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There is undisputed freedom and flexibility that being online has brought in our lives – from writing online exams right up to online shopping. I mean for starters; you probably would not be reading this blog post had you not been connected online. With instant messaging and notifications, endless apps across phones, tablets, and laptops, we’ve never been more connected. In one hour, you can Skype family, facetime a friend, send off a string of emails, tweet, and post a story on Instagram. It’s all so normal now and for most of us, it has become a part of our daily lives.

Although being connected is extremely pivotal for productivity, convenience and learning, one can’t help but wonder whether being constantly online and connected to almost everyone is a bit much.

According to The Social Network, a Netflix documentary that highlights the dangers of social media, we are the most connected yet loneliest generation with high statistics of depression. Mundane activities have become even harder to carry out with the growth of online activity. For example, a psychologist from the documentary states that GenZ is less comfortable with taking risks, and less likely to get a driver’s license or go on a date. The age at which young people obtain their driver’s license has become older as time goes by.

 Perhaps you don’t relate to these stats but in one way or another, the online world has dramatically changed the relationship we have with ourselves and other people. To gain some perspective, let us weigh up the pros and cons which can probably help some of you make informed decisions.

Pros

Learning and working virtually

More than ever, this year has shown that being connected through the internet is a great boost for teams who don’t need to be in the office as they can work virtually. The same can be said for students who want to learn and study online.

Instant access to information

I think most of us can agree that Google is one of the best creations yet. Being able to any kind of information within the tip of your finger is a great privilege that one shouldn’t take lightly. Apps such as YouTube have become an integral tool to teach us how to do some important DIY things as well as tutorials. We live in an era where it is nearing impossible to require labour to do things because you can just google how to do it. Even dictionaries are quickly becoming outdated because why page an entire book when you can just take out your phone and google the meaning of a word.

Being connected to friends and family

One big positive of the online world is the ability to remain connected to people you have built a relationship with. Therefore texting and video calling loved ones is a  more positive use of screens than just scrolling through Instagram or things that don’t enhance your relationships.  

In other words, it can be beneficial to use Facebook for example to catch up with a friend from across the world – as long as it’s not interfering with making in-person plans with other people.

Cons

The inability to switch off

If you are one of those people who check emails and social media in the morning before you do anything, you’re not alone. The boundaries between work, school, home and social circles have been blurred by wireless connections and mobile devices.

While being available when needed can be counted as a positive by some, the pressure to be constantly available can be quite exhausting if no boundaries are established.

Constant distractions

Arguably one of the biggest pitfalls of being online is the constant distractions of the internet. These distractions vary from a phone call during a meeting or a notification from social media that can cause curiosity and next thing you know, you’re picking up your phone and allowing yourself to be distracted.

Anti-social

According to the Netflix documentary, The Social Network, we are the most anti-social generation to date. Being online with our friends and family can create the illusion that we are “seeing” our loved ones, but maybe we really need to interrogate how often we go out for coffee, take a walk, play sports, go to the movies and the like. Loneliness is a result of the fact that screen time cannot replace investment in real and intimate relationships. Screens are taking us away from the real relationships in our lives.

Social media and anxiety

Seeing all of the great things your Facebook or Instagram friends are posting about may make you feel left out or inadequate. Additionally, you might start comparing how many “likes” or comments others get on their posts compared to your own. It might also make you compare their “progress” in life relative to yours which may lead to increased anxiety that your life is not as progressive. Above that, it might make you think of all the things that you don’t have (i.e., partner, job, qualifications, etc).

Screentime and depression

A study conducted in 2017 states that adults who watched TV or used a computer for more than 6 hours per day are more likely to experience moderate to severe depression. The reality is that looking at a screen for an excessive number of hours can worsen a person’s mood.

Creative block

If you are a creative person, creative thoughts can be compromised by excessive information. Basically, if we are inundated with too much information without time to unpack, ponder and reflect, one is less likely to be innovative. Thus, the creative block. This is why often; writers will go on a writer’s retreat and switch off from the noise of the world and look for inspiration elsewhere.

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Online fatigue is a state of mental and/or emotional exhaustion that materializes among people who spend considerable time using different digital tools – often for continuous periods of time.

The frequent use of these platforms might involve the management of your educational activities and information across different platforms and (perhaps) devices. Maintaining communication with teachers, other faculty members, and fellow learners, writing online exams, socializing with family and friends, etc.

