After spending so much time trapped inside our houses, life can feel like a two month long stay-cation! Although it is still quite difficult process that even while we may not be at school, we still have a lot of work to get done! To set yourself up for success, here are some tips for being the most productive version of yourself while studying at home.
1. Have a designated study area
You should try to have an area that is reserved for work and not other activities. While working at home, it can be hard for our minds to separate our “work” space from our “home” space. To resist temptations to watch tik toks for three hours straight instead of finishing an assignment, it’s incredibly helpful to reserve a space that is only for school or other types of work you may have.
This can be your dining room table, kitchen counter, or your desk in your bedroom. If your only option is your bed, try to sit in a different direction than the way you sleep. Even this small change can simulate/create a distinction between your “home” and “work” space, which will help you focus on the task at hand
2. Remove distractions
You will find yourself being a lot more focused and productive if you put your phones and tablets on do not disturb or even in a separate room. If you find yourself distracted by all the noise around you, something I find helpful is listening to some calming music – I personally think music with no lyrics the best for concentration! I love listening to lofi hip hop while I study, here’s one of my favorite playlists:
If you still have trouble keeping off your phone, we recommend trying out the Forest App. This app is designed to help you focus on your work.
Here’s what the app developer has to say about Forest:
If you want to temporarily put down your phone and focus on what’s more important in real life, you can plant a seed in Forest. As time goes by, this seed will gradually grow into a tree. However, if you cannot resist the temptation of using your phone and leave the app, your tree will wither.
The sense of achievement and responsibility will encourage you to stay away from your phone, and will help you make better use of your time. Stop getting distracted by your phone, become self-motivated and get more things done.
Stay focused. Be present!
You can get this app on the Google Play Store, App Store, as well as Chrome and Firefox!
Click here to download on Play Store and/or App Store! (Forest is free on the Play Store and $1.99 on the App store)
Click here to get the Google Chrome Extension! (free)
Click here for Firefox Extension! (free)
3. Take Breaks
Trying to finish all your work in one go can be tiring and overwhelming. Instead, try studying in 20-30 minute long sessions with 5-10 minute breaks in between. But make sure that after your breaks, you return to working 100% focused!
4. Set Realistic Goals
Try to split your tasks up into several parts so that they seem more manageable and you are less overwhelmed. If you have a big assignment, try approaching it step by step. Here’s what it might look like for an essay:
1. Research my topic
2. Write an outline
3. Rough draft
4. Proofread
5. Final draft
By splitting up a huge task into several smaller steps, your work will seem a lot less intimidating and hopefully a lot less stressful!
5. Make a schedule / to-do list
Both schedules and to-do lists are a great way to make your day as productive as possible. A schedule plans out what your going to do at what time – sort like creating a daily routine! They help you manage your time more wisely and establishes good habits. Everyone’s most effective schedule is unique to themselves. For example, if you are a morning person, you might plan your schedule so that most of your work is done before lunch.
For more benefits of making a schedule, visit the article “25 Benefits of Creating a Schedule for Your Tasks”
If planning out your entire day seems a bit overwhelming or constraining to you, try writing out a to-do list. These are similar to schedules, except they don’t assign a time slot for each task. In the end, both a schedule and to-do list are great ways to make studying at home more productive. We recommend trying out both methods to see which one works better for you!
6. Ask Questions
Studying can be confusing, so in order to help yourself study in a better way is to ask yourself questions both before and after you study.
Some questions you can ask yourself before studying:
- What am I about to learn
- What do I already know about this subject
Some questions you can ask yourself after studying:
- How can I use this information to relate to the bigger picture.
- Did I understand what I just studied, if not ,do I need to consider reanalyzing it.
7. Prioritize Tasks
Try to complete other activities such as chores before studying, so that you won’t be distracted or worried about doing other activities. Try to complete unrelated activities so that you can have your mind be focused on your studying.
8. Get a healthy amount of sleep
Although you have a lot more time during this quarantine, you should always remember to get a healthy amount of sleep. Your brain needs rest and so does your body, so try to make sure you get the same amount of rest everyday.
9. Have a designated study time
You should figure out the best time, or you preferred time to study. Having a designated study session can help you build a pattern that you can continue to use everyday. You can use that time to make sure you complete all of your study goals.
