Productivity Tips During COVID-19 & Learning From Home
April 30, 2020
Lockdown Productivity Tips For The Family
With the extended lockdown, it’s more vital than ever for parents to drive productivity at home. There’s no shame in admitting that most of us are spending all day in our pyjamas, lacking routine and probably getting pretty complacent. Now is the time to turn things around. Here are some productivity tips to help the whole family during this time.
Start the day the same way you would during normal times
Remember when you would set an alarm, shower and get dressed for the day? Now’s the time to get back to that. Not only does routine help us mentally, it also helps us stay emotionally strong in a time that makes a lot of us feel uneasy. There’s something very comforting about a daily routine and knowing that it needs to be done to start the day. Making your bed is another one of our productivity tips that we swear by. This simple task symbolises the start of the day.
Talk about how you are all feeling
Lockdown will impact every member of the family differently. This doesn’t make conflicting emotions wrong, as each one is totally valid. At one point or another, you might all hit a dip in morale as the monotonous nature of every day starts to weigh on all of you. It’s okay and more than that, it is completely normal. Check in with the family
each day over dinner and ask how everyone is feeling. Facing these emotions sooner rather than later will help you and your children work through them. This will assist in remaining productive and happy over lockdown.
Stick to a schedule
We’ve already talked about the benefits of following a daily routine in the mornings. Why not keep this going throughout the day? Schedule times
for eating, relaxing, doing crafts, exercising, and completing school work. This will help maintain a degree of normalcy and ensure that the kids remain disciplined and respectful of the rules. The same can be said for adults who are working from home during lockdown. No matter your age, everyone needs a good routine to keep them grounded and focussed.
Make learning a priority
Whether it’s online classes
via MS Teams or classroom tasks to be completed at home, your child needs to be focussed on their school work. This will keep their minds stimulated, prevent boredom and help them settle back into school life once the lockdown is over. They’ll also be less likely to fall behind the rest of the class, something that’s important to keep in mind. For adults, now is the time to pick up new skills and hobbies. It might be as simple as reading a new book or trying something different. Use this time to explore the things you’ve never had time for in the past.
Stay social
You might be in lockdown with your partner and kids but you need to maintain contact with those outside of your home. From relatives to friends, we could all use a good catch up with those close to us. Apps like Houseparty allow for numerous people to video chat at once, whilst playing fun games that allow everyone to laugh. During this time, we need to stay connected, even if we’re far apart. This helps us decrease the feelings of anxiety and isolation. When you’re feeling happy and content, you’re more likely to be productive.
From everyone at Abbotts College, we wish your family a safe, healthy and productive lockdown period. Don’t forget that we’re here to help should you need us.
To read more on us and our schools, please click here.
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
