How Staying Home All Day May Be Beneficial to College Students

With college students kicked off of campuses and forced to stay home nationwide, many of these students see this pandemic as totally negative. While most of it may be, its effects may also be somewhat beneficial to college students, especially in regards to distractions that are now nonexistent.

Distractions among students of any age have always be very prevalent, but this is especially so with college students. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states that "distractions can be even more abundant than in high school, because there are so many new opportunities and experiences available," and "most college students have more flexibility and less structure in college than they did in high school. Usually, no one else is there to keep you on task—you’re in charge of making your own schedule and focusing when it’s time to study." Many distractions for college students happen while on campus, but now that most are closed and students are isolated, they may want to reap the benefits of minimal distractions.

One source suggests that socializing is a big distraction for many college students. They write that "the average person needs 6 hours of socializing per day to be considered 'thriving' in social wellbeing," and in fact, millennials spend more time socializing than other groups. With many of students' pals and friends tucked away at home as well, college students may be smart to catch up and stay on track with their schoolwork. Current college students consider socializing to be vital to their lives, so much so that it may take away from time that could be out towards studying or finishing a project. However, with that distraction now eliminated, students can get their work done easier and quicker.

Another distraction that has been taken care of at the time is that of other students. As many schools incorporate Zoom for their online classes, students lose the privilege of in-person class sessions, but at the same time, the physical distractions of other students are gone too. Some students may be too rowdy for other to concentrate, and although this is still quite possible in online classes, the distraction is very minimal compared to before. This is one less distraction that may benefit some students greatly. In addition to having class in the comfort of your own bed, you don't have to worry about troublesome students wasting time as much.

There are often good things that may be hidden within the bad. Something that can help students push through is to acknowledge the positives of the new classroom situations and take advantage of them. After all, college students need all the help they can get.

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