Tips #27

Years ago, my brother, Dave, worked out of a home office. Each morning, his children went off to school and his wife left for work. Dave stayed home and did accounting and tax work for his clients. Eventually, Dave stopped working for himself and took a position where he drives in to work. Today, his son (my nephew) works out of his home. Tom creates intranets for universities and companies. His wife goes off to work each morning; he stays home and designs programs.

I admire how focused and goal oriented my brother and his son are. They are able to get their work done in their homes. There are many benefits to working from one's home. But it's not for everyone. I would have a difficult time working regularly at home. Instead of doing my work, I'd be getting something to eat, watching television, taking a nap, reading, or playing the piano. If I had to, I might even spend some time cleaning the house--I'd be inclined to do anything rather than the work I needed to accomplish. No doubt, I would put off my work until the last minute, finding excuses for avoiding what I was supposed to do.

I am fortunate to have an office at EIU. At my office, it is not hard for me to stay focused on the task at hand. I go to work, and I usually spend my time completing tasks from the moment I step in the door until I leave for the day. My work ethic is not necessarily praiseworthy. It's just a habit. I focus my energies on work while I am at the office, and I relax and focus my energy on play when I'm at home.

I encounter a good number of students who try to do their work in their residence halls or apartments. Most of these students, I suspect, are like me. They can't handle the distractions and temptations that occur at home. People are calling on the phone or they are knocking on the door. Roommates are coming and going. The television set is nearby, so is the Nintendo. If those distractions aren't enticing enough, there's food to be eaten, a bed to take a nap in, people to chat with, and a pool table downstairs. Lots of temptations. It's pretty easy in one's home to come up with excuses for avoiding work.

My advice? Treat your school work as if it were a job. To do the job well, you not only have to attend classes, you have to read the textbook, review your notes, study, and complete assignments. You'll spend 15 hours or so in the classroom, and you should spend roughly 30 hours working outside of class. Going to college is a full-time job, not a 15 hour a week part-time job where the goal is avoid any additional work. You and your parents are paying a good deal of money so that you can learn as much as possible and earn good grades for your future. To do so, you have to avoid distractions and stay focused on your main objective of earning a college degree.

Try to do most of your school work during the daylight hours. Get in the habit of going to bed early so that you are fresh in the morning. Then schedule reading and study times between classes. Those extra hours during the day are usually wasted time anyway, so you may as well figure out how to use them best. The trick is to avoid returning to your residence hall or apartment between classes. Instead find a place on campus where you can do your work without interruption. Turn some place in the library, the MLK Union, or an academic building into "your office." Return to that place every time you finish a class (except for lunch). Stay there until your next class. Eventually you will get into a good work routine. Then in the evening, you can relax and enjoy yourself, knowing that you are caught up on your work and are spending your time well. If you work hard throughout the day, you'll probably only need to use a small part of your evening and weekend hours to complete long term projects.

It is true that you may be like my brother and nephew. If you are able to work without interruption at your home, that's great. If, however, you are like me, and can't handle distractions, then find a place on campus that can be your office, and go to work on a regular schedule.