Culture
How to stay productive whilst studying at home
By Emily Cong and Rui Yi
6/5/2020
As UNSW has transitioned to online classes and we spend more time at home, it's easy to become unmotivated and bogged down. Our publications team has compiled some of our top tips to stay productive and motivated whilst at home.
1. Have a regular morning routine
Our brains like routine - it helps insulate from decision fatigue and offers comfort during such uncertain times. Your morning routine might include
· Changing out of your pyjamas
· Making your bed
· Eating a nutritious breakfast
2. Plan your day
Having a clear list of goals to achieve for the day and actionable will help your mind stay task-focused. Take out time the night before to plan out your day before, this may include scheduling in activities such as exercise, doing practice homework questions or learning a key skill. This will ensure you balance your time well.
3. Dedicate a space for work
Create a space separate from where you relax, this will serve to create a work mindset when you're in this space. Having anything from a small corner on your dining table to a full home office will help to segment these aspects of your life.
4. Stay organised
As much as it may seem like there's nothing on your calendar aside from Zoom calls and online classes, it's still important to keep track of what's going on as assessment deadline scan quickly creep up. Tools you can utilise include:
· iCalendar or Google Calendar
· Trello
· Todoist
5. Breaking down big tasks
Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Instead of leaving work to the last minute:
· Break tasks into small sections and designate specific times for each
· Limit your workspace to only productive activities
· Use the Forest app to stay focused
· Utilise the Pomodoro technique to help breakdown difficult tasks and reward yourself with regular breaks.
6. Use isolation as a chance to upskill
There's no better time than now to brush up on your professional skills. Make use of the range of free resources available from UNSW and a range of other educational institutions.
· Ensure your resume and Linkedln profile are up to date.
· Complete a Virtual Internship such as those offered by InsideSherpa
· From coding to archaeology, take part in a range of online classes
· Learn a new language through Duolingo
7. Self-care
Amidst stressful times, taking care of yourself is more important than ever. It will not only affect your health but also your productivity! Strive to
· Eat healthily, and stay hydrated
· Maintain a daily exercise routine and regular sleep schedule
· Organise regular meetings via communication apps such as Zoom or Discord with friends to check in on each other