“Home Based Learning” hits a lot differently now compared to pre-COVID days. Before the pandemic, HBL was a one or two-day exercise schools did to prepare for the event where going to school physically was impossible. Coming to two years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit us as a nation, studying (and working) from home has now become the norm.
If you’re anything like me, being productive at home is almost impossible. It seems like the whole house has nothing but one goal–to make you feel perfectly relaxed.
The bed constantly calls out your name, Netflix tempts you with the next episode of your favourite show, the fridge beckons with promises of refreshing drinks and sugary snacks. Alas, how is one to get anything done in an environment like this?
Below are some of my top tips to help you get off the couch and finish that assignment or report that’s due in a few days’ time.
#1 Start the day right!
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; how your day starts can have a dramatic effect on how productive you are over the course of your waking hours.
Establish a morning routine that gets you in the right frame of mind that the day has started and it’s time to get some tasks done.
I like to start my day with a cold shower followed by a glass of hot or iced coffee. I also make it a point to change out from my “house clothes” into something more suitable for a trip out to town—a polo tee and a pair of berms for example (unless of course you tend to go out in your boxers, slippers and singlet).
Experiment and find what works best for you! It could be a set of stretches upon waking up, belting out Corinne Rae’s Put Your Records On, running through a mental checklist of your day’s to-do list, or completing what I believe should be the first task of every person’s day—making your bed. Whatever it is, start your day right!
#2 Communicate with your housemates
No matter how extroverted of a person you are, eventually you’re going to need to find the physical and mental space to get your work done.
Whether your housemates be family or friends, take an active step to communicate with them about your intentions. Let them know about your school schedule and when and where you would like to start your work.
In the case of shared spaces like a dining table in the living room, invite others to join you to do your work together; it might help you find the motivation to do work. Sometimes there’s only one ideal location suitable for taking calls or joining online lectures—plan ahead and deconflict your schedules. A lot of times, concerns about sharing a space can easily be solved by taking the first step to communicate.
#3 Prepare your workspace
Time to take one out of Marie Kondo’s book for tips to declutter and clean up your workspace! The most conducive places to do any form of work shouldn't have cookie crumbs, chocolate wrappers and stacks of unfiled papers strewn all over. Ensure that the area is tidy and has space for you to lay your essentials out nicely.
Having a chair and desk that allows you to sit comfortably with good posture is a must. This is especially important if you’re going to be doing a lot of work on your computer. Getting cushions or padded wrist rests would greatly help too. And if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get that height adjustable desk or that Secret Lab chair you’ve been eyeing, now you’ve got one!
#4 Take eye breaks
With the amount of time we spend looking at screens ever increasing, we’ve got to take care of our eyes. This simply cannot be stressed enough. Take frequent eye breaks by closing your eyes or turning away from the screen.
Simple eye exercises can also help to alleviate eye strain. Additionally, if you tend to suffer from dry eyes, consider getting a tube of eye drops to help replenish the moisture in them.
Most devices now also have built in screen lighting adjustment features that you can tinker with to find the best settings for your eyes. Don’t be afraid to take that one or two minutes to find the optimal settings for yourself.
#5 Find the right music / white noise
I find that having little music or white noise in the background helps me to focus. I would advise to steer clear of songs with lyrics that you know and instead, go for instrumentals or natural sounds such as flowing water or thundery showers. Doing so, you won’t end up distracting yourself and breaking out into a karaoke performance at your desk.
Ultimately, this last tip boils down to personal preferences. Some of my friends are able to study with a rock concert playing in their ears so who’s to say that you can’t either?
That concludes my top tips for being productive at home. I would add just one last thing though. After all the hard work of the day, remember to reward yourself! Get a scoop of ice cream or cosy up with a good book. Afterall, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy–without time off, you become both bored and boring! Just make sure you’ve earned it 😉
