I don’t know about you, but virtual school has really tested my ability to be productive. Before the pandemic, I was always on top of my work because I knew that if I didn’t do my work in any free time I had during the day, I would be up all night doing it. However, with virtual school comes with a lot of free time which in most ways is great, but it also makes it harder to discipline myself in terms of getting work done since there is so much time. This extra time has decreased my urgency to get much of anything done in my free time, and when it comes time to hang out with my family or be outside doing something fun, I always have work because I put it off until the last minute.

         This pattern of unproductivity had been really getting to me. I was so sick of always doing things at the last minute because it was causing me way more stress than I needed. Because of this, I decided to establish some new habits and methods that have really helped me get back on track with my work. These tips and tricks have actually worked, and although sitting on my phone is always more enjoyable than homework in the moment, these tips have saved me so much time in the long run.

        As much as I love these tips and tricks, I do want to say that it is very important that we not be hard on ourselves in these crazy times, as virtual school is something most of us would probably never have ever considered doing voluntarily. There should always be room in our routines for self-care, relaxation time, and doing things we love, and I hope these productivity tips help you make as much room as possible for these things if you too have been struggling with motivation and getting stuff done.

1. Wake up early (sometimes)

         A goal of mine for this semester is to wake up early at least 2 days of the school week. You may be wondering, Why on earth would you want to wake up earlier than needed? Of course, I love my sleep, but I have recently gotten into the habit of sleeping into the very last minute which sets a groggy tone to my day. I also end up being ill prepared for my first class. Giving myself time in the morning allows me to fully wake up my mind and body and prepare myself for the school day ahead.

        I also am way more motivated and productive in the morning than any other time of the day! When I capitalize on this and get work done in the morning, I have way less to do later in the day when I’m less motivated. Studies actually show that most people are most productive with their analytical work in the mornings and most creative in the afternoon.  

         Lastly, a habit I have been trying to instill in myself for the mornings is making my bed when I get up. Making my bed makes me feel like I have already gotten something done which sets a productive tone to the day, and waking up early gives me the time to do this.

2. Get dressed and ready for the day

        Like I mentioned before, getting up early is important, and I have recently been setting aside time in the mornings to do my morning skincare and beauty routine (which isn’t much these days) and to put on real clothes like I would in normal school. When I start every single school day in pajamas, I feel like I could back into bed after my first class which is the opposite of being productive!

       I usually wear sweatpants and a tee because I’m comfy but also feel (kind of) put together. If I am going to work out later in the day, I wear leggings and a tee or hoodie. Finding a balance between comfy yet tidy is my go-to for virtual school!

3. Treat virtual school like normal school

        So being at home all day doesn’t really resemble school at all, but the best way to maximize productivity with schoolwork is to treat virtual school like regular school. It is really tempting to treat Zoom like background noise, but the only way productivity can occur is if school comes first. This means paying attention in class and putting school as the #1 priority which is super hard with little accountability. However, if we work on being a little more attentive each day, we can learn a lot more which, in the long run, helps with productivity.

        Virtual school has many challenges, but we should all remember how grateful we are to go to school and have an education at this time. Especially for those of us with computers, good WiFi, a quiet place to do school, and all of the other important resources that make virtual learning easier. Instead of looking at virtual school with a “glass half-empty” mindset, we can look at it with the “glass half-full” one! We are so lucky to be able to receive an education in this pandemic, so let’s take advantage of it!

4. Just get started!

        I am a perfectionist, and it is sometimes hard for me to start something knowing I won’t be able to finish it in the time that I have. However, I have learned the key to productivity is just getting started on work despite if you might finish it or not in that sitting. Sometimes I just end up planning an assignment or doing the first 5 minutes of it, but I still can say I’ve started the process which makes sitting back down to work on it easier.  

5. Use your lunch period and breaks

        As I mentioned before, afternoon homework for me is brutal. I always feel so drained by 3pm. Plus, like many of you, I have extra circular activities after school which means I don’t start my homework until after those end. I know no one wants to hear this, but use your breaks to work (if you can)! I have learned to make a speedy lunch and sit down and eat while getting some assignments out of the way during some of my lunch breaks. When I use my breaks productively, I have a significantly lighter workload in the afternoon.

        This tip is a bit harder than the others, and I really only use my break for work when I feel like it, and I rarely use all of my breaks for work. I think it is important to unplug and take a break from screens in those gaps in your schedule, but if you find yourself on your phone, Netflix, etc. in your breaks, swap out that screen time for more productive screen time.

6. Put away your phone

         Back to screen time, I know, I sound like a mom, but I cannot stress the importance of this tip enough! Phones are so fun, so why would any logical person not go on their phone if it is right next to them while doing work? Therefore, it is crucial to have your phone out of your sight while doing schoolwork if you want to stay on task. Trust me, you are not unproductive or unmotivated if your phone sits with you while you work; you are simply just setting yourself up for failure.

7. Eat energizing food and workout when you need a break.

        I believe eating is such a personal experience, and only we know what our body wants and needs as fuel. However, I know that energizing food is always a good idea when I am feeling I am feeling groggy or unmotivated. These are some of my favorite energizing and easy to make lunches, but once again, only you know what feels energizing and good to you.

        In addition to energizing food, working out has truly kept me sane during this time. It is my go-to thing to do when I am feeling unmotivated, anxious, stressed, or just tired of virtual school. I take rest days from my typical workouts, but I always try to take a few walks and get outside a few times of day to clear my mind. I also am a huge fan of short workouts for a quick sweat! Recently, I’ve been loving virtual yoga as a lower impact way of moving my body. I never regret working out and always feel more focused when I come back to my schoolwork post-workout. 

8. Hold yourself accountable

         Holding ourselves accountable is no easy task, especially when we are all so used to teachers making sure we do our classwork to the best of our ability, turn in homework on time, and pay attention in class. This accountability was a huge part of my productivity pre-pandemic, so if we can all hold ourselves accountable with working, think of how much more productive we can all be!

        One of my biggest tips for holding yourself accountable is picking the hours you are going to work and sticking to them. I am a huge fan of lists, so I like to sit down with my to-do list and set a time to have an assignment or two done by and make it happen. It’s not fun, but picking your work times and holding yourself accountable to actually working at these times will be a game-changer if you struggle with productivity.  

9. Prioritize sleep

         Productivity and sleep go hand in hand. When I am unproductive during the day and wait until the last minute to get things done, I nearly always find myself doing schoolwork late at night in order to catch up. It’s one thing to get some work done at night if you are a night owl and want to check some things off your list before going to bed, but always working late into the night to get things done for the next day is never fun and can be avoided if you are productive during the day.

        Not only will productivity help your sleep, but sleep will help your productivity. Some also say your brain is like a filing cabinet at night in that it stores and registers all of the information from the past day. Sleep will allow you to conquer your days with a fresh brain and will make waking up and starting your mornings on a positive note much easier.

10. Remember why you’re productive!

        Being productive is not always fun, but have you ever heard someone say I wish I wasn’t as productive today? Probably not. Of course, not all days can or should be workdays because life is too short for that, but productivity is what allows us to have time to do the things we love! When we get our work done, we are able to have more free time without worries or procrastination!

        I hope you all enjoyed these 10 tips and tricks for productivity and that they can help you make the most of virtual school, and school in general. And don’t forget that I am in this with you! These have made my weeks less stressful and have given me more time for me to do relax and do the things I love. Let me know in the comment section what tips you have for being productive!  

 Image via Pinterest