.png)
In the last two months the world as we know it has drastically changed. Many countries have ordered their citizens to “stay at home” and quarantine from this fast-spreading pandemic that is rapidly overwhelming healthcare industries across the globe. Millions of people are now unemployed and have lost their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of people have tested positive for this mysterious Covid-19 virus and many have even lost their lives.
Life in quarantine isn’t easy. It isn’t easy to stay locked inside your home, shut out from the outside world and not able to interact with other people. Most universities have moved their schooling courses online for the rest of the semester which also adds to the stress of adjusting to this new quarantined lifestyle.
If you are anything like me, you may find it hard to stay disciplined and focused during the “stay at home” order most people in the world are currently under. Even though I am stuck at home with lots of time on my hands, I find it very easy to become distracted from completing the tasks I need to get done. Can you relate to this struggle? How do we use our time effectively while working from home in quarantine?
Below are 4 tips to help you better complete your work and schooling while living in quarantine. I am borrowing some of these ideas from Tim Challies.
#1: Have a Consistent Schedule
Set aside specific and consistent time in your schedule each day to complete your homework for your online classes. This will help guard against the pressures of procrastination and discouragement. It will also help you create a productive routine.
#2: Designate a Specific Work Space
Research has shown that you are more likely to develop a habit if you have a specific physical place chosen as a workspace. Whether this space be a specific couch, desk, chair, table, or whatever it may be – working consistently in this space will help trigger consistency and effectiveness.
#3 Set Reasonable Goals
When I try and sit down to complete a big project or task it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. The best thing to do is break the assignment down into small, reasonable goals. Rather than stressing out over the entire project, focus on the small goal you have set for yourself.
#4: Reward Success
Once you have completed a goal you have set, reward yourself. Whether it be eating your favorite snack, checking your instagram, watching a show on Netflix, or calling a friend, find some sort of fun incentive or reward for completing the task you set for yourself.
I hope these simple tips can help maximize your effectiveness while you work from home. If you feel overwhelmed, that’s okay! You are not alone. If you feel like you haven’t worked effectively at home, that is okay too. It’s never too late to begin, just take one simple day at a time.