It's time for me to admit that the transition to online work is not synonymous to a period for relaxation. It's better to treat it as just another weekday, but with more time and in the comfort of your own home. It's a chance to make meaningful advancements in both personal projects and required work, and instead of finding the flaws in the online transition, I've viewed it as an opportunity to divide up my time better. I can now spend less time on learning material for easier classes, leaving me more room to focus on more in-depth learning in harder subjects.
This leads me to tip #1: like always, prioritize your time. Use the extra time per day wisely and carefully to your own advantage. Your extra hour or so that is saved from not having to commute to work can be used to bake new desserts, learn a new language, or pick up a new skill online. Whatever you decide, make sure you complete your top priorities before focusing on lower ones to avoid leaving a huge pile of work and stress for the end of the week.
Tip #2: Make a schedule.
Every week when all work is assigned, create a weekly schedule of what tasks you want done and at what time you want them done. Especially when planned down to the last minute, these schedules simulate order and organization, much like school or work schedules. For me, setting timers can also increase a sense of urgency as the time limit serves as motivation to work harder, smarter, and faster.
As for tip #3, don't plan to finish your work too quickly. In other words, people usually estimate a task to be simpler and less time-consuming than it actually is. Give yourself some wiggle room in your schedule to avoid the added stress of running behind schedule.
Our final tip #4 is one I got from a fellow student, and it is to try a new working environment. At some point, working in the same places will become repetitive and if you find that working at your desk is unproductive, it may be because the setting is too familiar and comfortable. Instead, find an environment that you've never tried to work in before. For me, sitting on the ground helps me focus. For others, it's sitting by the kitchen or in their backyard. Finding a new workspace helps me take my tasks more seriously and boosts productivity, so it may prove effective for others.
Hopefully by keeping these tips in mind, we can match or even exceed our original productivity. Wishing everyone the best in their professional endeavors!
