End of the School Year: Reflection With Chronic Pain

June 21, 2021 | by Tess

Going to school in person with chronic pain is very challenging, but having school in an online setting causes new problems. For me, being on the computer for a long period of time causes my pain to increase, and it is harder to concentrate when I am sitting for a long period of time. Although it was a struggle at the beginning, I learned new coping techniques to manage my headache while doing school online. Here are some lessons I learned that help manage chronic pain during school.

1. It is ok to have off days and take breaks

Chronic pain is mentally draining, and sometimes you have bad days and are not able to function. You have to learn to advocate for yourself and communicate with your teachers. It is hard to learn this, but advocating for how you feel is very important because you are the only one who understands how you feel and your boundaries.

2. Create a schedule and take breaks throughout the day

During online school, it can be easy to stay on your computer the whole day. It is difficult to create a work-life balance. I learned that making a schedule is essential and having at least one hour to exercise, go outside, or do anything relaxing is important. This ensures you take time away from your computer and have a better work-life balance.

3. Set personal goals and activities to look forward to

At the beginning of each quarter, I set specific goals I wanted to achieve in my classes and planned activities I would look forward to. Online school can be draining and seem like the same schedule every day, so having a clear goal to work toward and a fun activity can increase productivity and motivation!

4. Limit time on your phone during class

At the beginning of the school year, I kept my phone right next to my desk. This did not work well because in the middle of class I would get distracted and use my phone. I learned to keep my phone across the room or in an area where I am not able to reach it during class so I can give my full attention to the lesson. This increased my productivity during class and limited my screen time.

5. Switch up your schedule

This year, with school being online, every day can feel the same. At the beginning, I had the same routine everyday. I learned it is important to make changes to your schedule so your days do not feel repetitive. I switch up my schedule by meeting friends, exercising, cooking, and going outside at least once a day!