There’s no denying it - working alone in your room can be a lonely process. If you’re AT school or AT work, it’s just so much easier to find that community you crave!

How do you effectively combat the work-from-home blues?

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Here are some ways to prevent yourself from withering away into the lonely, miserable cavern that is your room/home office.

1) Connect with your peers/friends

Consciously carve out time in your life to contact your friends. Maybe set up FaceTime chats, or even watch a movie together. Even something as simple as texting on a regular basis can help you feel connected.

If you have classmates who are also in your program, they’re certainly worth building a relationship with as well. Commiseration buddies are always good to have around!

Remember: whether or not you’re able to see your friends in person doesn’t determine whether or not you can connect with them in some way.

Don’t have phone buddies already? Maybe now’s a great time to make some new friends. Go hang out in a park or at the library! Is it too overwhelming to strike up random conversations with random people? Sign up for a club or class. Still too shy for that? Join some Facebook groups or community-building apps or sites and start chatting. There’s nothing wrong with being a fly on the wall until you have something to say.

2) Go outside

Have you ever noticed it’s hard not to smile when you first go outside in the sun? If there ever was an instant natural mood booster, this one’s probably it! Sometimes going outside is the best thing you can do for your mood.

It’s not only the fresh air and hope of life beyond your bubble that creates this instant happiness. The sun also gives you a vitamin that your body craves (Vitamin D), and it boosts serotonin levels. If you don’t believe me, check out 7 Health Benefits of Sunlight.

If your body rarely sees the light of day, it may also be worth taking Vitamin D supplements. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t comment on this directly…so instead, I’ll point you to another article: Vitamin D 101 — A Detailed Beginner's Guide. I can tell you from experience that vitamin D gets relocated to the cash register (right beside the gum, in fact) in northern communities at times of year when it’s dark for most of the day…I’m SURE there’s more of a reason than just because the chewable ones are super yummy.

3) Bring the outside in

If you CAN go outside at some point, fantastic! Not everyone has this luxury, though, so don’t worry if you can’t. You’re not a lost cause JUST because you’re trapped in your room.

If you can’t see the sun (or be in the sun) at any point over the course of your day, find a way to bring the outside in.

There are daylight lamps and light therapy lamps that have been specially designed to help trick your brain into feeling like it’s outside. These are not only better for your eyes, but they can help boost your mood.

Houseplants are another great way of bringing the outside in to your workspace. If you’re horrible at keeping them alive, don’t be afraid of starting small. A little silent study buddy who keeps itself busy by cleaning your air is always nice to have around.

Another thing that can really be noticeable when you’re inside all day is the lack of fresh air. If things are getting a little dusty and musty in your room, an air purifier can be a worthwhile investment.

Finally, it may sound dumb, but if you’re a nature person, it might be worth playing some nature sounds in the background every once in a while. Hearing a little creek or wind is much more soothing white noise than your humming fluorescent lights and heating.

4) Fix/drone out annoying white noise

Sometimes by decreasing all of your loud distractions, you instead hear all of the distracting not-so-loud ones. These little nuisances can add up to being a BIG nuisance when you actually cannot leave them.

While some sounds may be able to be fixed (maybe opt for an new lamp instead of your buzzing overhead lighting), other atmospheric sounds are just going to be around no matter what you do.

If you live in a place where legitimate quiet is impossible, it might be worth your while to invest in a solid pair of noise cancelling headphones. Or else, you may find that listening to a white noise machine or instrumental music will be the fix your head was hoping for.

5) Find your Happiness Jams

While I’m not usually one to promote listening to music with words while you’re studying, there is certainly something to be said for how much music can boost your mood. When you’re trapped in a boring, monotonous spiral, pump up some of your favourite music to kick-start your brain into gear.

This music doesn’t have to be playing WHILE you study, either. You could try using a song or two as your pump-up music while getting ready, or simply play it on a break. Blast the song and sing/dance along to get yourself in the mood for a good day.

Don’t assume this has to be outrageously happy music to put yourself in the mood, either. If you’re feeling particularly emote-ey, there’s something to be said for blaring angsty music and feeling all the feels to get them out in the world.

6) Write out how you feel

Now, I’m not saying you HAVE to keep any sort of journal or anything (though if that’s your thing - go for it!), but writing down how to feel can be incredibly therapeutic. Instead of spiralling and having a million conversations in your head, put pen to paper (or type out) how you feel. Just let it ALL out.

Really want to tell someone EXACTLY how you feel? Write it down

Feeling sad and worthless and you don’t know why? Write it down

Hate this subject so much that you wish it would die? Write it down

Don’t understand why on earth they’re making you do this? Write it down

None of these things have to be shared with anyone, so you’ll be able to be brutally honest without having to form completely logical arguments. The act of writing will help clear your brain of some of the useless mind-circling stuff so you can get on with your life.

If you hate writing, the best remedy might be to use a notebook that you genuinely love. Nadya has designed a range of journals from cute to funny to inspirational.

Check out Notebooks by Nadya

7) Find comfort in familiarity

When you’re feeling sad and alone, sometimes a trip down memory lane is just what the doctor ordered. I’m not meaning sorting through all your baby toys and blankets; I’m talking about spending some quality time with those shows and books that have always been your happy place.

There’s a reason why things like Friends and Harry Potter have become staples in the general world. Not only were they iconic and popular in the moment, but re-watching and re-reading them bring a nostalgic comfort to those who were first drawn to them.

Even if you don’t ACTUALLY know them personally, these humans feel like your friends, and can trigger some of those same happiness receptors by having them in the room with you.

