My biggest piece of advice is to have a specific space set aside somewhere in your house or apartment that is dedicated to school or work. If you are lucky enough to have a separate room, that’s great, but, even if it is as small as one corner of your dining table or living room, it can be useful. This space should allow you to leave your work- or school-related materials in the same place, allowing you to pick up where you left off the last time you were working. The utility of having a separate space is that it can help put your brain in the right place while you are working or studying. Your brain will start to associate your space with school or work, and you will find that it is easier to focus when you are in your dedicated space. It also allows you to walk away and leave it alone when you are done – even if it is in your living room, for instance, you can say to yourself “I’m not at my desk right now. I don’t have to think about school or work unless I am.” Getting that kind of distance can be useful for when you don’t want to be thinking about work or school (i.e., during your downtime).
This question was part of a broader story from Desky: How to Stay Focused When You’re Studying from Home – Advice from the Experts.
