Focusing at Home in the Midst of the COVID 19 Pandemic

The extent and severity of the coronavirus pandemic have caught almost everyone by surprise. The ‘new normal’ is likely to be with us for quite some time, and while we may not like it, the reality is that we’re all going to have to adapt rapidly to a new way of living and working. Here are some strategies for staying focused when the distractions are all around.

It may be that you’ve previously done your studying in the office after-hours or in a library or coffee shop. With those options temporarily unavailable, it’s time to think again.

While staying calm, safe and focused may not seem exactly easy right now, there are a few things you can do to maximise the chances of success.

Minimise distractions

For many, understandably, it can seem harder to focus than ever. More friends than usual may be checking in via social media or other digital means, while the news may feel like the proverbial car crash you want to stop looking at but can’t. Or, of course, you may be worried about family members. Try turning off news notifications on your phone and limiting yourself to bulletins no more than once or twice daily, to get only the information you need. Stay in touch with friends and relatives, but do that for, say, just half an hour a day.

Working with children around

Having kids at home with you while the schools are shut could present an extra challenge. This is where clear communication, setting firm boundaries with your family and sticking to a routine come into their own. If you have a partner who’s also around at home, try and alternate shifts so that you both have uninterrupted work time. During the week, stick to bedtimes and getting up and dressed and having breakfast at the same time that you would on a normal school day – if necessary, remind everyone (including yourself!) that you’re not on holiday.

Distinguishing between home and work mode

It may be helpful to do something to physically mark the transition between home and work mode, especially if home working is a new thing for you. That could mean going for a brisk walk before getting started, or making a cup of tea in a particular ‘office’ mug, or lighting a candle to mark the end of the working day or week – anything that helps forge a strong association in your mind. You may also want to do this as you switch between ‘day job’ and ‘study’ mode to stop time from losing its structure.

Keeping it real

Being at home all day can make it tempting to fall into the trap of being over-ambitious. Set three or five goals you can definitely achieve, whether that’s topics to master or chapters to read, rather than thinking you can do ten and then feeling disappointed when you don’t.

Short bursts

While working in intense, short bursts is always a good idea, in the current circumstances it seems more important than ever, particularly when you’re obliged to work in the same place all the time, and a very familiar one at that. (Though you could try to combat cabin fever to some extent by working in different rooms.)

In between the bursts of effort, take breaks, eat healthily, go out for exercise (as permitted) and get plenty of sleep to ensure your immune system is in the best possible condition. Equally importantly, stay in touch with your friends and colleagues to help keep potential feelings of isolation at bay.

Finally, you may find some surprising upsides to the enforced isolation. Life may seem simpler and more focused, and you may even surprise yourself with how much you manage to achieve during the lockdown period. In some ways, it could feel as though you’ve been given that rarest of gifts, time, so it’s worth making the most of it.