Well, it’s official. After working at my new position for only 4 weeks, I’ve been encouraged to participate in “social distancing” by working remotely. As a theoretical chemist, this is usually quite natural, and I’ve spent large parts of my research career mainly working from home. When I tell people this, they ask how I can be so productive at home when there are so many distractions, and no one is checking to make sure you’re working. In light of the evolving Covid-19 situation forcing researchers to work from home, I thought I’d share some of my own tips for staying focused and motivated when working remotely.
- Choose your working spot wisely
Try different spots around your home to work. I work well from my couch most of the time, but the kitchen table is a nice place to spread papers out and stay organized. I went to my friend’s house last night and saw that she had put a padded mat on her living room floor in front of her computer as a remote workstation. Choose the spot that works best for you and your productivity. Usually this means that you should avoid working in bed (which can also negatively impact how well you sleep).
2. Clean your house before you start work for the day
A clean home (tidy, dishes done, bed made) is essential for keeping your mind clear and focused when working from home. Before working for the day, tidy up your workspace and home so you don’t end up procrastinating by cleaning or organizing. If you find yourself designing little house projects while working, consider these in step three.
3. Find productive ways to take short breaks
Your home can be very distracting when working, so if you find your mind constantly wandering, schedule productive breaks into your day. I generally pair these with the Pomodoro technique on days where I feel very distracted or with particularly unpleasant projects. The Pomodoro technique has gotten me through many tough times (mainly in writing proposals and my dissertation) and is very simple and effective. Essentially you set a timer (on your phone, google, etc.) for 30 minutes (or even 15 if it’s an extremely unpleasant project). Then, focus solely on your work until the timer goes off. Don’t check the amount of time left, as you want to get yourself into a flow state. After your timer goes off, reward yourself with a small break. For me, 10 minutes usually hits the spot. This break can consist of watching a couple videos on YouTube, dusting your windowsill, making some tea, or whatever has been eating at you. In times when I really need to focus, I use the Pomodoro technique all day, which, for me, is the work-equivalent of high intensity interval training (HIIT) for exercise. Perhaps future studies will show the effectiveness of this method for concentration as HIIT has been shown for heart health!
I wish you all a productive and safe social distancing period!