During the last ten months, we’ve spent record time inside our student accommodation. And, although there are many benefits of being able to work from the comfort of our own place, sometimes it’s hard to stay focussed and motivated.

Whether you have deadlines to meet or an exam to prepare for, here we list some of the best ways to stay productive when working from your student home.

Set yourself a schedule

If you speak to the majority of people who are currently working from home, there is a general consensus that organisation is key. Setting a schedule for the week, and even down to the day can be really beneficial to ensure that all your goals are met and that productivity is kept high.

Assign yourself a fixed time to start work for the day, times for a few short breaks and also an end time to finish working. If you don’t plan and stick to your schedule, you’ll no doubt find yourself working through your lunchtime break or having to stay up on your laptop until 2 am because you’ve forgotten to do things.

Make time for outdoor exercise

Even though you might love your student accommodation in Leeds, you still need to leave it occasionally! The winter weather might not be the most enticing when it comes to outdoor exercise, however, try to have at least 30 minutes to one hour outdoors each day. Whether it’s a jog around Roundhay Park or a walk around Golden Acre, you will benefit from the fresh air, which in turn will give you more energy for the rest of the day.

Many Personal Trainers are running Bootcamps in the various parks, which are great if group exercise is your thing, and the prices can work out pretty reasonable too this way. Or, organise a lunchtime football kick around with some of your housemates. This will give you an opportunity to work off any frustration or spare energy before heading home to get your head down again.

Stick to a healthy eating and drinking pattern

One of the downsides of working from home is the proximity you now have to your fridge and food cupboards! It’s all too easy to grab a packet of crisps from the cupboard at 10 am, followed by a biscuit at quarter past, and then another at half-past. However, if you are to keep those extra pounds off and stay focussed, you need to keep your grazing habits under control.

Start the day well with a hearty breakfast of porridge and fruit or granola, honey and yoghurt. It will fill you up and delay the onset of food cravings in the late morning. If you do get the urge to snack, make it a healthy option like a banana or a bagel with peanut butter, which will fuel your brain. Avoid fried foods, sweets or chocolate bars, which may give you a ten-minute boost, but which will make you sleepy and lethargic later on.

Set a time limit for social media

Don’t get us wrong, we are also guilty when it comes to scrolling through our IG feed when we feel a bit bored. And watching the latest hilarious viral video too. However, if you don’t set a limit on how much time you spend on social media, it can quickly spiral out of control.

Luckily, most smartphones allow you to set time limits on certain apps and pages that you use. This means that when your time is up for that day, you will receive a notification and the app will be blocked. Don’t be tempted to extend your time limit as it will lead to future bad habits. Stick to your daily time limit and you will enjoy your short breaks even more.

All in all, we understand that working from home has both its pros and cons. However, with a few good habits in place, you will find that you settle into a much healthier and happier working routine from the comfort of your own dining room table.