And of course, remote working has allowed students and professionals in different industries across the world to keep safe from the dreadful Covid-19 epidemic. It’s also presented us with flexible hours, increased productivity, and time to do other things in our lives. On the other hand, it has changed the way we connect with each other, our relationship with work and has surely catapulted the use of screens to a whole new level.

It’s the nature of the beast nicknamed ‘20-Plenty’, and the digital era.

Needless to say, if not used with the objective of finding a healthy balance, technology can invade our lives in ways that undermine our well-being.

Internet connectivity, as the necessary equalizer of opportunity that it is, doesn’t have to be a threat to our minds. And in the spirit of encouraging health, here are four ways to mitigate the effects of this type of fatigue:

First, start being aware of your screen time

It’s fairly easy to power up the phone to read emails and end up surrendering to the bottomless social media feed. Done for a long time, the habit carries the potential to shift priorities and negate the depth of your personal interactions with people and the world around you. Hence it’s important to keep track of how and which platforms you spend most of your time.

It’s become essential to ask: what type of impact are my online activities having on the quality of my life?

Take-away: Track the screen-time on your phone. For iOS, you’ve got Screen Time Settings and on Android, there’s the Google’s Digital Wellbeing toolkit. And there are plenty of apps that can help in that regard as well.

Get more sleep

The experience of studying through learning management systems makes it easy to work through study material at any time of the day.

And when sleep falls off your daily routine due to academic, social, and extracurricular activities, so too does intellect and memory. Getting sufficient sleep helps with the processing of information (which, let’s face it, you have to do all the time) and restores our mental and physical abilities.

Take-away: Try cutting off the use of devices an hour or two before bedtime, and avoid bringing your phone or computer to the bedroom.

Learn again to live fully in the present

At some point or another, we’ve been guilty of pulling out our phones when we experience remarkable – and sometimes awkward – moments. It could be while having lunch with a friend we haven’t seen for a long time, at a party or other type of occasion that we feel needs to be documented.

However, there’s value in living life without yearning to record and publish everything for the world to see. You could also take it a step further and leave your phone behind, except when you’re on standby for an important call or message.

Allan Watts reminds us: “One fine day, you’ll realise that there is no way at all of having your mind anywhere else but in the present moment. Because even when you think about the past or the future you’re doing it now, don’t you?”

Take-away: Remind yourself all the time that life is transient and there’s nothing more important to fuss over than the present moment.

Look after yourself

Setting time aside for you is important. Especially because the boundaries between work and relaxation have gone blurred. Our personal and professional lives come embedded with countless hours of screen-time.

As a result, dedicating time to self-care isn’t always easy to do. And as we’ve established, most of us are witlessly busy with schoolwork and are absorbed with technology to set aside time for ourselves. So quality me-time is normally pushed to last on the agenda. The other thing, we may feel guilty about prioritising the time needed to take decent care of ourselves.

Take-away: Eat wholesome meals, exercise frequently, travel, revisit a hobby, and say no to commitments that leave you burnt out. When your mind, emotions and overall health are in sound balance, it frees up energy to ace your studies and feel on top of the world while doing it.

Final thought

Taking time to establish a balance between being a digital native and diligently attending to ‘offline duties’ will help you stay grounded and healthy as you build your career.

We are excited to share that as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus programme the Department of Basic Education has partnered with SA Youth to help facilitate their Basic Education Employment Initiative to place 300,000 young unemployed South Africans in 26,000 schools across the country in contract positions as education and general assistants.

Information on the opportunity:

Contract:                            from 1 December – 31 March

Stipend:                               R3,500 per month (less UIF 1% contribution)

Who can apply?             Unemployed youth between 18 -35 years old

 Applicants with post school qualifications will be prioritized.

Application is free and on a data-free platform: www. sayouth.datafree.co and applicants can  also call toll free on 0800 72 72 72 if they have any questions or need help with their application. 

As we all know that 2020 has caused a paradigm shift in education, so we’re witnessing a greater normalisation of online schooling and subsequently, online exams. For some of us, who might be forced to take on an online exam for the first time this year, this might cause greater anxiety on top of the pressure of doing well. But don’t worry, online exams are not necessarily harder or easier. They are just different. And we are here to assist you with adapting to the change.

One would think that the anxiety lessens since an online exam can typically be taken from home. However, there can be major pitfalls especially if a student is unprepared and not organized. The key to a successful online test is being organized as much as you can.

