For many parents, online learning is a blessing as it gives their teens a chance to keep their academic work on track when stuck at home. However, experts also agree that online learning can impact a teen’s mental health by increasing stress and heightened anxiety about keeping up to date with school work. So, is your teen resorting to online studies? Encourage them to adopt the following self-care habits to keep them healthy mentally and physically. 

Getting plenty of sleep

Lack of sleep can seriously affect the proper functioning of the brain, particularly when it comes to focus and impulse control. A sleep-deprived brain means that your child will be lethargic, stressed, and moody all day, not talking or paying attention during an online class session. So, if your child has a habit of staying up late playing video games, surfing social media platforms, or watching movies, you have to put your foot down and ensure that they get at least seven to nine hours of bedtime sleep.

Sleep is also essential for retaining what they learn. If your child struggles to sleep at night, encourage them to take quick naps during the day while improving their night sleep. 

Reducing how much time they spend behind screens

Your child spends a lot of time behind the laptop during online class sessions or doing school work. Therefore, they would need to lessen their screen time. With the increased use of laptops, tablets, and mobile devices, taking a break from screens is a great self-care habit to implement in your child. That means, instead of your teen playing a video game or watching a movie right after an online class or study time, encourage them to go outside for a walk, read a book, or even take a nap. Spending too many hours staring at a screen can cause eye strain, which can affect your eye health and make it harder to focus. 

Practicing great posture

Create a comfortable study space that allows your child to practice great posture during an online class session. For instance, you can ensure that their desk and chair heights do not cause them to slump or crouch. The desk should also not be too high to put pressure on their elbows. The monitor should be at a perfect height to prevent neck strain. Since you cannot check in every minute to remind your child to sit up while an online class is on, you can place a sticker note on their desk or monitor to serve as a reminder. Speaking of posture, it helps to make regular family visits to the pediatric chiropractor an important or normal practice if you have kids at home. This way, they wouldn’t grow up with posture issues. Also, ensure that your child’s study space is well lit to help improve concentration