the irony of this post is that I'm right in the middle of one of those weeks where i can't seem to motivate myself to get my homework done. i think this happens every other week in while social distancing. however, i am now, unfortunately, aware of what NOT to do to be productive. so maybe i am simply writing this to motivate myself with the tips and tricks I've learned both in college as well as 18 years of being homeschooled.
1. know what times of the day work best for you
for example, I have learned that any later than 2:30pm, I am out for the count. I've tried time and time again to do homework in the late afternoon and it always ends with me sitting at my desk, staring at my homework, and then giving up due to my bad mood. so one day, I realized that I didn't want to use any of my precious time angrily sitting at my desk without getting anything done. I decided that I was only going to do homework in the morning, a little bit into the afternoon, and then after dinner. this way, I'm a little bit more motivated to get things done in the morning, knowing I no longer have all day. and it also gives me a chunk of time to ignore the homework and do whatever i want without any guilt! now the trick that I haven't been able to nail this week is getting started early enough in the day with enthusiasm and no distractions. we'll see about next week.
2. play coffee shop
I've learned over the years that I work best in coffee shops. its a combination of the aesthetic, the coffee, and the fact that everyone around me is just distracting enough to keep me energized and focused on my work. If I'm alone in a quiet library, i will sit there and think about everything except for the homework in front of me. but this is different for everybody. some people need that quiet alone space in order to focus. but if you're like me and are desperately missing your local coffee shop, you will need to find a place in your home with the best aesthetic, make yourself a coffee or a favorite drink (preferably in a mason jar), and create that ambiance of a public space. today, while working on my online school, i discovered the world of coffee shop ambience youtube videos and spotify playlists. its basically audio of room noise, people talking, and baristas making coffee. after being home for 3+ weeks with minimal social interactions, the sound of a public space hit differently. I also enjoy using soundproof headphones and listening to loud music while working. since I'm such a visual person, sometimes i will look at pictures of people working from home on pinterest. i love seeing photos of books and papers strewn across a desk with a good filter. somehow this inspires me to recreate that aesthetic. although I do this often, its dangerous because you may end up scrolling longer than anticipated.
3. think of it as developing self-discipline
the first two tips are all about motivating yourself to want to do homework. this tip is about doing homework even when you don't want to. this is hard for me. i'm very self-motivating and self-inspiring but not self-disciplined. but in those moments this week where I really didn't want to do my homework regardless of the music i was listening to or the coffee i was drinking, I had to think of it as an opportunity to buckle down and develop my self-discipline. thankfully, I knew that the inspiration would eventually come back, so I fought through the urge to stop and plowed through that geology homework!
4. take breaks and enjoy them
this ties back to the idea of knowing the time of day that works best for you. there is literally no point in sitting at your desk for 6 hours to complete something that takes 3 hours. work hard in your designated work time and then have fun in your designated break time. don't half work/half relax all day. because then you will never feel fulfilled. and you probably won't get a lot done either.
5. meet your needs, but quickly!
i think i'm just writing this to convict myself. the point is, make sure you've eaten, you have water, you've gone to the bathroom, you're at the right temperature, and your chair is decently comfy. but don't waste any more time than necessary getting all these needs met! i spend so much time wandering around not knowing what to eat or what the perfect chair to sit on is. don't do what i do. get set up and go!
6. set a timer
I don't do this anymore, but i used to love setting 45 minute timers and working until it went off. this forced me to actually get things done, knowing I was on the clock. also it simply helped me start. once i cracked into he assignment, i realized that it wasn't that hard all along! and how great does it feel to hear the timer and realize how much you got done!
7. if your day fails, reset.
the problem with being home all day is that sometimes afternoon hits and you feel completely unmotivated and disappointed that your day didn't go as planned. that means its time to reset and start over. i think we all need a morning routine but for the afternoon, you know? this could look like a simple reset of the mind or it could be an activity that makes the day feel new. things like working out, taking a 20 minute nap, cleaning the kitchen, or eating a healthy meal might do it. i honestly would suggest doing this even if you're not trying to do school from home! its just a great way to turn around a day thats going sour. especially while social distancing!
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