Ten Tips to Being Productive Online for Students — and Everyone
By Lucy Martinez, student at Stockton University
As one the founders and a member of the AWM student chapter at Stockton University, I was recently part of a discussion with our student chapter about how to be successful when taking classes and doing our work-study online. It has been almost a year since classes, conferences, meetings and other events moved virtual. Some of us are still adjusting to the new norm, looking for ways to stay connected with friends, colleagues, work, and school. Staying focused throughout the day and balancing work and home responsibilities has been difficult for students and faculty alike. How can we avoid staring at our computers all day long? How can we improve our routine and balance school, meetings, and other events virtually? Perhaps you can refresh your online routine by trying some of these ideas to make your online experience more productive.
Set up your work space in an area with good lighting and away from spaces that you normally use for reading, taking a break, or napping. Rearrange what you have on and near your desk; keep your workspace clean and neat.
Try placing your phone face-down on your desk while you are completing important tasks to avoid looking at upcoming notifications. Distractions such as scrolling through social media and texting keep us from finishing our work.
Take breaks from working on your computer all day. Try taking a walk to the kitchen to refill your water bottle. Step away from the computer if you have been on it for more than two hours. Step outside and get some fresh air. Take small breaks between meetings.
Give yourself enough time to recover from one meeting or to absorb what you just learned before beginning another. A break between meetings is a good time to begin or to complete assignments. Avoid back-to-back meetings whenever possible.
Keep your line-of-sight free of distractions by moving distracting objects away from your study area.
Maintain a calendar to keep deadlines, meetings, and assignments in one place: For some people, keeping a schedule helps them stay on track during the week. Get a mini whiteboard to organize your zoom meetings and study goals for the day.
Set alarms and reminders: If you have busy days, it is helpful to have your phone remind you where you need to be. Days begin to blur in the virtual environment.
Write a realistic to-do list. Instead of writing everything that needs to be done for the term on one piece of paper, each day write down what you need to prioritize and what you can accomplish on that day. Enjoy the satisfaction of crossing off items from your to-do lists.
Have a desk buddy: Get a candle, a small plant or a fish to keep a positive and motivating working space.
Find a new hobby that does not relate to technology. Some activities include knitting, crocheting, doing puzzles, or making art. This will give you a break from screen time and use a different part of your brain. Try relaxing activities such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing techniques.
While these are just a few things to keep in mind, remember the most important part: be kind to yourself. Think about yourself first and take care of your mental health. It is easy to disregard yourself and forget what is most important: your health and your inner peace. Remember that it is okay to not be okay sometimes. Try to be less harsh on yourself, and know that we can get through this by looking out for each other.