This transition from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to quarantine culture has taken a toll on us all. All the extra time we have at home with our distractions could easily cause anyone to fall behind or become less productive. Here are some tips to ensure productivity throughout this unique time in history. Most importantly, remember to stay inside and social distance!
Create a Workspace
Take some time out of your day to create a designated workspace. Do not work in your bedroom! That is the place where you rest. Your brain will start to associate work with rest until you find yourself getting sleepy every time you open a book or your laptop. But just like you decorate your room to make it a comfortable environment, decorate your workspace to mimic the setting where you typically work. Have your materials organized in a way that’s easy to reach. If you have pictures on your desk or wall art, include these in your new workspace. Doing this will ensure that this part of your home remains a place of positivity instead of a place that evokes annoyance or dread.
Scheduling
Once you have your workspace in order, try your best to abide by your pre-quarantine schedule. Wake up at your usual time and start working at your usual clock-in hour. Pre-quarantine, I woke up early in the mornings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to work out before class. Now I try to implement home workouts to continue this step in my schedule. Take a look at my personal schedule below.
- Pre-Quarantine MWF
- Wake up/breakfast 5:45am – 6:30am
- Commute 6:30am – 7:05am
- Work Out 7:15am – 8:30am
- Shower/get dressed 8:30am – 9:30am
- Class 10:00am – 10:50am
- Work 11:00am – 3:00pm
- Quarantine MWF
- Wake up/breakfast 6:15 – 7:00am
- Pre-stretch/Work Out 7:00am – 8:30am
- Shower/get dressed 8:30am – 9:30am
- Meditation 9:30am – 9:50am
- Class 10:00am – 10:50am
- Work 11:00am – 3:00pm
Invest in your Hobbies
Take advantage of your new circumstances. Maybe you had to leave the house at a certain time because you have an hour-long commute. Now you can use that commute time to prepare breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee/tea, or take an early morning walk. Use this newfound free time to practice and perfect your skills. Write that book or grab some painting supplies. Break out that DIY project or start the garden outback. This is your time to sew into your life like never before.
Technolgy
Learning to navigate this technological community can be stressful, especially if you’re new to these platforms. There are lots of resources, such as YouTube, that demonstrate the use of platforms like Microsoft Teams or zoom step by step. Spending all day on the computer can be overwhelming at times, so remember that it’s okay to take breaks.
