Published: 1 March 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has left us, for the time being, studying from home.
While we’re amazed at the dedication and hard work you’ve been putting in over this difficult time, it’s fair to say the lockdown has thrown up some challenges.
A major one is working out how to study and stay comfortable at the same time. The temptation is to work from your sofa or bed, but is this really the best way to do things?
Space
You can train your brain to switch into work mode by having a dedicated place to study. This does not, by any stretch, must be a whole office or room.
Like many of us in London, you’re likely stretched for space. Instead, devote one small area of your home to work – try a corner of the living room or bedroom.
The important thing here is to keep your relaxation spaces relaxing. Your sofa should be for chilling at the end of the day, not working hard on understanding an article.
Look after your back
Back pain is a common complaint people who work and study from home have. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to stay comfortable and look after yourself.
Make sure you’re sat up when looking at your screen, keeping your neck straight. If you can, have your laptop sideways to a window – this decreases eye strain and stops you leaning forward to read better.
Also, make sure if you’re using a keyboard and mouse you have them at the correct height – your arms should be straight out in front of you rather than angled up or down.
Equipment
It might be worth considering investing in the right furniture while you’re studying. A comfortable chair can make all the difference and let you work for longer.
These days you can get actual office chairs for under £20 but have a look and seriously think about whether it’s worth the cost.
Getting the right equipment could help you study more comfortably, keep your papers organised, have a tidy home, and combat physical problems like eye strain and back pain.
What else to invest in
Desk
First off, you need somewhere to put your laptop of computer, alongside your books, drinks and study snacks. Whether you buy a desk or just use your dining table, make sure you have space for everything you need.
Lighting
Right now, it’s likely to be dark when you wake up and after you finish studying. That makes it extra important to have proper lighting. Whether you invest in a small desk lamp or make sure you’re ceiling lights are bright enough to keep studying, think it through and protect your eyes.
Folders
Having somewhere to store all your study materials will help keep things organised. Get some folders or organise your drawers so you won't have to dig around to find that one useful reference.
Computer
By now you’ve probably got a laptop for study. If not, you should get in touch with our TechGuru IT Support team as soon as possible. One tip for avoiding stress is to make sure everything you do is backed up, whether that’s through a cloud service like Office 365, which you have free access to as a University of Sunderland in London student, or on a physical hard drive is up to you.
WiFi
We’re all connected through the internet these days, but everyone has experienced connection failures and slow speeds. Make sure you shop around for the best deals in your area. Sites like USwitch, Compare the Market and Compare Fibre will help you find the cheapest, fastest internet available.
Looking after your health and wellbeing whilst you work is important. Make sure you’re taking the time to create your comfortable study space.
We’d love to see your home learning set up. Share your pics with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #WeAreSunLon.