Remote classes may not have been your ideal plan this year, but now you’ve traded on-campus classes for Zoom calls and library study rooms for wherever you can find peace and quiet in your house. Without social interaction and the structure of regular school days, you may be struggling to stay focused and motivated.
Here are some tips for staying focused and productive at home.
Get dressed and ready for your day
While many people have taken full advantage of the fact that the Zoom camera only captures from the shoulders up, if you have the time and energy, it can be beneficial to get fully dressed and ready for your day. If it is possible to take the shower that you normally would, dress from head to toe, it puts your body in this academic mode.
Have a designated work space
Have an area in your house that is dedicated to learning and studying. This helps your brain associate that area with school and helps you pay better attention in that space, while not associating it with another context or activity.
This will also help with retrieval, especially when you’re in that same context when you’re taking your assessments, writing your papers, or taking your tests and quizzes.
Create a regular schedule
Maintaining regular hours throughout these uncertain times helps to establish a clear work-life balance. This can be seen through simple things such as creating a morning routine, going to class at regular times (even if it is asynchronous), eating meals on a fixed schedule, all followed by your daily homework. This strategy can attempt to emulate “regular life”, which is beneficial for staying organized and feeling more in control of daily life.
Take breaks
Sometimes it feels like there aren’t even enough hours in a day to do basic (and very necessary) things, such as eating dinner and showering. On those days especially, it’s crucial to take breaks and reset before you return to studying. Go outside and do stuff that’s physical, just to give your mind and body a break.
Exercise self care
Self care means taking care of your mind as well as your body. Practices such as talking to a therapist when you need to, being selective about the people you surround yourself with, and knowing when your mental health is more important than a class or job are a deeper form of self care that will serve to protect you throughout the long semester.
