How to be Productive While Socially Distancing at Home

By Sandy

The question I often ask myself when choosing to work at home, or in an alternate setting like libraries or cafes, is whether my productivity is increased when I take my work (including school work) elsewhere. In light of the recent global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become the norm to work or learn from home. For me, working from home isn’t a new phenomenon. If the social distancing measures mean that you’re struggling to stay on-task (and, let’s face it, it’s hard to be productive, when we’re lonely and upset) then there are a few tips that can help you adapt to this new norm.

Create space

Recently I’ve had to make multiple changes beyond just physical space that has allowed me to be more effective in my home workspace. Space means setting aside a location in your house specifically designated for working virtually or studying for online examinations. While staying in bed and working from a bed tray may feel cozy, it doesn’t allow us to cognitively and physically focus on the task at hand. We mentally associate coziness with relaxation rather than being mentally alert and writing a term paper, for instance. While you may not always work in the same space, it is important to designate a location that helps you stay organized. I find that by separating my work and entertainment spaces, I feel more confident that I can do both more effectively.

Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones

This small change can work wonders for a students’ routine at home, particularly if you live with your family or other roommates. There have been so many instances where I have tried to study but then a roommate decides to fry chicken leaving me to listen to the loud crackling of the hot oil (sound familiar?). Using a good quality pair of earplugs for myself meant that 80% of this noise was blocked out leaving me to pursue more important tasks at hand.

Dress for work

I learned this tip from a friend who works from home permanently year-round. He mentioned the difficulty of staying alert when working in PJs or sweatshirts. When I first heard of the idea, it was enough to elicit a chuckle. However, in recent weeks I’ve found that dressing professionally in a home environment did change my behaviour drastically. I no longer slumped over when I responded to emails and felt more energetic and motivated as a result. It’s no coincidence that the old adage “dress for the occasion” also applies here.

One task at a time

You might be rolling at your eyes at this common tidbit of advice, but you would be surprised at the number of university students who turn on an episode of Friends in the background while studying. Even for myself, resisting the urge to have Mindhunter in a separate window of my laptop is insanely difficult, especially while working from home. You may even find that when your to-do list is checked off, watching your favourite movie while fully immersed is a more pleasant experience than dividing your attention to two different tasks.

Plan your day

For many students, online learning can be a true test of self-discipline, especially when the perfectly curated schedule of classes, volunteer work, and a part-time job is off the hook. I find that in the absence of a clear schedule, my entire circadian rhythm is frazzled. At cognitive and physical levels I feel tired and unmotivated. To keep ourselves accountable to our learning at this difficult time, planning can go a long way. Especially when online lectures can catch up in a short period of time and make it even more pivotal to stay on top of school work. For myself, planning each hour of my day helps give some clarity to my daily activities. Moreover, looking back on the to-do list helps you track your progress and helps make the day more meaningful. Even activities such as learning to podcast or experimenting with a new recipe should be part of your daily planning.

Keep in touch

Part of the challenge with social distancing is feeling connected in a genuine way. A current struggle I have is tracking all the various emails (oftentimes, paragraphs upon paragraphs in length). Sometimes, we might agree that simply picking up the phone to call someone or hosting a small meeting on Google Hangouts can spark joy in our current lives. Having meaningful conversations with others virtually can help everyone stay hopeful during times of stress and might just be the secret to staying productive.