Whether your responsibilities are schoolwork or office spreadsheets, almost all of us have had in-person obligations moved to the digital space. Working from home — on anything — comes with some perks.
But it can also be draining, and students and staff alike have all felt Zoom burnout by now. Here are some tips to preserve both your productivity and your sanity when working remotely.
Separate your spaces
While attending that 9 a.m. from your bed might sound like a good idea, so will sleeping through that lecture if you don’t actually have to go anywhere. Try and designate one table or desk to be your classroom or home office. The sense of routine will help you get into the study mindset. When you take breaks, leave your study space behind! Step away from your desk when you’re taking a break from your work. Even if it’s for just 5 minutes, separating your spaces into “work time” and “chill time” will help you be productive when you need to be.
Strike a balance
The key words from the above sentence are “when you need to be.” When everything’s online and everyone has a phone, it can feel like we should constantly be available. This isn’t true! College was already an exercise in time management, but now more than ever it’s important to identify your personal limits, and stick to them. Just because you can be always on the clock, doesn’t mean it’s healthy, sustainable, or productive. Studying for 7 hours after you attended class all day might seem super productive…until Wednesday rolls around, and you’re too tired to pay attention in class.
Sometimes, you need to turn off the office in your back pocket. That could look like not checking your email after a certain time at night. Or, if you’re most productive after-hours, schedule a slow morning to allow yourself some down time. This also means when you are working, take some breaks! Maybe you need 10 minutes every hour to stretch your legs, check your phone, or get a snack. If your current system has you feeling exhausted, switch it up!
Minimize distractions
When it is time to get down to business, do your best to give it your all. Put your phone on silent, and move it somewhere out of reach where you won’t be tempted to scroll through social media or text your friends. For some people, putting on music can help them get in the zone, but for others, listening to lyrics can make it hard to concentrate on reading or writing. I love listening to music, but I also have a lot of papers to write; to help me stay on track, I’ve curated a playlist of my favorite instrumental music.
To get the most out of tips 1 and 2, and to properly sequester off your work and your personal life, you need to commit to giving your all during your designated study/work time. Now that some classes are online, attending lectures while you write emails might seem like a great way to multitask, but it only puts you at a disadvantage when the test rolls around. Devoting your full attention to the activity at hand leaves you with a clearer understanding of what you need to do, and helps you produce the highest quality work possible. And whether it’s for a job or a grade, putting out top-notch content can only help you succeed.
Communicate
No matter how hard you try to stay on top of things, a task will always fall through the cracks. This doesn’t make you a bad student or a bad employee, but how you handle the situation will greatly affect the way your supervisors see you, and your ability to move forward. If you fell behind on an obligation, reach out to your professor, ask your TA for help, or tell your boss you need an extension. Part of college (and entering the working world) is learning how to communicate professionally and effectively about both your successes and your shortcomings. If you know you won’t be able to get your paper done in time, email your professor—sooner than the day its due—explain your situation, and set a new deadline. The same goes for a boss; neither are mind readers, and the more transparent you are about what’s going on, the more understanding they can be.
Some assignments are more flexible than others, but by sending an email to your supervisor or professor, you’ve demonstrated that you value their time. It also shows that you’re reliable and able to overcome problems quickly and professionally.
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Some of these tips are easier said than done, and they can’t all be implemented overnight. But the best thing you can do is get the ball rolling! Maybe you start small, by cleaning off your desk and turning off your phone. No matter what you pull from this, I hope it helps increase your ability to get things done!
