Many students had to switch to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet many learned that working from home is not a great option – it can actually be exhausting and, without setting up the right home office, even counterproductive. Here are some of the most important pieces of advice we received from online students on how to turn your dorm room into a comfortable home office.
If you found yourself forced to work from your dorm, here is your short guide on how to prepare for it. Remember! Setting up a productive workspace will bring about more productivity and less procrastination.
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Find natural light in your house
More light means more energy, according to studies developed at Carnegie Mellon University. The more energy you have, the more productive you become. When you’re working from home, everything can be a distraction – so, natural light is a must to ensure on-going productivity. An improperly lit room can promote eye fatigue and more procrastination – and who wants that? Make sure that your bed faces the window and that you can get as much natural light as possible.
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Keep your office as private as you can
Now I know this is quite challenging when you’ve got a roommate hanging out in the room but try to keep your home office as isolated as you can. If you have some free room space that no one really uses and is quieter, use that. If you’ll work for essay writers online, you might have to interact with customers, so try not to let yourself be bothered by your roommate. Privacy is really, really important. Let them know what your schedule is and when you want your privacy. Be persistent if you have to – in the end, it’s your room too.
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Write down everything that you need
Make a list of all the things you need for your new office. You could include things such as notepads, pencils, extension cables, docking stations, etc. Staying organized is really important, so make sure that you have everything laid out before starting your new online job. You’ll really appreciate organizing everything before you started. You want to have everything ready to be able to focus on your work.
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You could move around
You don’t necessarily have to work from your dorm every single day. If you like moving around, you can always change the scenery and work from a different place every day. There are many coworking spaces available around your city, I’m sure. If not, you could always check out your school’s library or a random coffee shop. As long as you’re comfortable, it really doesn’t matter where you’re working. All you should be worried about is fast internet connection and tasty coffee!
Of course, making sure you’ve got your homework up to date is also important. Time is money, so try to organize well and stay productive. If you cannot finish everything by the deadline, don’t freak out. If you’re not able to finish assignments because of time concerns, you could always buy assignments online and be done with them in no time. Don’t worry, there is a solution for everything.
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Add some life to it
While making sure that having what you need is essential, don’t forget about the details. Adding some life to your office is a great idea. It will make your days easier to handle. Studies have long shown that having plants in your office is beneficial for your health, as it can improve concentration levels and air quality. Don’t forget to ask your roommate if they’re okay with that, but otherwise, go for it. Get yourself some pretty plants for your office and start your work in a better mood!
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Clear your office of any clutter and stay organized
As long as your office is disorganized, your mind will be too. You cannot focus properly with a messy desk or room, for that matter. Make sure you keep everything organized on your desk as well as under and around it. Organize all needed items into groups to be more easily accessible. You could make use of baskets, holders, filing cabinet, or any other storing space that suits you. You will see how much more productive you’ll become if you organize yourself accordingly.
Ask your roommate to organize themselves as well. If half of the room/apartment is clean but the rest isn’t, it’ll still be really hard to focus on your work. Be persuasive if you have to and let your roommate know what you want. Staying organized will make both of you happier, after all!
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Make sure you’ve got fresh air
Last but not least, make sure that your room gets enough fresh air. If you work in a green space * with plants! * with high-quality air, you’ll be able to focus better on your tasks. If you are able to, work outside when you can. If not, use your room but improve your air quality as much as you can. I’m sure your roommate won’t mind.
Wrapping Up
Make sure you stay productive and design a good working space for yourself. Find natural light in your room, keep your office private and clean, move around if you like to, get help if you need to, add some life to your office, and don’t forget about the fresh air!
Author Bio:
Arthur Evans is a highly skilled freelance writer and proofreader from the UK. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of human existence every day.