Working from Home: How to Help Yourself Succeed

 Times have been tough since the pandemic started last year, in 2020. Due to many campuses closing throughout the various lockdowns, students have had to learn how to fully commit to distance learning and getting inspired to keep going, even in these tough times. Working from home comes with its challenges too. The distractions are endless, people’s mental health tends to be worse than before, and staying organised and creative can seem impossible.

 

Though things have been extremely difficult, there are some steps you can take to give yourself the best chance at successful revising and general homeworking. Below we have listed some of the ways that you can help yourself stay on top of student life, instead of letting it overwhelm you.

Stick to a Routine and Study Plan

 

Our brains are programmed to do well when sticking to a routine, so try to recreate that with your home study. Though it might seem silly to always wake up at the same time, and finish work at the same time, the structure of a routine is likely what most people need, particularly in a year without much structure.

 

Losing your daily structure can massively impact your ability to retain information. Having a routine will not only give you purpose, but it will also make you feel inspired and driven. You could also try setting various goals for your revising, projects, deadlines etc. Scientifically, by meeting goals and having ‘successes’, no matter how small, your brain will get empowered and you are likely to feel more motivated to keep going.

 

If you are having a hard time with a particular project, try switching it up to something you know you could succeed at. This will help get your brain back in the game and feeling creative. And don’t forget to get plenty of sleep too! Lack of sleep will make you feel groggy and less energetic, which can make revising and working so much harder.

 

Give Yourself Space and Time to Rest

 

Particularly during this strange and hard year, it is likely that your mental health has had some major peaks and valleys. It can be tricky to balance your working schedule with your relaxing schedule, particularly if you are stuck at home for most of the day anyway. Though you don’t have to live by a strict work and rest schedule, it’s ok to give yourself a break when things are getting too overwhelming.

 

You won’t be doing your best work if your stress and anxiety is skyrocketing, so give yourself time to rest, meditate, breathe, and take the space you need. Giving yourself a break when you truly needed is likely to get your head in a better state, and will improve your focus and your work.

 

And if you start lagging in a project, try changing it up and working on something else. If you can get inspired working on a different section or project altogether, you are likely to return to the previous project feeling inspired and energetic.

 

Don’t Forget to Take Breaks

 

Though it may seem obvious, breaks are crucial to effective study, but it’s very easy to forget about them, or simply decide not to take them. Long term, this is not likely to improve your mental health and instead could make you stuck and resentful. Plus, giving yourself distance away from work will not only give you a fresh perspective, but it also allows you to mess around and procrastinate on your designated breaks, instead of your designated work time.

 

It’s also important to remember that it’s ok to work late sometimes but try not to do it too often. If you set a time to finish, try to stick to that time. Sometimes we feel the need to ‘make-up' time when we have easily gotten distracted throughout the day, but don’t make yourself guilty. You could quite easily work the extra time, but be too tired to do anything productive anyway!

 

Get Frequent Fresh Air and Exercise

 

Yes, we know this has been said so much over this last year, but let’s not forget it! Even just taking a step outside could be the difference between you feeling revitalised and ready to keep going, and completely giving up. Fresh air is good to clear the mind and can also help to give your brain the space it needs to recover and get back into gear.

 

You could try doing indoor exercises too. Mini workouts, yoga or even simple stretches throughout the day can help break you out of a funk. By getting your physical body moving, your brain will also start moving.

 

Maintain a Tidy, Peaceful Working Environment

 

This could be tricky for some, but having a more minimalistic working space is likely to help your brain focus more. The more things you surround yourself with, the more distractions your brain then has. Even if the only thing you keep tidy is your desk, it is still worth it! Our brains can retain more information when there are fewer distractions around and that includes less mess.

 

Stay in Touch with People

 

As many of us have probably learned this year, the isolation this pandemic has brought has been incredibly hard. Even for more introverted people, the lack of human contact can still make everyday life and tasks harder to do. Try to stay in contact with friends, family and housemates as much as possible.

 

You could even try getting a study buddy that you video chat and study with throughout the day. It’s important to not let loneliness and isolation get the best of you, so don’t forget about your social life, even if it is limited.

 

Remove Stress by Finding Your Student Accommodation

 

Here at Unihousing, we want to help students find a good fit for University housing. Having your own space that fits your needs, wants and budget will help with not only your mental health but with your whole student experience. Unihousing is a top letting agency in Selly Oak, and whether you are looking for a shared house or a student studio, we have a variety of properties for you to choose from. Contact our team today to view our properties and register your interest.