Productivity During the Quarantine
by: Claire Duarte
During these challenging, disruptive, and unprecedented times, the LEC team wanted to offer our thoughts on how to navigate this current situation. We know many parents are now having to work from home, schools are closed or online, and between the two, this ultimately means a lot more downtime at home for everyone. On one hand, we recognize it can be nice to have the freedom to do what you want, but it can be just as challenging to try and maintain routines, structures, and to get anything checked off your to-do list!
As a parent, this can be a really difficult time to try and manage your work and kids. As a student, this can be overwhelming to think of the work you still need to manage OR may lead to disagreements with your parents about what your now “school-free” schedule “should” look like.
STRUCTURE & ROUTINES:
We recommend that families stick to their normal routine/schedule as much as possible.. This is not just for the sake of eventually returning to it, but also in order to maintain some normalcy and balance in your life. Continuing simple tasks like getting up every morning around the same time, showering, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, etc. - these tasks may seem simple, but putting yourself together every day is part of how you can look and FEEL your best in a time where there is a lot of stress and fear in the air.
In light of maintaining some home-schedules, we’ve put together a sample schedule that you can follow, and/or tweak for your children or for yourself! We recognize not every student may have homework during this “break-time”, but we encourage students to stay familiar with their course materials and to continue some academic work during this time. We recommend that parents create clear expectations for their children. Using a schedule and setting specific goals for each day (make your bed, spend 1 hour reading a book or having quiet time, etc…) will help prevent any miscommunication about what your children should be doing during the “school day.”
Quarantine Schedule
ACADEMIC TIME:
To add to the confusion of this time, not all schools or school systems are doing the same thing. Some schools are currently closed with no specific academic assignments while others have assigned daily e-learning assignments and have regular Zoom meetings. Depending on what your child’s school is doing, the approach to their free time will be different. We have provided some possible ways to fill up that time and still keep them focused on their academics.
SCHOOLS CLOSED:
Make-up Work - While there is not new work being assigned, this break is a great opportunity for students to catch up on any missing assignments or work that they’ve fallen behind on. Students can submit these to their teachers via email or wait and submit them once school resumes.
Assigned Homework - Some teachers have assigned certain tasks or sent home (or posted) packets. We encourage students to spend a little time each day working on these packets. They can start by making a plan for the week & working backwards. Have a 5 page packet ? Do 1 page a day, Monday through Friday.
Prepping for Upcoming Tests (SAT, AP, etc.) - We’re aware a lot of these test dates have changed, and/or will be changing. However, it’s still a good idea to keep familiarizing yourself with the material either by doing practice problems, sample tests, re-reading chapters/notes, reorganizing your study materials, or looking up additional resources on CollegeBoard.com, etc.
Writing Practice- Use the Common Application prompts to start practicing writing college essays, write a fun short story, write an autobiography...Use this time to practice this crucial academic skill.
ONLINE CLASSES:
This may look different depending on your school or university. Some schools have a set schedule and rotation of classes online - much like a regular day of school. Others are posting assignments with expected due dates and turn-ins online. Universities and colleges may also have their own expectations and class formats, so be mindful of how this will impact your current schedule.
Start with laying out your due dates for the day/week. This will help you to create a work plan that you can work backwards from. Estimate how long each task will take you, then create a priority list of those items that need to get done each day.
It can also be very beneficial to create a Google calendar to not only lay out your new online class schedule, but to plug in when exactly you will work on each homework assignment. Having the visual plan of your homework can help you not only with execution, but following through to make sure it gets done.
QUIET TIME:
We all need quiet time. This is not just for little kids. We need time to distance ourselves from our work, our phones, TV’s, electronics, yes - even our families! You can take a short nap, go for a walk, read a book, or even listen to an interesting podcast. Perhaps your student has an interest or hobby that they don’t usually have time to pursue, this is a great opportunity to set aside some time daily to do so.. It doesn’t all necessarily have to be completely “silent” - but we encourage students to avoid watching TV or Youtube videos alone in their room during this time.
MANAGING ELECTRONICS:
Schedule. Schedule. Schedule. Our phones may be the biggest distraction, and outlet for us during this time, but there is also TV, video games, tablets, computers, etc. If your child has school work to do, I recommend following the sample schedule I listed above to build in their “electronic time” - while still getting done the tasks they need to do each day. If electronics are especially a large distraction for them, then you may need to decrease the amount of electronic time that is built into your schedule, or even create an Electronics Home-Base somewhere in your home where they can “park” their phone away from them while them get some work done, according to the schedule.
GET UP & MOVE:
As of now, there are no restrictions on going outside - just remember to maintain proper distance and contact from neighbors. Go for a walk, walk the dog, do a workout outside, set up a scavenger hunt or nature walk in the yard; anything to get some space and fresh air can be incredibly helpful for the mind, body, and soul! Do a home-workout! Many gyms are now offering their classes virtually to stream from at home, as well as many workouts you can find on youtube and several other platforms! Pinterest also has great workout routines you could also try. Remember, this is not just about taking care of your physical health, but your mental health too.
HAVE FUN:
We encourage families to thin outside of the box and create special family memories during this uncertain and confusing time. Some ideas include scheduling a weekly family game night, making pizza together, going for a family walk, or FaceTiming with friends for an afternoon hangout. Remember to still enjoy this time while we all wait for it to pass (hopefully quickly!)
However you choose to spend your time during this temporary quarantine, make sure to put yourself first. Your work is important, but your health & well-being is too. It’s not about sticking to a rigid new routine, but it’s about maintaining some structure in your day so you can still get things done that you need to, while finding ways to feel good about yourself during this difficult time. If you would like any 1-1 support, consultations, or additional tips & strategies, please reach out to us - as we are here to support you and your family!