My Productive Day at Home (Coronavirus Quarantine Edition)

As I type this in my home, I couldn't help but brainstorm some ideas I've been incorporating to optimize time spent at home to lead to more productive days.

First, I start my day by not checking the news or Facebook. I immediately start on a task I had planned for my morning or spend time reading the list of tasks I scheduled for my day. If I'm not doing this, I'm maintaining my work system: Habitica. If you don't know this app, it is a gamified productivity tool which is much more appealing to me than Notion or Todoist. I check Habitica to see what are some of my dailies I can knock out this morning to make this a productive day. It usually would involve either journaling my thoughts in the morning or honing a skill I'm working on such as typing or reading comprehension lately. Taking care of this is similar to the analogy of "sharpening the axe," I make sure my systems are prepared for when I dive into my work. I ensure my mind is clear from worries or drama that may have affected me yesterday so I can start today fresh.

Mid-day: focus level is dwindling at this point so I treat myself to a lunch break while attending occasional Zoom meetings which make up a good portion of my day lately. I ensure I have material tasks I can work on if I'm not required to show face during the meeting. I will create study guides for an exam or work on flashcards on the side. Playing music at this time of the day can also help you finish strong.

Important Note: I make sure all the events or tasks I plan for the day do not all take place in my room. I either switch spots or go outside for a bit and find a nice secluded spot to still remain in compliance with "social distancing."

Late afternoon: I am now contemplating putting in a workout or attending another Zoom meeting. Decision fatigue gets me and I attend the meeting and save workouts for the weekend. I have a dinner and have friendly banter with my roommates at the same time.

Night: I spend a bit more time socializing and play occasional video games before heading out for a bit one more time for system maintenance once again, however, this time I spend clearing through emails, writing blog posts, or working on other creative pursuits. At this time of the day, I also plan my tasks for tomorrow. These are my sharpest hours and the time I spend once again "sharpening the axe." Preparation is key. I do my best not to go to sleep stressed but do make time to read a book I've been pondering or work on small tasks I wasn't able to make time for during the day.

I hope you find something helpful here. Please stay healthy and productive. Remember, your mindset in these most difficult times means everything.