Working From Home – How To Transition To Online Learning

The transition to working from home is not an easy one for most. It requires adjusting habits and finding new tactics to promote productivity and mental clarity. As many Robertson students are beginning online courses or have recently transitioned to our Virtual Classroom, we wanted to create a guide to help ease the transition and get you set up for success.

 

1. Determine a designated study space

Creating a designated study space is extremely important when working remotely for long periods. This can be anything from a home office to a chair at the dining room table— though one might seem ideal, both can be equally effective when learning online.

The importance of having a dedicated space comes down to the psychological effect. By assigning a space to use only for productive work, your brain will focus more quickly whenever you sit in that spot, as opposed to studying in multiple places in your home.

If you’re planning on taking a break from your work, but are still on your laptop, take it to another room. The more you make your study space just for studying, the more likely you are to be productive in that spot.

If you’re studying in our Virtual Classroom—an online space for our ground-campus students to join lectures and meet with their instructors and classmates daily—it might feel a bit daunting to sit in the same spot for all your lectures and your studying. In that case, break up the places where you tune in to your classes and where you study. If you don’t have a lot of personal space at home and studying somewhere like your bed is your only option, try sitting on the opposite side of where you sleep to make the area feel different.

 

2. Make your study space inspiring

Once you’ve determined where your study space will be, it’s time to set up your workstation. Add items that promote your form of productivity—that could be lighting a candle, having a distraction journal handy or a cup of tea to sip on. If your study space is in a common area of your house, think about what you can bring that’s easy to pack up at the end of your day.

The goal of your study space should be to create a place that inspires you to be productive as soon as you sit down.

 

3. Reassess how you organize your study materials

Everyone has a different way of keeping track of their assignments, but what worked for you in the past might not work as well when learning online. Here are a few tips to keep yourself on track:

• Make a list of all your assignments with their corresponding due date. This will be your master list.
• Make a list of all the small tasks you have to do. That could be emailing an instructor or reading a chapter of a textbook. This list will help you accomplish what’s on your master list, and it’s a great to-do list to turn to when you need to accomplish something, but you’re having a hard time tackling the big tasks.
• Determine your top three priorities for the day. Most people often only achieve the top three critical items on their to-do list. Start there.

One of the best parts of having a daily to-do list is the ability to finish your day and reflect on what you accomplished. When you’re working remotely, you’ll have days where it’s tough to get everything done. But taking this time daily to reflect on your accomplishments will help you see the bigger picture and help you accept the days you were less productive. Remember to strive for progress instead of perfection.

Check out this blog post for more tips on organizing your materials when studying online.

 

4. Schedule study blocks

Whether you’re enrolled in an online program or are learning remotely in a Virtual Classroom, breaking down your study time will not only help you stay on track, but it will also ensure you’re getting some well-deserved down-time.

Take a high-level look at your week and schedule your study time based on your upcoming assignments. Make sure to break up your tasks over the week. Because transitioning to remote working is an adjustment, give yourself extra time with tasks, so you have a buffer if you get stuck in an unproductive rut.

 

5. Put away your phone

Checking your phone while working from home can be very appealing but equally as distracting. Leave your phone in another room or turn it on Do Not Disturb. If you’re struggling to stay off it, use it as a reward. Study distraction-free for an hour, then allow yourself 10 minutes of phone time. It will feel a lot better when you’ve earned it.

 

6. Connect with classmates

If you haven’t explored the Class Discussion section on Brightspace, this is your cue. Whether you’re looking to brainstorm an assignment or get some study tips, it’s a great place to connect with each other and build a supportive community.

 

7. Develop and maintain a morning routine

Without the morning commute, it can feel tough to get into the studying headspace. Create a morning routine that helps wake up your body and your mind. Here are a few things to help you prep for a productive day:

• Take a walk around the block.
• Read your favourite online newsletter.
• Listen to a podcast while you make your coffee.
• Take ten minutes to do a free-write.
• FaceTime with a friend or classmate.

 

8. Don’t forget to take breaks

It can be easy to live in your study spot all day, but taking the time to let your mind reset is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your productivity. When you create your study schedule, make sure to add in your breaks. Use this time to catch up on social media, go for a walk or read a book. Try and get out of your study space and into somewhere different for a bit.

 

9. Working remotely in a busy household

If you live with a lot of family or roommates, this transition might have additional challenges for you. Depending on the size of your household and whose home while you’re studying, it might be difficult to focus. Understand that this transition is a challenge and don’t be hard on yourself for not mastering online learning immediately.

Here are a few tips if you’re struggling to focus in a busy household:

Toss in a pair of headphones. Whether you’re listening to music, nature sounds or absolutely nothing, having headphones can create the feeling of blocking out your surroundings. Plus, people are less likely to bother you if they think you can’t hear them!

Have a conversation with your family. Share your study schedule with them. Maybe you can come up with household quiet-times that can benefit everyone.

Reach out to your classmates for advice. Many of them might be dealing with similar struggles and can give you valuable tips on how to help.

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself during this transition. If you find yourself struggling, reach out to your instructor—they’re there to support you and help you achieve greatness. Take this transition day by day, celebrate little successes as much as you reflect on challenges. You have everything it takes to be successful.

If you’re interested in learning more about remote work, check out our new Work From Home Free Self-Guided Course — a short, flexible online course to help you navigate remote work.