 4 common struggles that us international students face!
Struggle 1: Time Zone Difference
Your school is located in the Philippines, but what if you don’t live there? Let’s say you're a few hours ahead or maybe a few hours behind, having this time zone difference can mean night and day. A time zone difference throws off your normal, balanced schedule. The best way to deal with this issue is by limiting yourself to one time zone, meaning you set the clocks near you to the time of your desired country, in our case the Philippines. You may also want to do the same to your phone, laptop, and other devices that you use throughout the day. If your devices don’t allow a time change, all you have to do is keep the hour difference in mind, and try your best to adjust to it. Based on my own experience, the time zone difference is 5 hours. Meaning that when it’s 8:00 am in the Philippines, it’s 3:00 am in Saudi Arabia. I do my best to limit myself to one time zone by setting my desk clock in the Philippines. However, my phone still uses cellular time, so I have to set my alarms according to the time difference to be in class on time.
Struggle 2: Getting Enough Shut Eye
This is what I struggled with most during the first few weeks of school. I had a messy sleep schedule that didn’t allow me to sleep for enough uninterrupted hours. As a result, I would always be tired, have painful migraines, and overall lacked focus during class. I combated this issue by sleeping according to Philippine time. I know, I know, it sounds sort of impossible, but getting enough sleep is crucial if you want to be at your best in class. In my case, I’m in bed by 5:00 pm as that’s 10 pm in the Philippines. This allows me to get 8 hours of sleep and still have spare time to prepare in the morning. Falling into the habit of maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is something that I advise everyone to do! Having a good night’s rest improves your focus, clarity of mind, and overall mood for the day to come.
Struggle 3: Distractions
Distractions are everywhere aren’t they? From the urges to check your phone to the messages on your laptop or PC themselves, these little distractions can be an obstruction to your focus and allocated learning time. They can also cloud your headspace and break your studious momentum. But of course, the reality of it is that some of us (like myself) can’t really “put away” their phones. It’s our method of communication, as well as a quick way to jot down miscellaneous things that pop into our heads. Nevertheless, the best way to stay focused during class hours is to put your phone on “do not disturb” mode. This goes for other of your devices as well to avoid receiving notifications. When a subject is over, you can momentarily turn it off, check whatever you have to, and simply turn it back on to DND. That way you can stay focused on what’s important and also be able to indulge in a short break time by checking messages.
Struggle 4: Feeling Overwhelmed
This obstacle is one that I still continue to struggle with from time to time. When tasks start piling on, deadlines get closer, and balancing academics and personal life becomes that much harder, things can get overwhelming. It starts to feel like you're a cup on the verge of overflowing. You find it hard to think clearly, and feel like everything is too much to handle. When you start feeling this way, the best solution is to stop everything you're doing, take a moment to breathe, organize your thoughts, and finally deal with your to-do list one task at a time. You can also further develop your sense of calm by drinking something soothing or reading a lighthearted novel to compose yourself. Whatever it is, it’s important to spare time for yourself, even if it’s just a moment. Take a breather, clear your headspace, and organize yourself, so that you’re better prepared to deal with what you must.
These 4 struggles along with how to deal with them are from what I personally experienced. I hope that some of you can relate, or even find this article helpful! Understanding what you’re up against is crucial in surviving, without knowing your adversary, you won’t know how to defeat them. In the same way, knowing what you're struggling with can help you come up with ways on how to deal with them, allowing you to perform at your best and fulfill your expectations.
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