Students vs. Software Fatigue: Tips for Winning the Fight

As students, many of us are digging in to our online semester and adjusting to online student life. Frankly though, this adjustment can be tough, and from conversations with my friends and reading other students’ social media posts, I have found in my experience that some students are not okay with some of the things that online schooling brings. Do you have any concerns? Are you apprehensive about downloading invasive software that is required for your courses, but causes privacy concerns? Do you have an old computer that is struggling to keep up with all these downloads? I have heard both of these concerns, but mainly, I’m hearing that many students just plain tired and anxious from having to constantly check different websites for assignments. We at Digital Tattoo have taken to calling these feelings software fatigue, and honestly, I think that everyone is feeling it right about now.

Though things may seem tough, don’t despair! There are some actions you can take to combat software fatigue.

For privacy and security concerns about course software:

• Reach out to your professors

Preferably in a face-to-face video call, although email works as well. Explain why you feel uncomfortable about the course required software and highlight your security concerns. If you are willing to meet your professors, get to know them a little, and explain yourself in a friendly way, they may be able to offer alternatives to the invasive software.

It is important to remember that decisions on software use may be out of your professors’ hands. In that case, don’t forget to be kind!

• Keep a software list

If alternative software isn’t an option, keep a detailed list of all of the software you have to download for your courses. Keep this list in in an easily visible spot, whether that’s on your desk or on the homepage of your Google Drive. Once you are finished with online schooling, you can use this list to easily find and delete all of the software from your computer. Be aware that many courses will be online next semester as well, so be sure not to delete everything immediately.

If you want to learn more, Digital Tattoo has some great, actionable tips for protecting your privacy while working at home and managing your digital student identity.

For students with older computers:

• Consider buying an external hard drive

Do you have an old computer that is struggling to keep up with online schooling? Me too! My laptop from 2014 is practically wheezing these days trying to keep up with all the software that I’ve had to download this semester. If you’re running out of space too, I recommend getting an external hard drive. Depending on your needs, they can range from around $40 to more than $150. While yes, this is expensive, it is far cheaper than buying a whole new laptop, and it’s a great way to temporarily clear some space for the required software. You can always re-upload your files to your computer once you delete the schooling-required software.

For those feeling fatigued:

• You are not alone in this!

Feeling fatigued from all of the software you have to deal with? You are certainly not the only one. It’s wearying to constantly be checking multiple online spaces for assignments, and the fear of missing assignments only adds to this. I hope that the following tips will help you, but it’s important to start with a quick reminder that we’re all in this together. If you feel up to it, you can even share your experience of fatigue on social media (I’ve personally been reading the r/UBC subreddit a lot these days), or by reaching out to other students in your classes. Camaraderie can be very comforting!

• Get it organized

Having your own organizational system in place will help to relieve some of the stress of having assignments located in multiple places. Start by looking for an assignments list from each of your courses. Sometimes these are on the syllabus, and sometimes they’re posted as a separate document, but either way, it can usually be found in Canvas, Blackboard, or wherever your course materials are held. Take the information from this list and write it down in whatever format works best for you. I personally use a paper planner and color code my courses, as well as having an assignment list posted above my desk. Whenever I worry that I missed something, I can look up at that list and quickly make sure I’m on the right track.

• Take a minute to breathe

I almost feel hypocritical writing this, as I too am a busy student who understands that people urging you to “take time for yourself” while you’re bombarded with assignments only makes things feel more frustrating. But, if you can take just 5-10 minutes every few hours to stretch, open the window and breathe some fresh air, and not look at a screen, it will help you to avoid burnout in the long run. Digital Tattoo has some great resources for learning to handle the stress of being online, including a tutorial about keeping your online life tranquil and a blog post about digital detoxing.

I hope that these tips can help you to manage your fatigue and have the best semester possible, and from all of us at Digital Tattoo, we hope you stay safe, healthy, and happy.

Do you have any suggestions for managing software fatigue? Let us know in the comments below.

Written By: Rachael Bradshaw

Edited By: Samantha Summers

Featured Image: Laptop Woman Education from Jan Vašek Used Under Pixabay License