Written by: Andrea Grimaldo, Cisneros Class of 2023
College is awesome… until you find yourself finishing the semester in your childhood bedroom staring at the star-shaped stickers on your ceiling. Since GW has made the shift to remote learning for the fall semester due to the coronavirus pandemic, the entire online experience has been a bit, well, “bleh.” I know many of us miss our study spots near the monuments, U-Yard, and good old Gelbucks. Although most of us are not in D.C. right now, we can still be as productive as we were on campus! Here are a few tips to ensure productivity when working virtually.
1. Create your workspace.
Let’s be honest, attending a lecture in bed with your pajamas on can be tempting, but isn’t ideal for staying focused. An easy way to set yourself up for a productive day is to create a designated workplace. When choosing your workstation, whether it be an office desk or kitchen table, feel free to personalize it! Add a nice lamp, an oil diffuser, and stay hydrated with your favorite water bottle. If you are in a noisy environment, put on some headphones to tune out the distractions. The key to staying productive is to have a cleared, well-lit work surface with a power source nearby that is away from your bed. This way, you can associate your chosen space with schoolwork and avoid dozing off during Zoom meetings!
2. Stay organized.
Sometimes we simply cannot focus because we are trying to juggle multiple things at once. I know I am not a professional juggler, which is why staying organized is important. Personally, I like to use Google Calendar linked with my GW email as an easy way to keep track of events, deadlines, and last-minute reminders. If you are a visual learner, you could try keeping everything in a planner or on a large wall calendar. Something as small as circling important dates in a bold color can prevent you from procrastinating.
3. Reach out.
During this non-traditional college experience, it can be easy to find yourself feeling alone and unmotivated, but one way to overcome this feeling is by staying connected to your peers. Form a class GroupMe, host study groups on Zoom, and stay in touch through social media. If possible, try finding at least one person in each of your classes you feel comfortable talking to. You can reach out to them to ask about future assignments, clarify a concept, or prepare for an upcoming exam. You will get to relieve some of the pressures of remote learning while spending time with friends (two birds with one stone!).
4. Take a Break.
Now that classes are online, it means you will be spending a lot more time in front of the screen. Spending consecutive hours staring at a bright screen can be draining and even decrease productivity. To reduce mental fatigue, take time away from your laptop. Dedicate time, whether that be thirty minutes every day or a few hours each Friday, to do something completely unrelated to school –away from a screen. I suggest going for an evening run, spending time with your pet, or snuggling up under a blanket. Remember, self-care is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity these days.
Important things to consider.
Although this semester is not what we expected it to be, you can still utilize this time to focus on yourself. Getting into a good routine can allow you to stay on top of your studies and make your virtual learning experience a little less daunting. Soon, we will all be sipping iced coffee while catching up on campus!
Andrea Grimaldo is a second-year Cisneros Scholar in the Elliott School of International Affairs. From Houston, Texas, she is pursuing international affairs and philosophy and is a fellow at Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room. Andrea’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.