As we all know, COVID-19 changed the entire world and the way everyone lives their lives. As a student, my education and school experience is one of the things in my life that changed the most due to this pandemic. I’m sure many people reading this article share this experience. Suddenly class was on zoom, office hours were remote and my workspace became my childhood bedroom as opposed to a comfy booth at Wiggins, or a long table in ascension. As I’m sure all students, teachers, and professors can attest to, there was a huge learning curve when adapting to these changes. However, between half a semester of online classes and summer with a completely remote internship, I started off this semester with a better grasp of how to be productive from home. Here are six things that have helped me get my work done effectively and efficiently. Hopefully, they will help you too!
1. Get dressed as if you were going to class.
This is something that I found made a huge difference in my productivity. If I put on an outfit that I would wear to class and did my hair and makeup as if I were going to class, well, I felt like I was going to class. I felt ready for the day, knowing that I had things to do and I really would do them. Had I stayed in my pajamas all day, I would have wanted to just hang out and watch tv, ignoring all of the work (and there was always a lot) that I needed to do. Of course, this will look different for everyone, but I think getting ready for the day can really help set the tone for it.
2. Get outside.
If you’re anything like me, you like to spend your downtime watching Youtube or Netflix, or scrolling through social media (especially during a pandemic when seeing friends isn’t really an option). But between classes, meetings, and homework all being online, the last thing I want to do is spend more time on the computer. During quarantine, I started going outside instead. When I was sick of looking at my walls, I would bring my reading to my front yard. When I needed a break, I would put on a podcast and take a walk. Changing my workspace, or just strolling around the block (with a mask of course) to clear my head made me feel less stressed and less trapped in my house. When I got back, I felt refreshed and ready to return to work.
3. Make a schedule and/or time blocks.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a very routine driven person. With each new semester, I plan what days will be my workout days, what time I’ll wake up each morning, what times it makes the most sense for me to grab meals at Peirce, etc. Of course, with everything changing constantly, establishing a routine in this new virtual world was, and still is, difficult. So, in order to create as much of a routine as possible, I started time blocking. For example, my earliest class last semester was at 11:00 am. So, from 9:00 am-11:00 am, I would get work done. Then I would go to class and then have lunch at noon. I would go through the rest of my day like that, taking chunks of the day and writing down what I would do during each time period. I also tried to end my work at 5:00 pm. At that time I would either work out, take a walk, or call a friend. Then, after dinner, I would plan to just relax or continue doing work if it was a particularly busy week. While the schedule I made for myself was somewhat arbitrary, as classes were the only activities I had at set times, it gave me a routine and structure, thus helping me feel like I had an organized system and a way to tackle my to-do list each day.
4. Find a good study playlist.
While I prefer to work in quiet spaces, like the third floor of ascension, I also find that I need some quiet music as background noise, and to block out what is going on around me. Plus, music can add a relaxing yet productive vibe to your work environment. Of course, what music people will want to listen to while studying will vary greatly. I highly suggest exploring the various playlists on Spotify and finding what works for you. My two favorites are “Work From Home” and “Your Favorite Coffeehouse.”
5. Take short breaks.
It can be easy to sit down and start working, and then all of the sudden it’s been three hours and your brain hurts. I have to remind myself to take shorts breaks throughout the day so that I do not wear myself down. However, balance is key. It’s important to take breaks that are long enough to replenish your energy but not so long that you lose your groove and momentum. One of my favorite ways to take a break is to do 10-minute yoga/stretching videos that I find on Youtube. Doing this allows me to clear my head and move my body after sitting hunched over at a desk for so long. Other times I would also set a timer, say for 10-15 minutes, and at that time play with my dog, chat with my parents, or check social media, etc. However, when the timer went off, I knew it was time to return to work. This is something I hope to continue to incorporate, even when classes resume again in- person.
6. Create a good workspace.
My last tip is to try and create a workspace that works for you. Of course, with so many people working from home, it can be very difficult (and is a privilege) to find a space that you can claim as your own. However, if you do have the opportunity to do this, try and decorate or organize that space in a way that will make you productive. For example, I get stressed out by clutter, so I always tried to keep my desk surface pretty bare. And to make things more lively, I would light a candle. And, everyone once and a while, when I wanted to treat myself, I would buy some flowers when I went to the grocery store and put them on my desk. This made the space more inviting and comfortable, which, because I was spending so much time at that desk and in that chair, made it easier and more enjoyable to get work done.
I hope that as the new semester begins to pick up, and as we all readjust to the student life from home, some or all of these tips help you become more productive from home. To end off this article, I would also like to acknowledge the privilege I have in being able to do these things. I am lucky to live in an area with outside space where I can walk, I am lucky to live in a house with internet and I am lucky to be able to claim a space as my own to do work.