COVID-19 Blog Series: Work/School Environment
I remember as a college student, my dorm room had my desk, bed, small TV, a fridge, and the rest of my belongings. My entire life existed in that small space. Though there were lots of places for me to study and do my assignments, I preferred to work from my dorm room. However, I noticed that this caused some problems. I ate, studied, and slept all in the same place. This made it difficult for me to sleep or do work.
In the same way, many people were told to work from home suddenly in this COVID-19 pandemic. It’s easy to not feel motivated to work, because the home and work life are being mixed together. It’s not far to go grab a snack, watch TV, or take a nap all in the comforts of home. Just seeing your kitchen, your sofa, bed, or TV are all cues that tell your brain, it’s time for a snack, break, or a nap. So, how can you organize these cues so you can be productive?
Make a separate space for work. Many of us don’t have a separate room to designate as a “work space.” However, there may be a kitchen table or a desk that can be designated the work space.
Reduce as many distractions as possible. You can reduce distractions by avoiding those “cues” I talked about earlier. Make it so that you can’t easily see the TV, sofa, or kitchen. I have a dining table where I can easily see the TV. When I work there, I sit so that I am facing away from the TV to reduce the distraction. And when you’re done with work, remove your work cues so that they don’t distract you from relaxing!
Clean your work area. I have learned that it is hard for me to work if I have a lot of papers and other materials in my work space. I try to leave my work area as empty as possible when I work, and find a place to put things away.
Make new cues. Just as cues in the environment can tell you it’s time to have fun, you can use cues to tell you it’s time to work. I have a special work music playlist I listen to when I work, and it keeps me focused on my tasks. In the morning, I have a cup of coffee or tea and just watch the news and slowly get ready for my day. Once I finish drinking it, I make a second cup and move to my work space and start on my tasks. That first cup helps my mind get ready, and the second cup carries me into my work time. If you have a child at home, try to think of cues that the child enjoys. For example, you could provide them with their favorite snack or drink when they are studying or working.
Make time boundaries. In a previous post, I talked about schedules. After a certain time in the evening, I stop working and stop checking my emails. This makes it easier for me relax and enjoy my non-work time.
What sort of cues and routines can you create for yourself to let you know that it’s time to work? Remember, don’t try to make a lot of new habits at once. Just try to change one small thing at a time, and don’t be discouraged if you mess up. Pick yourself up and try again.
