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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois chapter.

If we thought cancel culture peaked in 2019, we were definitely not expecting COVID-19. This virus has canceled way more social lives than those of last year’s celebrities and it doesn’t bring any back — no matter how many public apologies get posted on Twitter. 

Personally, not only has my social life taken a major hit but so has my actual major. I don’t know if it’s something about constantly having TV access and not being obligated to go to class, but I haven’t exactly been the most productive when it comes to schoolwork. 

For the record, when I dreamt about skipping class and staying in bed, I wasn’t exactly picturing this. However, if our only job during this whole coronavirus pandemic is to stay in our pajamas and not let our grades slip then I think we got this. 

After spending a lot of time researching how to get more work done instead of actually getting work done, I’ve compiled a list of the top tips on being more productive during the quarantine. 

1. Ghosting

Erik McLean via Unsplash
Don’t be afraid to ghost — and no I don’t mean the type of ghosting where you have to cut off all communication, shut down all of your social media accounts and block some numbers — I mean turning your phone off for a little and giving some attention to Compass instead of Instagram. Don’t worry you’re not missing much, you can check what people’s top 3 albums are later. 

2. Create a Work Setting

MacBook Air beside gold-colored study lamp and spiral books
Arnel Hasanovic / Unsplash
Now, I’m not saying we all need to turn our rooms into a home office, but it does help to have an area dedicated to work only. Creating a separate space away from the TV and other distractions is super useful when trying to accomplish detailed tasks that require a little more focus than what’s given when simultaneously trying to watch Tiger King and finish homework. 

3. Right Timing

Maddi Bazzocco

Let’s say you’re the type of person that gets up for your eight AM run, the first to say “Morning” to anyone you encounter and has no need for large doses of caffeine — you’re a morning person. Okay, so maybe you aren’t that extreme, but either way having energy in the morning is a gift and you need to use it. 

Now if you’re like most people I know and you find it extremely difficult to get out of bed early (probably because you were up until three AM last night) — you’re a night person. 

Whatever type of person you are, use it to your advantage! One of the perks of not having to be anywhere at any time is that your schedule suddenly just became super flexible. So, schedule time for work during the hours you feel like your most productive self. 

I am a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and I am super passionate about writing, style, and inspiring young girls to be confident and to achieve their goals!
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