It’s also comforting to watch these characters go through journeys when you know how they turn out. Even if the world seems like its out of control, the journeys you’re reading/watching still have the same trajectories they always do…and that simplicity can bring some peace and control back into your life.

PS - bonus happiness points if you watch/read something funny - maybe like These Funny Videos!

8) Map out your Me-Time

Me-time’s a thing. A much needed thing. Don’t think that just because you’re alone, you’re spending quality time with yourself by default. If you’re studying, your schoolwork is there; if you’re working, your work work is there. You deserve some time in your day where you put your needs and wants ahead of anyone/anything else’s.

Set firm boundaries and make sure every day has some good, quality me-time.

Some people find that meditation and yoga are their best ways to practice me-time, but if that’s certainly not the only way if that’s not your thing. Take a bath, do a puzzle, read a book, go for a walk, play a game…just do something that you WANT to do instead of HAVING to do it. Do it because you deserve that time, and because that time will, indeed, help you. You don’t need to multi-task and “be productive” in every moment.

9) Make a list and CROSS THINGS OFF

It can be difficult to mark progress when you’re by yourself and seemingly doing the same thing all day…even if that “thing” is different tasks. Give yourself a little motivation by writing out a list of things to do and cross them off when you’re done.

To make this as motivating as possible, it’s imperative to give yourself finish-able goals. What does this mean? “Study for math test” is not an accomplishable goal. Whether you spend 5 minutes or 500 minutes, it’s never really done, but also simultaneously HAS been done. Instead, write out something like “study math for 30 minutes”, or “write out quadratic formula 10 times in a row without looking”. Focus on definitive goals that have a clear finish line.

When projects are overwhelmingly large and mundane, break them down into smaller tasks so you have even more accomplishments to cross off your list. Instead of “write english essay”, break it down into the various sections: “defend point 1”, “defend point 2”, “defend point 3”, “write intro”, “write conclusion”. Sometimes, this may seem silly, but if you’re the type of person who’s motivated by finishing things, this one’s a pretty easy trick!

For some other ways to subdivide that general wash of wishy-washy “work time”, check out: How to Time Manage; 24 Systems to Unlock Your Productivity

10) Exercise

I know, I know, I know, you’ve heard this one before! And I get it - if you’re not a fitness-ey person, hard exercise can be supremely overwhelming, and it CAN put you in a crappy mood (been there, done that, didn’t quite die).

The thing that’s easy to forget is that exercise doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Exercise doesn’t have to mean pushing your lungs and muscles to the limit…exercise can simply mean getting off the couch for two minutes and moving your joints around.

If you’re exercising for the purposes of boosting your mood, this should be your only goal: do what feels good. If you love that post-workout sweaty feeling, great! If you worked in an extra walk across the room today, great! If you stretched your arms as far in the sky as they could go today, great!

Exercise is one of those things that really DOES have a negative spiral attached to it if you’re not someone naturally drawn to it, so don’t overwhelm yourself or feel badly if this is you. Find your personal definition of “moving” and find the joy in THAT. You never know - if you start small and add on a teensy bit every day, you may find your definition might change.

11) Have a morning routine

Once upon a time, you were probably told to get dressed and make your bed in the morning. Well, it’s not a BAD idea…

Whether you start working at 7am or 3pm, having some sort of “what I do when I get up” routine can be helpful in putting you in the right mindset to get started. While working in your pjs can be fun at first, once the novelty has worn off, it becomes part of the mundane wash of sameness that is your day. Keep the line clear between work time and rest time by consciously starting your work day.

Get changed (even if it’s just alternative sweatpants), make your bed, wash your face, brush your teeth and hair, maybe even shower. Just because nobody else might see you today doesn’t mean all of those habits will go to waste. They’re as much about putting you into the right mindset as they are for other people.

For more ideas, check out my Morning Survival Guide for College Students

12) Take a break

No, seriously.

You may feel like you have so many things to do that it’s impossible to step away for even a second…but there are very few projects that don’t have time for a 5 minute breather.

When things are spiralling out of control, PUT THEM DOWN. Spiralling isn’t going to help….and you’ll just be wasting the next 5 minutes talking to yourself in circles anyways. Put those 5 minutes to use by not using them.

Put things down and try one of these Self-Care Ideas….so you can come back with a clearer head.

13) Seek professional help

There are people who have spent their lives training for the sole purpose of helping you…they totally might know ways to help.

You are not the first person to get frustrated, or overwhelmed, or bored, or lonely, so don’t assume you’re the only worthless, lost cause in the world.

If you’re enrolled in a school, they’re often an easy first point of contact, as they’ll likely already have tutors and counsellors on staff who will be familiar with your situation. If not, there are certainly other places you can turn.

Check out the following Mental Health Resources to help point you in the right direction. If you are experiencing online school depression, there are certainly resources available to help.

If you’re looking for academic help (and you don’t have a school’s assistance), google will be your best friend. There’s a wide range of places to check out depending on what you need, but you can always start with this: Top 16 Canadian Educational Websites for Students, Teachers, & Parents

Who is Nadya Corscadden?

Nadya holds an MA in Musical Theatre and is no stranger to the home learning scene. Having spent a good chunk of her younger years in distance education (and opting for some correspondence electives at university), she has accumulated many tricks to help maintain focus and inspiration. She has a passion for independent learning and wants to help anyone and everyone find their stride in this atmosphere whether it’s homeschooling or simply studying for that next big test!

She is also a triple threat singer, dancer and actress….and can’t wait until stages are alive again!