Productivity and Concentration are things many are struggling with during quarantine. Some are easily distracted during Zoom calls / Google Meetings and/or lose focus quickly. We have put together some tips to improve your productivity.
1. Pin Users to your Screen
If you are in school, you might find it hard to focus on your teacher / professor. You may find yourself looking at your friends rather than paying attention to class. I've found that pinning your instructor to your screen forces you to pay attention to them. It also keeps your screen from switching every time a new person speaks. This would also apply if you are in a work meeting and someone is presenting / lecturing. This option is available in both Zoom and Google Meet.
2. Don't text during a Call
Distance Learning / Working from Home are completely out of the ordinary, so you may find yourself wanting to text your friends on all the stuff going on in the call. It's best to avoid texting because it will reduce your focus by a lot. If you are a great multi-tasker, then good for you, but it's just best overall to stay off your phones.
3. Help your Teachers / Bosses out with Technical Issues
It may be funny to watch your teachers / bosses have technical issues and you may be happy to have not done anything during the call. However, it's probably best to help them out. Not only are they stepping out of their comfort zone to help you, they have limited time. It's probably better to help your instructors out and get quality class time than to get work you don't know how to do because the call didn't work out.
4. Set Goals for Yourself
I wasn't a productive person before quarantine but being at home made me a much greater procrastinator. It's important to set big goals for yourself but also set smaller sub-goals. You won't go from major procrastinator to the most productive person in the world in one day, so setting smaller, more realistic goals will help you work towards a greater one. For example, set a small goal like "Finish my work before 10:00 pm" or "Not watch YouTube until half of my homework is completed". Slowly, you will go towards a greater path.
5. Start with the Easiest Assignments
I find that, when I try to start my work with the harder, longer, and more time-consuming assignments, I end up procrastinating a lot quicker. Procrastinating that early on would then delay my whole schedule and work by a lot. I like to start with the quicker assignments. I get those done a lot faster and end up a with a lot more spare time in the end to do my longer assignments.
6. Keep an Agenda
Whenever I'm trying to get work done, my mind may wander and question if there's something I'm forgetting to do. Keeping an agenda will get rid of that extra stress from your mind. You will stop forcing your mind to remember everything and will be able to use it towards other things like work and focusing. It will also work as a to-do list, and maybe even placing your written goals next to it, will help with motivation.
7. Take Breaks
It's really helpful to take breaks when working. Some people will take 5 minute breaks between study sessions while others will prefer to do longer study sessions with a long break afterwards. Whichever method works best for you will help you relax your mind a little and relieve your eyes from staring at a computer.
8. Have Snacks
Having a good breakfast is crucial to concentrating and learning during Zoom calls, but snacking may help. You don't have to eat a full-course meal to gain some energy. Snacking may help you relax and do something other than stare at a screen for long period of time. Make sure to check with your Teacher / Boss on their "snacking during calls" policies.
9. Try to get out of your bedroom
I understand that many live with other people or have a chaotic household, so the bedroom may be the quietest place to work from. However, many associate their bed with sleep so working from bed can make you lose focus and feel a lot more sleepy. Sometimes, a change of scenery can help you wake up and work to the best of your abilities. If you can't leave your bedroom, at least try to get our of bed. Even the smallest things can cause a great difference.
10. Create study groups / work groups with friends
Distance Learning / Working from home is not easy. In fact, many feel like they can only learn / work in their usual environment. Study groups will not only help you focus on studying, but they will make the job a lot easier and more fun. It will also help you feel a lot less lonely and isolated.
In conclusion, quarantine has not been easy for most people. Many are going to have to try new techniques to get themselves to work. If any of these tips work for you, you can always let us know, or if you have any suggestions, contact us through the contact page.
*Photographed by Stacy
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