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This time of uncertainty is hard on everyone, especially students, and so is setting up a productive workspace in a place you call “home”. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of your finals crunch time working from home:
Set up a workspace that gets you excited to get work done
Minimize distractions
- Try to set up in a different space from where you sleep/relax in your home
- Keep your desk as decluttered as possible
- It helps to just keep school-related books and other material at this desk
Green space: add a plant or two on/near your desk
- Stress relief - Studies have shown that indoor plants have a calming effect on people
- Boost humidity - air conditioning can dry out your room, and in turn, your skin
- Air purifying - plants improve the air in your home
- Cheap suggestions for plants: spider plants, succulents, snake plants
Natural sunlight: if possible, set up at a desk near a window
- Improved mood - availability of sunshine has the most impact on mood compared to any other environmental/temperature factor
- Better sleep - High serotonin levels improve your mood, and may help you sleep better at night
Establish a routine
When to work?
- If you currently have a study routine that works for you, stick to it - once this window of time is over, disconnect!
- If you have no idea where to start, treat your day like a 9-5 “day job” - set timelines for your studying, and disconnect once this window of time is over
- Factor in study breaks
- It’s impossible to stay productive for 8 hours straight - you’ll need a moment (or two) to take a step back and breathe
- Take a break to watch an episode of your current favourite Netflix show, or even bake a pie - the world is your oyster
How to work?
- Lists, lists, lists! - it’s super satisfying crossing off your to-dos
- At the beginning of the week, establish weekly objectives - list any major assignments/tests you have due
- Check in daily with yourself on tasks you’d like to get done (based on your weekly objectives list)
Stay motivated throughout the day!
- Create a music playlist with all your favourite tunes to hype you up
- Spotify has a plethora of playlists to inspire you
- Spruce up your notes by colour coding, decorating your notebooks, or whatever helps you get excited about revising
- “Studygrams” have tons of inspiration - search #studygram on Instagram for ideas on where to start :)
- Need another excuse to take a break from studying?
- Cleaning and decluttering other spaces of your home is the perfect excuse to procrastinate! (I like to call this productive procrastination)
- Cleaning can be therapeutic, and can make for overall improved productivity
Check in with your classmates frequently
- Set up check-in calls with your classmates on a regular basis - this is especially useful for group projects you may have, or if you’re stuck on an assignment
- Use any platform you and your team agree on; examples include: Zoom, Facetime, Skype, Discord
- Get your “water cooler” conversations in - it’s okay to talk with your classmates about unrelated topics, it’s normal to get a little sidetracked, especially in a pandemic!
- Manage expectations: discuss projects and tasks delegated to each team member, and update them on your progress - if you need help, this is your chance to communicate this
Be kind to yourself!
- You may see a lot of social media posts that tell you that you must be gaining new skills and being 100% productive in this time - don’t hold yourself to this standard!
- Remind yourself that living in a pandemic is a stressful thing as it is
- Everyone processes this type of stress differently - the pastimes (if any) you partake in are valid
- Praise yourself often - staying motivated in this pandemic is a feat in itself!
Good luck with your final exams! Stay safe, happy, and healthy :)