How graduate students can stay productive working from home

While we are all feeling challenged by the uncertainty in response to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), that challenge can be multiplied if you have to put our research/data collection “on pause”. 

Are there ways to stay productive and not sidetracked? Yes! 

Tips for staying productive as you work from home

• Self-care – now more than ever, take the time to do what keeps you energized. Find ways to stay healthy – exercise, FaceTime with family/friends, spend time with fuzzy friends.
• Work on your manuscript – maybe now is the time to work on the literature review, your introduction or write out the methods section. 
• Write a review article – could also help you with framing your introduction
• Learn to code – is there a programming language/skill that could help you with data analysis later?  Now may be the time.  Some may even be available in CareerEdge as LinkedIn Learning modules such as LaTeX, R, Python.
• Draft articles – have plans to publish?  Create a draft template to fill in later when your data are finalized.
• Network with colleagues – they may be in the same situation and would welcome the opportunity to connect online.
• Set up experiments – on paper.  Create a checklist that will help you when you get back in the lab.
• Visualize your data – making pretty figures/tables/charts takes time.  Now you have it.
• Test your time management skills – do you have a schedule that blends focus with breaks? 
• Keep it real – there are very real circumstances keeping you away from your lab/research.  You are not responsible for them.  Focus on what you can do and give yourself a break on what you can’t.

And last but not least, print out the full-size poster that includes tips from Dr. Zoe Ayres (previewed below) and hang it next to your working from home situation to remind yourself of all of the above.