Check your computer

a) Nothing can lead to panic more than realizing that your computer does not work properly. Before the test or exam, ensure that you can switch it on and off.

b) Check whether the internet connectivity is stable, if not, move to an alternative location and ensure you move to where the internet is the strongest.

c) It is also advisable to open two browsers – one to take your exam and the other to search for information (if you’re allowed to do so). This is also to avoid mistakenly closing the browser with the online exam.

Find a spot clear of distractions

Clearing your distractions includes switching off the television, radio, social media, and all notifications. Thereafter, gather all tools that you will require for the exam to go smoothly so that you don’t scramble for items that might end up taking lessening your time.  i.e. pens, notebooks, textbooks, etc. See our article on Working and Learning in Isolation for more tips about setting up a conducive environment clear of distractions.

Understand and read the exam guidelines thoroughly

Check the time and date of the exam. How long do you have to complete the exam? Or are you given a window of a certain period time to complete the exam? And even in cases where you can choose what time you take your exam, you usually can’t choose how much time you have to do it. More often than not, online exams are timed, which means you need to carve out an uninterrupted block of time for your exam.

Study

This might seem obvious but some people might underestimate the importance of actually studying since it is an online exam. Even though online exams may be “open book,” you still need to make sure that you are familiar with the material, so you don’t waste time hunting for it. By having a good mastery of the material, you can organize what you think you will need to know in study notes and your mind so it’s more easily accessible when you’re answering exam questions. If you go into it with only your open book to guide you, the lack of preparation will show in your rushed responses. The open book should only be used as a reference otherwise most of the work should be in your brain.

Technical difficulties

If you happen to encounter any technical difficulties, take a screenshot and inform your instructor of your mistake. The worst thing you can do is panic. Your instructor is probably already aware that sometimes technical glitches are avoidable, the key thing here is to be as transparent as possible once this occurs.

Don’t forget to click “Submit”

Most online exams don’t count unless you click the “submit” button at the end. If you have a few minutes left to go over your exam, then I would suggest that you do so. But once you are happy with your responses, please make sure to navigate to the end of the page and press the “submit” button. The point is to make sure your work transmits before hastily moving away from the page.

2020 has been an eventful year mainly because of the global pandemic and the economic disruptions that have affected our lives as a result. In keeping the focus on the economy the Economics department at Stellenbosch University in conjunction with Die Burger newspaper held the annual Young Economist competition in July. The primary aim of this competition was to allow first-year students the opportunity to forecast economic indicators as accurately as possible using key variables. For this competition, the variables were economic growth, inflation, interest rate, commodity prices, and exchange rates. Teams were obligated to submit forecasts (with motivations) before particular deadlines, points were awarded to each forecast on the basis of accuracy as well as how convincing the motivation provided was. The competition was open to students who are registered for an economics course at Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Western Cape could enter. Students could participate in teams 1 to 3.

Alticia Legoka is a first-year Business Science: Economics student at UCT and she is currently funded by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholarship, which is administered by Career Wise. She describes her as introverted and very inquisitive. Her family says she introverted because she isn’t usually the type of person to enter competitions or do things to put attention on her in the public domain. The inquisitive part is something that she has been nurturing from a young age through reading the newspaper (i.e. focusing on business and the economy) and watching economic news to hear the latest economic indicators.

She caught wind of the Young Economic competition at the end of her 1^st semester break i.e. July. The competition piqued her interest and given her inquisitive nature she decided to enter. Her thinking was: “Why not, there is absolutely nothing to lose and a lot to gain if she wins”. At the time of entering the competition she was trying to decide which path her studies should take between Economics and Math since she enjoyed both them a great deal. She thought: “If I win this competition, then it’s a clear confirmation that Economics was the path for her to follow”. The results for the competition were recent released and she was taken aback by being announced as the overall winner. According to the judges/markers, she outscored the competition quite impressionably, by providing solid explanations for my economic forecasts, which is the foundation of any good economist and beat 36 teams to claim first place. This is the second year running that UCT wins the competition. This year was also the first year that the top 3 teams were all females.

Alticia is very proud of herself for winning given that it’s the first time ever that she has entered a competition.  Her family  was very shocked by the news as she didn’t tell anyone about entering the competition until she was announced as the overall winner. The prize for winning is as follows:

• Trophy
• Certificates
• 1^st place prize money of R12 000.