Essential Tips for Co-op Students Working from Home

Posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2020

work space

Working remotely takes some getting used to, especially if this is new to you. This is why we have created a list of essential tips to stay focused and positive while working from home.

  1. Set up a workspace

Having a designated workspace in your home is important in keeping the time you spend on work and assignments separate from your everyday life. If you have a consistent workspace, each time you go to this space it will be easier to get into the right state of mind to keep productive. If you don’t have a separate room try to find a space with minimum traffic and distraction so that you can concentrate. If possible, only go to your designated workspace during work hours so you can maintain a regular workday and productive schedule. If finding a quiet space is an issue consider working with noise-canceling headphones to stay focused.

  1. Set goals

Organizing your day and setting clear, SMART and realistic goals for yourself is important to keep you motivated and on track. At the end of the week make sure you re-evaluate the goals you set and look at what you can do better to improve them for next time.

S.M.A.R.T.

  • Specific – Know exactly what you need to accomplish and what you hope to gain from doing so, whether it’s simply finishing an assignment, writing a cover letter for a co-op job application or finishing some research for a larger project.
  • Measurable – Make sure you can easily evaluate whether or not your goal was met and how beneficial it ultimately was to you.
  • Achievable – Be realistic when setting goals. This can help you avoid missing deadlines and getting behind, as well as giving you a more accurate overview of how much time you have to invest in other tasks throughout the week.
  • Results-Focused – Have very clear, distinct outcomes for meeting your goals, and hold yourself to them.
  • Time-Bound – Set a deadline for each goal or, for more complex tasks with multiple steps, establish deadlines for each major stage of the process.
  1. Stay on track

Now that you’ve set the goals you want to achieve you’ll need to come up with a plan to keep up and track your tasks. Thankfully, there are hundreds of apps and tools that can help you stay on track. Free project management tools like Asana or the Momentum Chrome Extension can be a lifesaver when you have multiple projects, papers, and exams on the go. You can create projects, set tasks with deadlines and even communicate with fellow students.

  1. Use video to communicate

Communication is an important factor in staying on track. Whether you have an upcoming interview, group assignment, meeting or just want to stay in touch with your manager, colleagues, and classmates, video communications can be a great source.

Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts are great and free tools to help facilitate potential co-op interviews and touch-base phone calls with classmates.

The Co-op Department will also be offering workshops, one-on-one mock interviews, and resume appointments online too. Be sure to book an appointment in advance through HireAC.

  1. Take breaks

It’s too easy to get stuck in the house all day when you live, sleep and study there. Taking regular breaks from the screen or your books is important, not only for your health but also for productivity. Be strict with yourself and make sure you actually take them.

Make sure you also take some breaks off-screen so your eyes get a chance to relax. Get up and walk around the house, play with your pet or catch some fresh air by walking around the block for 5 to 10 minutes. If you are truly stuck inside, even a few simple yoga stretches and postures can help.

And remember, don’t stress! Monitoring and taking care of your mental health is important. If you need extra time on an assignment or you need to take a day to yourself, make sure you let your co-op supervisor or faculty know. At any time should you have any questions about co-op you can connect with your Co-op Student Advisor. If you are experiencing feelings of distress the College has many resources that can help including:

  • College Libraries Ontario’s Learning Portal has a great website full of stress management tips and techniques. Learn more at https://tlp-lpa.ca/study-skills/stress-management
  • Students can speak to a counsellor by contacting the Welcome Centre by email at welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com
  • If it is an urgent need students can call the Distress Line – 613-722-6914 or 1-866-966-0991 or go online at https://crisisline.ca/
  • Or they can contact Good 2 Talk – A professional counselling and information and referral telephone service for post-secondary students, which is reachable by calling 1-866-925-5454.
  • There is also a Crisis Text Line available by texting GOOD2TALKON to 686868, or online at https://good2talk.ca/

 

Updated on September 20th, 2021.


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