Studying At Home

Most people prefer to get out of the house to study; they prefer an environment which is more studious with less distractions. Unfortunately, this may not be an option at the moment. However, there are things you can do to maximise your study time at home.

Put Some Time Aside

Booking out some time in your diary for when you’re going to work can be really helpful, and letting others know that's what you’re doing so they can let you crack on with work without distracting you (no matter how tempting the Netflix binge session is).

Motivate Yourself To Actually Work

If you can’t resist the call of watching that Friends episode you’ve seen a thousand times (“but it’s my favourite!!”), work towards it. If there is something you really want to do, start in the morning and break to take part. Or you can only sit down to watch it if you’ve finished the next chapter.

Reward yourself for the work you’ve done.

Break it Down - Do a Little Each Day

If you have a few thousand-word essays to write, break it down instead. It can be overwhelming to think ‘I have to write 3000 words by the end of the week!’ Instead, think ‘I have to write 500 words today’ for five days. When you break it down into smaller chunks, it can feel much more manageable.

Find Somewhere To Work

However much you’ve convinced yourself you can write an essay in bed - you can’t. Find somewhere you can actually work, like the kitchen table or your desk. You need to be somewhere you can set your mind to ‘work mode’ not ‘nap time’. Sleep studies also suggest keeping your bed as somewhere for sleep, so you can switch off at the end of the day and get those well deserved Zzz’s.

DND

No, not rolls of dice, or little figures, Do Not Disturb. Turn off your phone, ask people not to bother you and get on with it!

Take Time Off To Relax

Working from home can be distracting. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy that time that you get to spend with friends and family. The current climate is stressful and overwhelming, and can sometimes feel too much. Remember to look after yourself. We have many tips and advice to help you through, and even if you are self isolating, the Advice team are still there for you to talk to. 

University of Portsmouth Coronavirus FAQs