By Olivia McQuaid
If, like me, you live in a house full of noise and the whirlwind of family life, you will know that trying to work or revise at home can seem a near impossible task. Even in a quiet house, just the atmosphere of being at home, with your bed or the TV calling your name, can be seriously demotivating! With libraries, schools and cafes closed in many parts of the country (and world!) due to COVID-19, many school and university students alike find themselves in different spaces than usual, and understandably this can take some getting used to - so here is some advice for working at home!
Get dressed
OK… I’ll admit that sitting around in your pyjamas all day is nice BUT I always find that I work better when I feel like I’ve actually got ready for the day (even if I’m not actually going anywhere!). However, this doesn’t necessarily mean having to put your uniform on or get all dressed up, just changing into comfy clothes can put you into a more positive mindset.
Set timers
I really like using the Pomodoro method - this splits studying up into 25 minute chunks with a 5 minute break in between. You set yourself a goal for each 25 minute period (called a Pomodoro); this could be reading a chapter of a book, or making flashcards for one set of notes. This helps keep you focused for longer, and I find it helps keep me motivated too!
Take breaks
Go outside and get some fresh air, whether this is going for a walk around the block, to a local park, or sitting outside on a balcony or in a garden. It is so important to try not to be cooped up inside all day if you can help it!
Block it out!
This is up to personal choice but personally I find that listening to playlists of Lo-Fi or classical music, which you can find on any streaming platform already made, helps me to block out any distractions and keep focused. Just search for ‘revision playlists’ or ‘study beats’ and listen away!
You can’t go wrong with a to-do list
Try and write a realistic ‘to-do’ list for that day - maybe you want to focus on a particular theory or concept, or a chapter of your textbook.
Don’t beat yourself up.
Working and studying from home is new to all of us, and shouldn’t be an additional stress in an already stressful year! It is ok to feel unmotivated or to struggle, but I hope that these tips and tricks will help you out.
Best of luck for mocks, exams, or collections in the New Year!